October 9, 2006 at 2:20 pm
i have been told that a swift crashed in a village called mildenhall in Wilts, while the aircraft was in its testing stages ?
i belive there is a picture of the pilot in the local church with the date of the crash !
can anyone spread some light on this ?
By: crashman - 9th October 2006 at 21:06
when i was younger my father took me to the crash site it is aronud a mile out of mildenhall, wilts in the corner of a field.
apparently the pilot died in the crash
By: Alan Clark - 9th October 2006 at 20:58
I think this is one of two crashes, one both occasions it was the same pilot (he had the displeasure of having to eject from two Swifts).
The first was Swift F. Mk.4 (P) WK272, 17/08/55, the aircraft entered a spin (during spin trials) that the pilot, G. J. Horne, could not recover from. The only clue to where is that the test was being conducted from South Marston near Swindon.
The second accident was Swift Mk.5 XD909, 25/06/56, the test on this occasion involved shuting down the engine in flight. After this it failed to relight and G. J. Horne stayed with the aircraft from 25000ft to 2800ft before abandoning the aircraft. This test was being conducted from Chilbolton
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th October 2006 at 15:44
I’m sure someone will come up with a date for you and further details.
When these entered/was entering service these kites were being sent to 33 MU Lyneham in what was called ‘C’ Site running (then) adjacent to The Calne Road. Hunters were also being modified ready for squadron service at the same time.
As my Pa was in the RAF at the time and if I was in ATC uniform I was able to go and photo some of these, I can’t be sure of the exact date of this one
but it was either 1953-54 or 55, the intakes taped up was something to do with, if my memory serves me correctly ‘flame out’ when the cannon was fired.