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Wed, Jan 07 2004, 0:55:28 [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2 ]

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Date Posted: 13/06/13 13:47:13
Author: Alan King
Subject: Re: vulcan accident
In reply to: B. Valentine 's message, "vulcan accident" on 28/02/04 15:13:12

Thank you very much John. This is a final piece in a very complicated jigsaw. Two aircrew family members and friend I am associated with will only now have the full story.
The media and political debate, plus the parliamentary 'waffle' that followed this tragic and totally avoidable incident make very uncomfortable reading.

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[> [> Re: vulcan accident -- Maurice R Hamlin, 14/11/14 18:27:05

Air Vice Marshall Broadhurst was totally responsible for the Crash of RAF Vulcan XA897 at London Airport 1956

Despite his exceptional war record he was guilty of seeking more glory by placing attendance at an international media reception at greater importance than the safety of his crew.
Recorded Facts -
On the morning of the Vulcan’s return flight from Australia the weather at Heathrow was atrocious with extremely poor visibility and the RAF Vulcan aircraft was not equipped to use the Civil Instrument Landing Systems installed at Heathrow airport.
The air ministry considered that a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) system approach was not possible and I as senior NCO I/C the signals centre at Bomber Command H.Q. Signals Centre, High Wycombe was ordered to send a Class A diversion order to the Captain, Squadron Leader D.R.Howard, which was acknowledged by the Vulcan’s electronics officer Sqdn Ldr Gamble but the aircraft made no attempt to divert.
At about 1300 a further Class A diversion order was transmitted, again ignored, lastly just minutes before the aircraft attempted to land I was again ordered to send the third Class A diversion order, it was again acknowledged but again the pilots ignored the order.

When we heard that it had crashed killing the four rear cabin crewmembers whilst the pilots ejected and survived we were all horrified, all of those present loudly condemning Broadhurst for his total lack of thought for his crew.

Immediately we were ordered that no mention of the incident was to be discussed with anyone outside of HQ. I was so incensed that I phoned the newspapers.
This was when I was threatened with a Court Marshal and the media received a 50 year D notice disallowing any reporting of the true facts;

However, my description of what factually occurred can be corroborated by one of the radio operators (also an aircrew Sergeant Signaler on a rest tour at the time) who was on duty and sent two of the diversion messages. He is still alive after retiring from a well respected career in civil aviation.

Anyone who thinks that it was S/Ldr Howard who ignored the three Class A diversions is suffering from delusions, the Sqdn Leader was just not strong enough to stand up to the bullying of the AVM to ignore the diversions. Refusal of which in any other circumstance would have meant a Court Martial.

There is no doubt that Broadhurst had had a brilliant war time career and been appropriately decorated for gallantry, but this was not war and the only aim was self aggrandisements.

Were they court marshaled for killing their crew? No, Broadhurst was moved over to NATO and Howard promoted to Wing Commander.

I feel the dead men’s relatives should know the truth.

Maurice R Hamlin.
Ex Flt/Sgt Wop/AG – Air Signaler 1943 – 1964
hamlin@practicalspain.com 00 34 96 296 0920 or Skype

For the full truth and total story see ISBN: 9781784079314

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