Wadhurst Crash

There were literally scores of wartime fatal accidents caused by impromptu aerobatics over family or girlfriends’ houses. Tee Em sometimes publicised them in an attempt to influence others. I thought about doing an article for FlyPast but decided that the subject was too unpleasant to publicise. No harm in compiling records of them, though. My wife’s cousin admits to flying a Mustang all the way from Keevil (61 OTU) to Birkenhead to beat up his mother’s house. She said that he almost knocked the chimney pot off and I hope this was an exaggeration. He was supposed to be on a local flight!

[QUOTE=paulmcmillan]

performing aerobatics for his mother and failed to pull out of a dive. QUOTE]

Interesting quote, I wonder if anybody has ever done any statistical evaluation of the percentage where aircraft crash doing aerobatics in relation to the location where their parents/girlfriends/wife/home location.. compared to crashes outside this area.

I have come across numerous references to this, I wish I had kept a record of them all…

Paul

I have looked at details of the crash on the Tarrant Rushton site and he was performing for a “female friend” but had also performed aerobatics for his mother who lived nearby in the village of Stanford Dingley. I also recall a Hungarian Mig 23 or 27 crash at an airshow some years back where it was felt that the presence of family / friends were a contributing factor. Maybe it makes people more reckless??

[QUOTE=Old Git]performing aerobatics for his mother and failed to pull out of a dive. QUOTE]

Interesting quote, I wonder if anybody has ever done any statistical evaluation of the percentage where aircraft crash doing aerobatics in relation to the location where their parents/girlfriends/wife/home location.. compared to crashes outside this area.

I have come across numerous references to this, I wish I had kept a record of them all…

Paul

Very interesting – it put me in mind of another Meteor crash in 1953 at Upper Basildon in Berkshire where the pilot had been performing aerobatics for his mother and failed to pull out of a dive. Some time ago a friend had asked me to find out the details for the parish magazine. I can’t rememebr the serial but I think it was from Tarrant Rushton.

Hi

Just looked at this one, very interesting, looks a good read.

thanks

colin

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