I’m trying to check the details of an F-86 crash but am not having much luck on the net and I’m hoping someone will be able to help. The aircraft was an F-86 of the 116th FIS out of RAF Shepherds Grove. I have written below the account of the crash as told me by one of the pilots fellow flyers.
“All was not fun and games however. We had a sad time when Capt Ray Allison (116th Sqdn Flying Safety Officer, Outstanding pilot and friend to all) Flew over to a RAF Station west of Cambridge ( Boscome Down ?) for a static display of the F-86 one weekend.1952. When departing Sunday afternoon he made a high speed pass down the runway ,did a roll and crashed. Really hit all of us hard. It wasn’t until Chuck Yaeger ‘s book published in 1985, stated that Chucks controls locked while on a high speed pass doing a roll. He let off the G’s, pushed up the nose and the ailerons unlocked .Seems a bolt on the aileron cylinder was installed upside down during manufacturing. Contrary to instructions on how to insert the bolt. We just couldn’t believe that a excellent pilot like Ray would make a “pilot error” mistake that it had to be something else. And there it was ! 33 years later.”
It clearly wasn’t Boscombe. Any ideas anyone, or perhaps the pilots memory is playing tricks! It was a long time ago!
By: rogcoll - 20th February 2012 at 11:39
F100 Super sabre crash RAF Shepherds Grove August 1962
Paul Your research and information are greatly appreciated and clarifies the gossip that abounds these ex USAF tobacco houses at Stanton. The houses are under security as the USAF have vacated them but the night guards said that rumours abound about a ghost of the poor young house painter that was killed in the incident. The houses are to go the same way as the other tobacco houses at RAF Sculthorpe. Adrian your help is appreciated as well.
Roger
By: T-21 - 17th February 2012 at 15:57
Thanks Paul for all the additional help good research little known about.
By: adrian_gray - 17th February 2012 at 15:21
It’s a bit late for lindoug, but rogcoll might be interested in this:
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/reports.htm
You can request a crash report from them, and this is the sort of thing you get:
http://www.rafwethersfield.com/F100Fcrash.htm
Adrian
By: paulmcmillan - 17th February 2012 at 14:13
The date was 22nd August 1962 and the aircraft was a F-100D Super Sabre 55-2784 (the one on display at Mountain Home AFB ID with this ID is actually 54-1748) of the 48th TFW/494th TFS. It crashed into base housing (known as the Tobacco Houses) at RAF Shepherds Grove which was being used by personnel from other USAF bases nearby. USAAF had left Shepherds Grove in 1959
The house was being used by 1st Lt David A Staver who had an act of congress enacted in his name as he lost all his processions in the crash but could only claim a maximum $5,000 at the time which was not enough to cover his losses. House was destroyed.
Lt’s Staver pregant wife Barbara was at home at the time with their one year old infant son Bill, she got them both out just in time when the housepainter warned her that a plane was about to crash into the house. It is the housepainter who was killed in this incident he was Peter Hammond and was aged ’26’. Mrs Staver and her sone only sustained small scratches
Reading through other references Peter Hammonds age is said to be ’20’ (according to Times he was actually 19 and was from Hepworth) and he actually died after the accident, while investigating the crash and after helpin mrs Staver and her son to escape. But I think they are confusing this with teh actions of Mr Peter Rush who received the US Air Force Exceptional Service Medal for her rescue
The pilot was 1st Lt John E Malone aged 22 bailed out after the aircraft developed engine trouble.
The Times Thursday, Aug 23, 1962 has more info and a picture of the crashed aircraft and destroyed bungalows
Destoyed three bungalows and killed one of several men who were painting them
Three childern in another bungalow escaped and third unoccupied
The fighter struck the ground behind the bungalow, bounced over the top of two of them, setting them
alight and exploded on the other side’
re: Three childern in another bungalow escaped (this was being used by Captain Richardson and his wife) – The children
were Angela aged 13, Peggy aged 11 and Erin aged 5 months. At the time Captain Richardson was visiting his
wife in hospital
see
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rsNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vlIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4765,1342121&dq=staver&hl=en
and here for a picture of the Barbara Staver and her son
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U7FOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PQEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6542,5830018&dq=staver&hl=en
By: paulmcmillan - 17th February 2012 at 13:10
17/3/53or55 F-86A 49-1179 78 FS 81FW pilot Gilbert Leimbach
There were a number of accidents to F-86’s at Shepherds Grove oin the 1950’s however I can’t find the actual incident refered to. However to clear up the above entry. This i two separate incidents
17/3/53 F-86A 49-1179 78 FS 81FW pilot Gilbert Leimbach location Shepards Grove
16/3/55 F-84F 52-6453 78FBS pilot Gilbert Leimbach location Shepards Grove
Same pilot different aircraft type and 2 years and 1 day apart!
By: T-21 - 16th February 2012 at 16:37
23/2/52 F-86A 48-269 116 FS 81FW pilot Eugene Beers
17/3/53or55 F-86A 49-1179 78 FS 81FW pilot Gilbert Leimbach
27/10/54 F-86A 48-316 92FS 81FW pilot William Carney
All these accidents occurred at RAF Shepherds Grove, no further details available.
By: rogcoll - 13th February 2012 at 15:21
F-86 crash onto MQs at RAF Shepherds Grove 1950s
Whist visiting the USAF tobacco house at RAF Shepherds Grove the security staff mentioned a pair of the bungalows had been demolished back in the 1950s when an F-86 had crashed into then and apparently a young lad who was in the house was killed. Does anyone any further information of this.
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August 1, 2010 at 7:39 pm