paulmcmillanThe 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
paulmcmillan17/3/53or55 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!
paulmcmillanThe picture in todays Metro (Page 34) of Richard Allen (Fg Off Allen’s brother) is labelled ‘Andy Saunders’
I have sent an email to there corrections address
paulmcmillanTo complete story and provide full list of all on board
Consolidated Liberator 1 G-AGDR (AM918) of BOAC was shot down off the Eddystone Lighthouse, by a two Spitfires of 317 Sqn at 8:50 am 15th Feb 1942
Crew
Captain Robert Humphrey Page (first pilot)
Captain John Alexander Stuart Hunter (second pilot)
First Officer Richard John Williamson
Engineer Officer Horace Reginald John Spicer
Radio Officer Hubert France Parker.
Passengers
Brigadier Frederick Morris CB MC ROAC
Lt Col Townsend Griffiss USAAC # O-015010
Lt Charles Oliver Mansfield Vine RNR
Harold Edward Bell (RR representative)
paulmcmillansorry you are quite correct it was a Hector
But wasn’t there 2 airframes recovered in Ireland??
paulmcmillanBasil Hurle-Hobbs is actually Lt Cmdr Basil Henry St. Andrew Hurle-Hobbs an ex FAA Pilot (he was involved in the action in Norway in 1940 flying Skuas in I believe 803 Sqn). He later purchased G-ALFS a Proctor 3 built in 1943 and registered to him on 18.2.49 this was ex-LZ697
Which is the plane he planned to fly from Gatwick to Kenya with actress Jean Parnell (herself an ex WRNS) which actually crashed in East Africa at Wadi Halfa, Egypt on 16th June 1949 (without injury or loss of life).
I wonder if his passenger in 1947 was the same lady ??
paulmcmillanFrom various Air Britain Publications..
British Civil Aviation News 1956 Nov 24 1956, Vol 13 No. 22
Page 88
Croydon and Beyond
A visit to Christchurch on October 13th …..
One curiosity was a post-war built Flea, without
markings, which was apparently built by a chap in
Southampton who was not aware that he would not
be allowed to fly it.
M.J.Hooks
British Civil Aviation News 1957 Feb 9 1957, Vol 14 No. 3
The Song of the Flea
I would like to add a few comments about the
Pou-de-Ciel mentioned in, Mr. Hook’s letter in
BCAN, for November 24, 1956. I first saw this
machine on October 21st (1956), at Eastleigh Airport, where
it had been transported from Christchurch. Sometime
during November (1956), I noticed it again in the hangar
with· the nose very crumpled, one undercarriage leg
and the propeller broken, and the wings somewhat
bent. I was told that it had been “hopped” and
that the engine had failed some few feet, off , the
ground. It has since disappeared and I notice from
a letter in the “Aeroplane” that it has been taken
to pieces.” Evidently a brief, but eventful, career!”
-M. A. WARD.
British Civil Aviation News 1957 May 11 1957, Vol 14 No. 9
Page 35
Report by R.W. Smith
On April 13th (1957) I was a memher of a parry of 40
members of the Harrow & Wembley Branch who
visited Hurn and Eastieigh..
After lunch we moved on to Eastleigh.”…
The remaming space in this well-filled hangar was occupied by
the anonymous fuselages of the Pou-de-Ciel, which is fitted with a 500c.c. Scott engine
Now we need Aeroplane between November 1956 and Feb 1957 for the letter about it being dismantled. Also accident had to have happened after October 21st and end of November 1956
paulmcmillanhas anyone got a copy of Air Pic March 1957?There may be more info there.
You can actually find it on the web it’s on page 86 of March 1957 issue but does not say anything else!
paulmcmillanAir Britain Archive No 2 1991 has the following
D.53 Built at Gravesend ss type D.2 Gull Four IIIB (Cirrus Major). Registered G-ADOE to North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co Ltd, Brough 24.8.35. CofA No.5044(TM) issued 30.8.35, effective 29.8.35, and renewed 18.7.36. Flown
in King’s Cup 6/7.9.35 by Fl Lt E.C.T.Edwsrds as “26”, retired at Belfast. Used as test bed for Cirrus Majors and raced by C. S. Napier. Registered to Blackburn Aircraft Ltd, Brough 11.12.36 (Cert.7530). CofA renewed 25.8.37.
Placed 17th in King’s Cup 2.7.38 flown by Fl Lt Edwards as “6”. CofA renewed 8.9.38 and 24.7.39. Surveyed for Impressment, Bristol, 1.9.39; allocated NAC.l but remained with owners as wartime communications sircrsft. CofA
extended to 27.3.41 (from 28.3.40?), noted 31.12.42 as “still on British Civil Aircraft Register”. CofA renewed 28.3.41, 15.5.42 and 3.3.44. Registered to Air Couriers Ltd, Bristol 5.3.45. Converted to Gull Four III (Gipsy Major), CofA renewed 22.3.46, 11.4.47. Registered to George Chappelle-Knight, Jersey 12.4.47 and ditched in the English Channel off Ferring, Sussex 7.10.47; pilot W.Basil Hurle-Hobbs and passenger rescued unhurt. Registration cancelled 27.11.47 as wfu.
paulmcmillanAre there a pile of data plates in that barn as well ??
paulmcmillanAir Britain Aeromilitaria Summer 1998
20 W.34 Wyvern pre-production aircraft ordered 24.6.46 under
Contract 6/Acft/S080/CB.9(a) to Spec N.11144 and numbered
VR131 to VR150. Only delivered to VR134. VR141 onwards
cancelled. (2,690 R-R Eagle 22)
VR136 Not delivered; to Gosport 5.5.50 (ex CS(A) charge) as
instructional airframe; derelict at Gosport 1959, coded
“916” (spurious local code). sometime after 7.59 it was
pushed into a chalk pit, along with other aircraft, on the
boundary of Gosport (used as a fire pit) and a bulldozer
then filled in the pit [Probably either A2226 or A2228].
paulmcmillanAir Britain Aeromilitaria Summer 1998
20 W.34 Wyvern pre-production aircraft ordered 24.6.46 under
Contract 6/Acft/S080/CB.9(a) to Spec N.11144 and numbered
VR131 to VR150. Only delivered to VR134. VR141 onwards
cancelled. (2,690 R-R Eagle 22)
VR136 Not delivered; to Gosport 5.5.50 (ex CS(A) charge) as
instructional airframe; derelict at Gosport 1959, coded
“916” (spurious local code). sometime after 7.59 it was
pushed into a chalk pit, along with other aircraft, on the
boundary of Gosport (used as a fire pit) and a bulldozer
then filled in the pit [Probably either A2226 or A2228].
paulmcmillanThe aircraft construction number 4681 of the Douglas Aircraft allowed it to be positively identified as CNAC 60.
This makes it 41-18556
from http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_3.html
41-18556 (c/n 4681) to USAAF Sep 02, 1942 – 10th AF, India Oct 14, 1942. Diverted to Chinese National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) Dec 18, 1942. Missing during flight from Kunming to Dinjan Nov 17, 1942.
paulmcmillanThe aircraft construction number 4681 of the Douglas Aircraft allowed it to be positively identified as CNAC 60.
This makes it 41-18556
from http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_3.html
41-18556 (c/n 4681) to USAAF Sep 02, 1942 – 10th AF, India Oct 14, 1942. Diverted to Chinese National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) Dec 18, 1942. Missing during flight from Kunming to Dinjan Nov 17, 1942.
paulmcmillanAmerican Aviation Historical Society – 1987
“Mr. Soplata does not have a complete Thunderbolt, but he does have the fuselage of another P-47N that was never completed. He obtained it from Earl Reinert, who had worked for Republic and saved several incomplete airframes from the from the Evansville factory”
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