Bit of a long shot this, but… The actress Kristin Scott Thomas’s father was tragically killed along with his Observer on the 17th Mar 1966 in a Sea Vixen crash off Portland – serial number XS 581. Details are below:
Thursday, 17 March 1966
Heron, air crash at Portland Bill, Dorset
CATON, David H, Naval Airman 1c, F 945065, died
HARVEY, John W, Lieutenant
THOMAS, Simon Scott, Lieutenant Commander
The thing is, the Sea Vixen as you know in only a twin-seater, therefore I’m intrigued as to why a Naval airman (Rating) was also a casualty of this crash? Perhaps the crew ejected and he went to their rescue only to drown himself?
Sadly, Kristin’s mother later married Lt Cdr Simon Idiens (of Simon’s Sircus fame) who was later killed after ejecting from a Phantom in Jan 1972.
Thanks in advance…
N.
By: Lee Howard - 11th June 2009 at 17:18
G”day all. I am new to this site so, please excuse any errors.
Ten years prior to the above date I was stationed at RAF Thorney Island, on the Marine craft section. Sometime late in 1956 we had a crash call that a Sea vixen had gone into the drink, a few miles out from Selsy Bill. As we approached Selsy Bill a 22 Sqdn chopper over took us. About 10 minutes later we received an RTB call,with the 2 Rolls royce engines flat out, we returned to T.I to learn that a French trawler had recovered one airman & the chopper had picked up the other. That was the begining of the end for RAF Air Sea Rescue. I presume the Sea Vixen may have come from RNAS Ford in Sussex.
Webfoot
Not in 1956 it wouldn’t have been. The Sea Vixen didn’t enter service until 1959.
By: RobAnt - 11th June 2009 at 14:50
Lee, I always wear a ‘support’ when lifting it!!:D
You should get a medical cheque.
£15 for a new truss.
(You have to say it aloud).
By: webfoot - 11th June 2009 at 13:15
Sea Vixen crash 17/3/66
G”day all. I am new to this site so, please excuse any errors.
Ten years prior to the above date I was stationed at RAF Thorney Island, on the Marine craft section. Sometime late in 1956 we had a crash call that a Sea vixen had gone into the drink, a few miles out from Selsy Bill. As we approached Selsy Bill a 22 Sqdn chopper over took us. About 10 minutes later we received an RTB call,with the 2 Rolls royce engines flat out, we returned to T.I to learn that a French trawler had recovered one airman & the chopper had picked up the other. That was the begining of the end for RAF Air Sea Rescue. I presume the Sea Vixen may have come from RNAS Ford in Sussex.
Webfoot
By: Lee Howard - 11th June 2009 at 07:41
I keep checking the site for a release date on the “companion”.
I can exclusively announce that the release date will be……..when I’ve finished it. 😀 Seriously, though, should be available late this year. Still sourcing photographs which might not have seen the light of day before, so if you know of anyone……;)
By: lauriebe - 10th June 2009 at 08:42
….and I have to ask how your back is now having had to lift it off the bookshelf? 😀
Glad you like it. Helicopter “companion” volume on its way. 😉
Lee, I always wear a ‘support’ when lifting it!!:D
I keep checking the site for a release date on the “companion”. Members price, of course!:)
By: Lee Howard - 10th June 2009 at 08:15
….and I have to ask how your back is now having had to lift it off the bookshelf? 😀
Glad you like it. Helicopter “companion” volume on its way. 😉
By: lauriebe - 10th June 2009 at 07:20
Having bought a copy just after it was released, I can thoroughly recomment it. Excellent book!
By: Wyvernfan - 9th June 2009 at 11:24
Thanks for your help – Lee I thought you might plug the old book! I will buy a copy one day…;)
Yes me too.! A long overdue purchase me thinks..
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th June 2009 at 08:59
There is a David Henry Caton, late of HMS Heron, buried in the RNAS extension of the Yeovilton Churchyard. I have no details of date or circumstances of his death though.
David Caton died on the same day as the two ‘Vixen aircrew – 17th Mar 1966 (apologies – in my original entry I accidently entered Dec not March).
He is listed on the Naval Casualties web site and the way his name appears it looks as if he was connected with this crash. In hindsight, I wonder if he died on the same day, but was completely unconnected to the Sea Vixen crash?
Thanks for your help – Lee I thought you might plug the old book! I will buy a copy one day…;)
By: lauriebe - 9th June 2009 at 03:29
There is a David Henry Caton, late of HMS Heron, buried in the RNAS extension of the Yeovilton Churchyard. I have no details of date or circumstances of his death though.
By: Lee Howard - 8th June 2009 at 22:58
Sounds like you need to get your hands on a good book 😀
The reason no ejections are given for this incident is because neither of them ejected – they were both, sadly, killed. There is nothing in the FAA Roll of Honour for Caton – where did you get this info from?
Both Idiens and Thomas are buried at the Fleet Air Arm’s own church, St Bartholomew’s, Yeovilton. A marble sun dial is dedicated to them in the gardens to the rear.
By: garryrussell - 8th June 2009 at 17:50
Cheers Nick.
Garry
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th June 2009 at 17:38
Why does it say Heron air crash???
Was the aircraft from HMS Heron??
Garry
Yes, that was my understanding. Yeovilton was 893Sqn’s shore base.
By: garryrussell - 8th June 2009 at 17:30
Why does it say Heron air crash???
Was the aircraft from HMS Heron??
Garry
By: XF828 - 8th June 2009 at 17:20
XS581 hit the sea at night during an attack on a target towed by HMS Zulu, with (poor) illumination provided by a glow-worm flare (not the only such Sea Vixen loss). No ejections recorded for this accident. The addition of a third name may be an error as it is mentioned in none of the publications I have consulted. The crash was not ‘at’ Portland Bill but some 10nm away.
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June 8, 2009 at 3:23 pm