Post-war Wellington accidents

Welcome David – and Happy Christmas.

I am sure Steve, the original poster, will be along some time soon.

Moggy

Hi Steve,
My name is David Bryce, I was one of the trainee navigators on the wellington NC952 on 20th June 1952. the other was Ken Grieves (not sure of spelling). am alive and well living in Perth, Australia. I am sure it was a collision and would be willing to answer any questions you may have although it was a long time ago.
Regards David Bryce

Good morning all,

I am seeking information on two post-war Wellington accidents; both mid-air collisions. One on 20 June 1952 was between Wellington T.10 NC925 and Meteor T.7 WA777 over Calveston, Notts, and the other was on 17 March 1948 between T.10s RP499 and RP565 in the circuit at Topcliffe. I particularly need the identities of the crews involved please.

Thanks.

Nottingham Evening Post 20th June 1952.

WELLINGTON BOMBER WRECKED NEAR CALVERTON LIDO.

JET BURNT OUT IN CABBAGE FIELD AT PAPPLEWICK.

Two planes a Wellington bomber and Meteor jet crashed four miles apart in Notts today. The occupants of both machines escaped injury. The County fire Service received the first call (to the Meteor) at 10.26 a.m. And the other (Wellington) at 10.39 a.m.

The remains of the shattered fuselage of a twin-engined Wellington bomber lay scattered for 100 yards on a hillside overlooking Calverton Lido after the plane had crashed there.

The marine came from Thorney Island aerodrome on a cross country exercise. One of the engines exploded over Ilkeston, and the sargent pilot, realising the plane could not be brought home safely, gave orders to bale out. He and his two passengers – two young RAF trainees landed in fields nearby. They suffered only from bruises. Mr F W Fitchette, managing director of Calverton Lido, gave them a cup of tea in his café and telephoned to their HQ.

Meanwhile the plane had whistled over the Lido, rapidly loosing height, had hit the hillside above the caravans, and ploughed up the hill 50 yards to come to rest astride a hedge.

It left a trail behind it of shattered struts, mica glass, tortured sheets of aluminium and finely splintered wood. It did not catch fire.

For almost another 50 yards beyond the wreck, pieces of the fuse large were lying in the ploughed field on the other side of the hedge, including the main part of the undercarriage.

Part of the wing still adhered to the fuselage; the other one lay scattered in barely distinguishable pieces.

An RAF fire engine and ambulance and a civil ambulance and cars carrying RAF officers and police quickly converged on Calverton. The RAF ambulance took the pilot and two trainees back to Hucknall.

METEOR LOST WING

A Meteor jet plane from Newton aerodrome crashed in a field of young cabbages off Forest Lane Papplewick., exploded and burnt itself out. The pilot had baled out.

The machine lost a wing that dropped near Seven Mile House on the main Mansfield Road – rolled over and over as it flew over a wood, and skimmed hedges before crashing to earth.

As it crashed it scattered debris over a wide area, causing farm labourers to dive into the hedge bottom for cover.

DIVE FOR SAFETY.

A graphic description of the crash was given to a Post reported by people who saw the plane’s progress.

George Coldwell, a farm labourer, was working in a field of potatoes on Mr J A Marshall’s farm.

“The plane zoomed over the treetops from the Mansfield Road direction,” he said, and Flower, a mare with which he was working jumped for yards.

“The plane was barrel-rolling over and over. It broke into flames just over a wood near by and I thought it ad dropped into the barley field on the other side. But then I saw its trail of smoke from the Papplewick direction.”

Tom Borrill, 26 year old farm labourer, and Frank Mies, his companion, who were working in a sugar beet field took up the story.

“Hearing a roar” said Mr Borrill, “we looked up and and saw the plane coming from the Papplewick direction in flames, “with only one wing.”

“It roared down little more than head high and we dived to the ground as it skimmed over the hedge. Then it exploded.” Mr Miles added “It came tearing down the hedge side, and if we had not lain down it would have taken us with it.”

Nearest to the actual crash was 72 year old William Alfred Judson, who was hoeing beet further down the field.

“I did not hear the plane coming” he said “but I heard the bang and looked up to find bits and pieces flying all around me.”

“It reminded me of the First World War when we dived into a shell hole to escape flying shrapnel because I dropped down pretty quickly and then ran to my pals.”

Tom and Frank immediately ran to the plane to see what they could do. “But we could see there was no pilot in it and there was nothing else we could do” said Tom.

Firemen from the County Fire Service and from Hucknall aerodrome finally put the flames out, the flames with foam extinguishers, leaving the plane a mass of twisted burnt metal surrounded by white foam.

In Papplewick itself, at the Nook, Main Street, Mrs Florence Hollingsworth was making the beds when she heard the plane. “I remarked to my three year old daughter, Kathleen, ‘that aeroplane is having engine trouble’ she told the Post.

“Then I looked out of the window and saw it come down in flames shoot up like a fountain. I have never seen a plane crash before and I never want to another.”

The pilot was Flight Sargent Warner. He landed by parachute about two miles from west of Calverton and received treatment from a Calverton doctor, Dr D A G Kaye, for leg abrasions before being taken to Nottingham General Hospital. He was not detained.

Nottingham Evening Post 21st June 1952

TWO NOTTS PLANE CRASHES REPORT OF MID-AIR COLLISION DENIED

A twin-engined Wellington bomber and Meteor jet plane crashed within four miles of each other yesterday, north of Nottingham.

The Meteor pilot, Flight Sargent Warner, from Newton baled out and landed by parachute near Calverton. He was treated by Dr D A G Kaye before being taken to the General Hospital with shock.

The Wellington was on a training exercise from Thorney island near Portsmouth. Over Ilkeston at 9,000 feet its engine blew up.

The Sargent Pilot ordered the two trainees to bale out then baled out himself. They landed in fields nearby, and got only bruises.

It was at first believed that the planes collided, but late last night an Air Ministry spokesman said that there was no collision.

No pictures and no mention of the accidents in the paper for the following days.

Well it has to be Calverton. The incident must have been reported in the Nottingham papers. I will try to find some time to go to the Central Library and see if I find something out.

Edit.

As I thought front page Nottingham Evening Post 20th June.

Wellington came down at Calverton Lido which is now a fish farm I think.

Meteor crashed near Papplewick, four miles away. Somewhere around the farm of J A Marshall. I knew Mrs Marshall in the 19060s and 70s so the farm is Bottom House Farm on the A60 Mansfield Road.

Air Ministry said there was no collision.

Back after I have transcribed my notes.

Steve I’ve not come across the Notts incident in my local research, but could I suggest that the village might be spelt – Calverton.

Thanks again Brian, this is just what I needed.

Steve

Just found the 1948 accident, Steve.

It is covered in considerable detail at http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/rp565.html . The link also provides photographs.

Brian

Many thanks indeed Brian, that is very helpful.

Steve

Steve,

20 June 1952: Sgt Pilot Atanackovic (Polish) was instructing two un-named pupils. All landed safely by parachute. The Meteor pilot was Flt Sgt C Warner, who also used his parachute (The Times, 21 June, 1952).

Regret the paper did not record the 1948 accident; nor does Flight.

Brian