Hi Gary,

This event is tragic but also extraordinary in so far as my late father was nearly a victim of a mid air collision during the early 70’s in the same area. The company that he worked for chartered a twin to fly him from Wycombe Air Park.

As they flew over Norfolk, he spotted a distant light in the sky and pointed it out to the pilot. Almost as soon as the pilot looked, the light developed wings and he took evasive action by banking the plane to increase visibility.

The approaching (American) jet inverted and thundered perilously close and beneath their aircraft and a collision was averted. Needless to say, the authorities were given the blasting of their life by his pilot.

I am just so sorry that the outcome was so tragic for the crop sprayer pilot and those in the Phantom. It begs the question about the control of civilian and military air movements in the area during that period.

I just thank God that my Father and his pilot survived along with that American pilot who inverted.