Lost Hunters

BTTT

BTTT

Guys,

The date was 8th February 1956, and the aircraft and pilots involved were according to ‘To fly no more’ :-

WT629 S/L W Ives, WT639 Lt Cdr N R Williams RN, WW603 F/L B Watford, WW633 F/L J A MacPherson, and WW639 F/L M J Norman all ejected safely, however S/L Richard John Tumilty, 31, was killed having jettisoned his canopy shortly before his aircraft, WW635, crashed but he did not eject. The book states that ‘only two aircraft landed safely’. All came down near Swaffam.

Geoff.

I can remember reading about this in ‘Air Clues’ in the late ’70s. I can’t remember the exact details but there were seven aircraft lost in ten minutes due to being diverted several times.

I am looking for information on the loss of several Hawker Hunter aircraft that crashed / were abondoned in 1956 in thick fog? I belive they were flying out of West Raynham and trying to get down at Marham because of the fog. Any more info would be appreciated. Cheers.
Daniel.

This is a well known incident, the F1 had low fuel capacity, formation took off for combat practice (based at DFLS Day Fighter Leader School W Raynham) with a reasonable weather divert. After 45 mins they were on way back to WR when called to divert due to weather, went off towards Marham, and then told weather clear at WR….it then fogged out….one aircraft flamed out on late approach, he bellied it alongside runway, one on runway, at least 3 ejected due to no sight of runway and flame out etc. I too have tried to research this as I would like to ascertian which aircraft serials were involved! My cockpit WT648, I think may have been involved. I have more info, but in my ‘library’…regards