Hi all ,
I have over the years collated so many newspaper reports, records etc from
Post war air accidents ,(huge ring binder full 😀 ) , that i thought if put in order would make a nice little book, so I am finally putting my mind to it,
Somerset military aviation accidents 1950 to 1970.
I would like to add, then and now photographs ,the stories from the air and the ground, news reports from the time,photos of aircraft and crews,and any aviation archaeology which has taken place , I allready have some photo’s of the recovery of a Vampire VF300 ,when i was a young lad.
I would like to start by looking for the most recent air crew, or anyone who remembers any of these accidents from the time, especially air crew that
baled/banged out ,and may still be surviving to tell the tale .
It is a delicate subject, bu I feel it warrants writing about, and with the passing years ,these stories are dwindling away ,and i would like to colate them, I do this for love ,not for money. and would like to show my findings in a book,for all to enjoy, if it takes there fancy.
firstly I would like to find 2 officers who originally lived in Salisbury , and worked at Boscombe down, at the Technology Ministry base,
a Flt Lt Richard Statham and Navigator Flt Lt David Allerdyce ,Now if still in the land of the living, both would be in there 60s/70s and were the crew of
Sea Vixen XN686 ,who had to eject over burnham on sea nr weston super mare 26th August 1970.
Does anyone have any tips, any experienced Authors out there who could perhaps point me in the right direction.
many thanks
Chris Collins 🙂
By: merkle - 16th March 2011 at 21:03
maybe a idea Rob, but it feels like a no go.. a bit down in the dumps.. feels like i should find the nearest dustbin….. ahh well… back to the drawing board … 🙁
By: pistonrob - 16th March 2011 at 20:07
i run my own website dedicated to the subject of aviation losses in the shropshire/North East Wales borders.
one way i have gone around finding/contacting the aircrews and family is to find out who the next of kin were via RAF/RN records office. then find the local rags in that area and write of to them to see if they could pop an item in the paper or even make a bigger feature story of it with all the details i have to hand.
ive a link from restorebike.com just click on the mossi
By: merkle - 16th March 2011 at 18:55
after my initial shock, and it really was a shock, and a lie down.. and coming to my senses, I agree Roger, this could be not such a bad thing, I will be contacting Mr Forrester asap 🙂
By: RPSmith - 16th March 2011 at 18:29
Why not contact Peter Forrester and suggest a liason – the end product could only be better surely?
Roger Smith.
By: merkle - 16th March 2011 at 16:56
I must be jinxed.. I cant believe it 🙁
By: adrian_gray - 16th March 2011 at 11:47
I think you might have competition, merkle!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-12749704
Adrian
By: inkworm - 3rd February 2011 at 20:32
My dad still has a couple of bits of Sea Venom FAW22 S/N XG727 which crashed on 6th December 1957 as a result of engine failure near Ashill, having taken off from Merryfield as he popped out there the day after and recalls being told by a sailor to keep away from the engine as there was a live cartridge still there.
Considering how busy Yeovilton was with the naval aviators I’m not overly surprised.
Are you going to include any accidents from Westlands even though technically they wouldn’t have been handed over to the military at the time of any crashes.
Can’t remember where it is but I’m sure somewhere on one of the A roads to Bath from the south there is a roadside memorial to a SHaR pilot that lost his life when it went down.
By: merkle - 2nd February 2011 at 18:30
I have that one in hand Inkworm :D, writing to local rags etc,
as for chard there was Vampire VV619,that camedown in the area ,24th November 1953.
and the well known Canberra WH715 which came down 1.October.1968 , The French Pilot i believe was killed in the accident.
in fact it is quite astonishing the amount of jet losses in Somerset county .
By: inkworm - 2nd February 2011 at 15:24
I’d be up for a copy of it once done.
What about contacting the local press and get them to run an article about ‘local author writing book, looking for eye witnesses’ or something along those lines, sure a lot of the local rags where not much really happens would be happy to run it.
I’m pretty sure that round the Chard/Crewkerne area there were a few things and know the Chard + Ilminster paper has all the old papers and cover what went down round there. I expect the same would apply across the county.
By: merkle - 2nd February 2011 at 14:34
The Royal Air Force Retired List 2002 has ;
Allardyce DC , born 12-11-43 , F/L 22-5-69 , retired 27-8-86
Statham RHG , born 2-3-36 , F/L 12-6-62 , retired 22-3-74
These could possibly be your men ?Perhaps you could do with some help from a geneology specialist or try another forum !
Thats the Chaps ,Many thanks David,
and all of you,
I intend to write the book in yearly sections. on each idividual aircraft, about 40 in total,
I have lots of the basic information, and news reports of the day,
but its the personal stories i need now, and all your help is much appreciated:D
By: TonyT - 2nd February 2011 at 12:17
Register on PPrune and ask in the military section.
By: Gingie - 2nd February 2011 at 11:09
Another site worth looking at is:
By: kev35 - 2nd February 2011 at 00:35
Chris.
You could try a premium website like 192.com and check for entries on the electoral roll. Otherwise check the various genealogy websites and see if anyone can find a death for either of the men you are looking for.
As for writing/publishing, there are several experienced authors/writers on here who may offer you some advice. I suspect the topic you are covering to have a limited interest generally but is no doubt of specific interest to some. I would suggest preparing something as a project for yourself primarily. If you can get all the information you need/want then look at doing something with the idea.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
kev35
By: David Thompson - 2nd February 2011 at 00:34
It’s amazing what you can find by ‘Googling’ ! See link for details ;
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/project/year_pages/1970.htm
By: David Thompson - 2nd February 2011 at 00:26
The Royal Air Force Retired List 2002 has ;
Allardyce DC , born 12-11-43 , F/L 22-5-69 , retired 27-8-86
Statham RHG , born 2-3-36 , F/L 12-6-62 , retired 22-3-74
These could possibly be your men ?
Perhaps you could do with some help from a geneology specialist or try another forum !
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February 1, 2011 at 11:07 pm