Has anyone got any information regard the crash of two F-84Gs on 19/11/1954 near Ipswich, Suffolk? I would appreciate any links to newspaper reports, USAF crash investigation reports, photos etc.
The two planes involved were F-84G-1-RE s/n 51-981 and F-84G-1-RE s/n 51-892. According to my father, who was one of the two first people at the crash and tried to get the pilots from the planes, the F-84s let down through low cloud on their way back from Germany, only to find that the low cloud extend down to ground level.
By: Goldilocks - 6th November 2015 at 08:29
Sorry Tim, no scanner, but herewith a verbatim copy of the East Anglian Daily Times report:
TWO JET PILOTS DIE IN CRASH
Workers’ Near Escape in Dual Tragedy
Two farm workers loading sugar beet in a field on Mr. Peter Strutt’s estate at Bentley Hall Park yesterday narrowly escaped death when two American jet fighter ‘planes, which had collided in the air, whistled over their heads and crashed in flames. The ‘planes landed side by side and exploded and both pilots were killed. They were based at Wethersfield. The farm workers, Albert Peacock (25) and William Stammers (50), saw the ‘planes disappear into the fog and then blow up. Mr. R. Kembell, of Bentley, told a reporter: “Wreckage was strewn over a quarter of a mile about a hundred yards from the hall. The ‘planes were smashed to smithereens, just seven or eight little burning heaps in the two fields.” Trees and bushes were set alight. Farm workers were on the scene seconds after the crash. Mr. J. S. Dunn, who farms Bentley Hall, led them in preventing the spread of the fire. United States Air Force and R.A.F. crash tenders, as well as water tenders from Ipswich Fire Brigade, went to the scene.
Goldilocks
By: Sabrejet - 5th November 2015 at 21:36
I will see what the Ipswich libraries have to offer.
Can you tell me what ‘AFSA’ stands for. I have looked at the Kirtland AFB web site and nothing appears there for that acronym that I can see.
Air Force Safety Agency. However I see it’s now ‘Center’ rather than ‘Agency’:
By: Tim Goose - 5th November 2015 at 21:20
I will see what the Ipswich libraries have to offer.
Can you tell me what ‘AFSA’ stands for. I have looked at the Kirtland AFB web site and nothing appears there for that acronym that I can see.
By: Tim Goose - 5th November 2015 at 21:18
Goldilocks
Thank you very much for the details. Would you be able to email me a scan of the report?
Tim
By: Goldilocks - 5th November 2015 at 08:36
Tim
I have a copy of the crash report for each of these two F-84Gs from 55-FBS of 20-FBW at Wethersfield. Both aircraft were on an instrument let-down into Wethersfield, having taken off from Prestwick.
Pilot details were given as:
51-892 Louis A Monetta (A0929362) Captain AFRES, Year of Birth 1922
51-981 James R Tedder (A02083327) Captain AFRES, Year of Birth 1917
There was a short report in the local East Anglian Daily Times dated 20 November 1954.
Hope that helps
Goldilocks
By: Sabrejet - 5th November 2015 at 07:39
Have you tried AFSA at Kirtland AFB? They used to supply mishap reports by email.
Newspaper reports would be with local library.
Sign In
November 4, 2015 at 10:03 pm