Avro Lincoln RF343 61 Sqn – Crash at RAF Waddington MQs 3 September 1952‏

Attempting a 3 engined overshoot at RAF Waddington on 3 September 1952, No 61 squadron’s Avro Lincon
RF343 developed an uncontrollable swing and crashed off the edge of the airfield and nearly missing an estate
of some newly built NCO married quarters and slewed around ending up on a rubbish dump.
The pilot, Flying Officer Frank Hercliffe and the crew escaped unharmed with a few minor injuries.
Sadly 2 days later a disaster struck when 2 small boys had entered the partly burned Lincoln to play after guards
had been been removed and they managed to set off some pyrotechnics believed to be verey
cartridges which ignited the fuel tanks creating a large explosion which led to the death of one of the boys,
a pupil from nearby Bracebridge Heath primary school. The first on the scene was a Lincoln aircrew navigator,
M/Nav Arthur Collins and his 6 year old son who were taking their Irish Setter for a walk from thei nearby married
quarter and shortly thereafter the emergency services arrived but it was too late to save the young boy’s life.