ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 58329
Last updated: 23 May 2013
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| Date: | 08-FEB-1956 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Hawker Hunter F1 |
| Operator: | Day Fighter Leaders School, RAF |
| Registration: | WT639 |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 2.5 miles SW of Swaffham, Norfolk -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF West Raynham, Norfolk |
| RAF Marham, Norfolk |
One of eight aircraft which had completed a 4x4 dogfighting exercise at 45,000ft. The weather at base, West Raynham, had deteriorated and Hunters diverted to Marham. They descended over West Raynham in 4 pairs to make visual approaches to Marham, making GCA talk down essential. But Marham GCA had difficulties picking up the four sections, all of which were then down to 10 minutes fuel and there was R/T congestion. In all the confusion all four sections tried to get below the clouds and find the airfield but only two landed safely.
Pilot of WT639 descended to 600ft after an unsuccessful GCA pick up, but he was still in cloud. In the climb away he lost his leader and the engine flamed out as he passed 2,500ft. Pilot ejected safely and his aircraft crashed in a forest 21/2 miles south-west of Swaffham
Sources:
Sources:
60 Years of the Hawker Hunter, 1951 to 2011 by David J. Griffin
http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1956.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_Hawker_Hunter_multiple_aircraft_accident
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%200203.html
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1956/apr/25/hunter-aircraft-report-of-inquiry#S5CV0551P0_19560425_CWA_74
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1956/mar/21/hunter-aircraft-crashes
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2009 11:55 | ASN archive | Added |
| 05-Dec-2011 13:22 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Total occupants, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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