Blackburn Beverley Crash -- The Royal Air Force

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- John Cooper, 21/07/04 13:28:54

Mick

I believe you are right in that a non return fuel valve was fitted incorrectly and I am sorry to hear that one of those on board was a relative of yours.

I too had a cousin who was seriously burned in a helicopter accident in Rutland, he lived a few more years before dying of a heart attack.

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- veronica, 27/04/06 20:22:52

my name is Veronica
I have just read the posts on voy.com and would
dearly love to get hold of those reports and get in contact
with anyone who new my father
Sergeant Douglas Robinson,
he was on board that flight.
I was a baby when he died and sadly never knew him
my mother never told me and would never talk about him.
After 50years it just never went away so i decided to do some research in order to lay it to rest and find my uncle
his brother Brian who also was in the RAF.

I have come across the son of the RAF Chaplin/reverend who was involved in the rescue and I am waiting for information from him.
Apart from the info on this web site I have a photo of the military funeral with some members I presume of the squadron (that also is unknown to me) and know that he along with others from the crash are buried in abingdon.
I was thinking of putting up a website in memory of my father and all the other men who died for the 50th Anniversary next year, and would like to get hold of the passenger list.

Any info and photos would be deeply appreciated.
Veronica

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Steve Davies via J Cooper, 4/08/04 8:36:06

I now have a detailed account plus a couple of photographs of this crash sent to me by a team researching this prang. It resulted in a non return fuel being fitted incorrectly by a Senior Technician, starving # 1 & 2 engines of fuel.

I will not post the details here as it is quite a harrowing report but if anyone should need this information please contact me and I will forward it on.

Thanks to those that have resolved this query.

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- veronica, 27/04/06 20:25:10

my name is Veronica
I have just read the posts on voy.com and would
dearly love to get hold of those reports and get in contact
with anyone who new my father
Sergeant Douglas Robinson,
he was on board that flight.
I was a baby when he died and sadly never knew him
my mother never told me and would never talk about him.
After 50years it just never went away so i decided to do some research in order to lay it to rest and find my uncle
his brother Brian who also was in the RAF.

I have come across the son of the RAF Chaplin/reverend who was involved in the rescue and I am waiting for information from him.
Apart from the info on this web site I have a photo of the military funeral with some members I presume of the squadron (that also is unknown to me) and know that he along with others from the crash are buried in abingdon.
I was thinking of putting up a website in memory of my father and all the other men who died for the 50th Anniversary next year, and would like to get hold of the passenger list.

Any info and photos would be deeply appreciated.
Veronica

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Linda Owen, 8/05/06 21:54:23

Like Veronica I too lost my Dad, Walter James Owen (Wally) in the same air crash at Sutton Wick. Since this morning we are now exchanging e-mails along with John Cooper.
Although I was told about the crash by my Mum and have newspaper cuttings and photos, I too would be grateful if you could forward me the crash report and any further information you may have.
Thank you.
Linda

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[> [> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- katy binnington, 28/04/13 22:16:20

Katy, is Pappas name Anthony and one of his sisters Sue. I am more than convinced this is so and if correct please contact me.
Was Popps Pa head of MG Abingdon?
Did Auntie Sue work at Esso Research at the time of that awful inncodent?
If so Aunty would have been working with my sisters Corinne and Norma West.
Aunty Sue did marry a chap called Robin, but not for long!
I really look forward to hearing from you.

Andrew West

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Katy Binnington, 9/10/07 20:12:17

I am the grandaughter of one of the victims on the ground. Also in the house was a young man taking an electricity reading. Could ask you please to e mail me the reports as my father still hates talking about it and I really would love to learn what happened. Thanks with anticipation.

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Brian Whitehead, 13/05/09 2:18:24

I have just come accross your post now, so this request may be a little late, but if you have any details of the accident I woud like to see them. I worked on Beverleys in the RAF, and I beleive the technician who made the error was a fellow student during training, allthough I was posted to a different unit. In my present job I am involved in aircraft regulation and strategies to avoid this kind of human error, which regretably still happen, so I am particularly interested in this accident because of the personal link as well as the professional one.

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Steve Davies via J Cooper, 4/08/04 8:37:33

I now have a detailed account plus a couple of photographs of this crash sent to me by a team researching this prang. It resulted in a non return fuel valve being fitted incorrectly by a Senior Technician, starving # 1 & 2 engines of fuel.

I will not post the details here as it is quite a harrowing report but if anyone should need this information please contact me and I will forward it on.

Thanks to those that have resolved this query.

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- ralph williams, 16/11/04 21:53:08

on the day of the crash i was working as a cook in no.2 sergeants mess, we had a view of all take offs, and landings.The Beverly looked like it was coming in to land on one engine,as this sometimes happened, we thought no more of it until a short time later when the emergency alarms went off.
the plane had crashed about four miles on, in a village called Drayton.

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- John Cooper, 24/11/05 20:06:49

I have had another query on this accident today, so if anyone can add anything further please do so

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- mike smith, 25/11/15 13:20:35

Hello Pearl,
I am researching my late brothers Squadron in order to compile a detailed Roll of Honour. As part of this I am tring to establish family details,parents burial etc. Am I right in assuming that your parents were William H and Josephine Gorst
and that your Mums maiden name was Simpson ? Any info. that I can give you on the other casualties please email me.
regards Mike

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Phil Gill, 30/08/10 19:21:16

My deepest sympathies to all those concerned on here. I have a link to you dear people in that:- My Mother had had a very bad traffic accident while my Father was serving in Cyprus with the RAF Police. My brother and I were only just turned 2 yrs old at the time, Mothers accident was 1st December 1956 and she was hospitalised in RAF Halton for about 6 months having almost lost both legs, let alone her life. The Medical Team at Halton were superb, and Mum remembers this aircraft accident well. While she was being attended to in "early March 57" she remembers a "terribly burnt young man" was brought into her ward. She says she remembers his name as being a John Ludlum, and recalls he was the "2nd pilot" and believes he was a FltLt, I am unable to confirm his name, but from what Mum tells me it sounds like the same chap. After some time in hospital Mum was able to get mobile and help the other patients. She says one day she went into Johns room to help him, and was stricken by his awful wounds (my sincere apologies for being graphic, but it is how Mum recalls it and relays it to me) and immediately left his room. He called for the Nurse and asked her "who was that gorgeous woman who was just in the room". Well, Mum was gently persuaded to help John further and continued to assist the Medics/Nurses with his care. She described being told one day that John had indeed made sufficient recovery to leave hospital and return to duty, but was also told he had "not been able to cope with the reality of the accident and had taken his life". As far as she recalls he shot himself whilst on duty in Germany, but a report I read recently says he "died after his MG hit a bridge". She also says they laughed together at him "looking like the invisible man" dressed in his bandages, and to this day has a vivid recollection of helping him. Should any of "Johns" relatives or friends be reading this, then please be assured he did have some laughs with my Mother. My most sincere condolences to everybody concerned.

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Charles DEGNAN, 25/08/13 11:10:19

I was on same dog course as the 8 dog handlers that died on take off from RAF addington, I passed out with dog name RHETT, I was allowed to have another dog named Carlo. RHETT went on aircraft to Cyprus, another dog handler named Bill surname unknown also left his dog which also died on the plane. I WOULD ALSO HAVE DIED BUT LUCK WAS ON MY SIDE. I attended the funeral of some of my course. I know live in Brisbane and trained and handled the first police dog in Australia.

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[> [> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- arthur burns, 16/11/14 18:12:32

I to was stationed at Abingdon at the time of the crash (in the station workshop) and spent the day after on guard of the wreckage whilst the investigation took place. A very sad time.

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Brian Drew, 18/12/14 14:09:47

On some XH411 reports it mentions 2 Dog Handlers off loaded. They were replacement;s at Luqa, Malta. They were , We only knew him as Ginge Challand and the second Andy Manning. Andy informs me Ginge went a funny shade of green when the second aircraft they finished up on lost an engine when they completed their journey.

Brian Drew Dog Handler, Luqa.

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash Memorial -- Iain Henderson, 2/04/15 23:13:31

To all interested parties, following on from the unveiling of a temporary memorial at Sutton Wick Lane several weeks ago by the Veterans Charity.

This summer a further memorial telling of the tragic events will be unveiled at Fort Paull, nr Hull, East Yorkshire in the last Beverely aircraft. Should anyone wish to attend please contact me. Regards

Iain

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Mike Smith, 25/11/15 13:10:49

I am researching all of 53 Squadrons accidents since ww1,for a Roll of Honour and have some of the crew and passenger list details. I am missing the burial details for the the following personel and wonder if anyone can help.
Sgt Walter James Owen
Sgt Gordon M. Woodhouse
AC 1Tony Fredrick Blakey
AC 1William Henry Gorst
If I can help anyone with information of other personel who were on board XH117 please contact me.
regards Mike

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[> Re: Blackburn Beverley Crash -- Iain Henderson, 17/02/17 22:08:25

The 60th Anniversary Event of the Sutton Wick Air Crash will start at 10am on the 5th of March 2017 and start at St Peters Church, Church Lane, Drayton, 0X14 4JS.

There will be a service at the Church which will be followed by a Wreath laying service at the Memorial in Sutton Wick Lane. Which is a ten minute walk from the Church or a short drive.

Please park with consideration for local residents both at the Church and at the Memorial site in Sutton Wick Lane. Thank you.

Please contact The Memorial Mob on thememorialmob@aol.com for further details and if you would like to support this event.