A late response, but found details of this appalling accident, that took 12 lives.
This, on the same day that another Mosquito displaying at Lichfield crashed onto a hospital causing a further 12 fatalities.
It is a wonder that air displays were not banned on the spot. Perhaps the recent war had hardened attitudes to loss of life. Slow rolling at low level has taken such a toll over the years.
12 KILLED AT AIR DISPLAY – MOSQUITO CRASHES ON CARS.
MARGATE, Sept.19 1948 ( From our Correspondent )
Twelve persons, including three children, lost their lives when a Mosquito aircraft crashed on a road crowded with occupied cars during a Battle of Britain air display at Manston on Saturday. Three persons are in hospital with multiple burns, and two of them are in a critical condition. Six others were discharged after treatment for burns.
The pilot, whose wife saw the accident, had led a flight of three aircraft in high-speed formation flying before breaking away to give an exhibition of aerobatics. He had twice dived at over 400 m.p.h. and then roared past the public enclosure. Gaining height he began a slow roll from which he did not pull out. The machine crashed on a road crowded with people and cars. The petrol tanks exploded and burning debris was scattered in all directions, setting fire to several cars. The intense heat hampered the work of rescuers and three victims were burnt to death in one car.
One of the victims, Mrs. Gertrude ANDREWS, whose husband is with the R.A.F. in Malta, was cycling along the road with her three-year-old son in a basket on the carrier. Her 11-year-old son was cycling ahead and was unaware that his mother and brother had been killed until later in the day when he reported to police that he could not find them. Mr. Guy FARR, 33, a solicitor, of The Close, Wilmington, Dartford, his wife, and two young children had a fortunate escape. Their car caught fire and they were pulled out by farm workers. After treatment in hospital for burns they were allowed to go home.
The Mayor of Margate, Alderman W. J. PERKINS, to-day opened a fund to assist relatives of victims, and the local branch of the R.A.F. Association has promised a donation from the proceeds of its appeal made during the Battle of Britain week. At Margate Parish Church this morning, when a commemoration service was held to mark the close of Battle of Britain week, two minutes’ silence was observed for the victims.
The following is a list of the dead :-
Miss Marjorie G. D. ASTELL, 42, of Grange Cottage, Chislehurst:
Stuart Graham CHIESMAN, 13, of Calderwood, Chislehurst:
Frances Claire LEWIS, 13, of First Avenue, Kingsgate, near Margate:
Peter Charles SCOTT, 19, of Addiscombe Road, Margate:
Charles Edward TAYLOR, 35, of Marden Avenue, Ramsgate :
Mrs. Muriel LAWRENCE, 48, Dane Valley Road, Margate:
Mrs. Gertrude ANDREWS, 38, of Dane Gardens, Margate, and her son Brent ANDREWS, 3 :
Frederick Edward RUSTIN, 67, of Bletchley Road, Bletchley, Bucks :
Miss Marie ALLAN, 21, of Merrick Square, London, S.E. :
Flight Lieutenant G. H. HANSON, 29, pilot of the aircraft, and
Flight Lieutenant J. MARTIN, 46, of Farnborough, Hants, the navigator.
Source: The Times, Monday, Sept. 20, 1948; pg.4; Issue 51181; col F.
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