Navy aircraft loss Northumberland ID help

**Chris Davies** · 21st October 2015, 09:34

I have posted this on another forum as well to try and cover the mystery aircraft.

A long shot but with minimal information.

I have witnesses to an aircraft which belly landed in Northumberland.
It was twin engine (propeller)/maybe not!
Believed to be Navy aircraft
Crew survived
late 1950s or very early 1960s
Longhorsley, Northumberland

Can anyone fill in the very large gaps

Regards

Chris

**Chris Davies** · 22nd November 2015, 10:21

It would appear this was not a Navy aircraft but civilian.
However, the details are still the same (very slim).#
I am now looking at very early 1960s. (possible 61,62 and 63 at the latest)

regards

Chris

**Lyffe** · 22nd November 2015, 11:20

Chris,

Could it be Jet Provest XP635 which crashed at Longhorsley on 18 April 1963? The crew (Flt Lt B M Shadbolt/Pt Off D Gladwin) ejected before the crash, and there is the pilot's account - and photo - at http://www.jetprovostfile.org/jet-provost-crashes/. Scroll down to the 1963 incidents. (I just Googled aeroplane longhorsley.)

Brian

**Chris Davies** · 22nd November 2015, 17:22

Hi Brian,
Sadly no, XP635 came down at Witton Shields, Longhorsley.
I am guided to the east, between Todburn Moor and Todburn East.

Regards

Chris

**bruce dennis** · 22nd November 2015, 17:26

Hello Chris,
Have the local newspapers been contacted?

Bruce

**Chris Davies** · 22nd November 2015, 17:43

I have searched 1957/8/9 so far.
Hopefully next week I will get 1960/1/2&3 sifted through.

The main newspaper for the area has closed the archives and moved them to Manchester? (I did have a contact when it was at Newcastle).

Regards

Chris

**bruce dennis** · 22nd November 2015, 17:51

The local library in most places usually has a source for old newspapers, perhaps on microfilm or at a larger library serving the satelites. More than once I have found they can point you towards some local history society who would LOVE to answer such questions.

HTH,
Regards,
Bruce

**Alex Smart** · 23rd November 2015, 02:10

Hello,
From "Broken Wings", ukserials.com & naval-history.net.

1956 - 4th Nov, Anson C12, PH782 - APS - U/c collapsed on Take off Acklington.
1957 - 15th Apl, Meteor NF.11, WD725 - 29 Sqn - lost power on ground and caught fire.
1957 - 8th Aug, Meteor T.11, VW488 - 13 Gp CF - 1m WNW of Belsay, Northumberland - dived into ground after T/O from Ouston in bad weather, two killed.
1957 - 20th Sept, Varsity T.1, WL640 - 2 ANS - Falstone, Northumberland - Broke up in air on Navex, five killed.
1957 - 13th Dec, Hunter F.6 XG202 - 66 Sqn - 11/4m NNE of Morpeth, Northumberland - Engine flame out abandoned as ASI not working.
1958 - 14th Feb, Hunter F.6 XG236 - 66 Sqn - near Kielder Reservoir, N,umberland - control lost in cloud dived into ground, one killed.
1958 - 7th Jly, Meteor T.7 WL422 - 29 Sqn - Damaged Acklington (?) declared a write off.
1961 - 5th Aug, Whirlwind HAR.4 XL113 - 228 Sqn - Cullercoats Bay, Northumberland - engine cut during winching practice, ditched and sank.
1961 - 4th Spt, Vampire T.11 XD592 - 1 FTS - Radio failed, crew ejected due to low fuel, a/c crashed nr Acklington.
1961 - 18th Set, Provost T.1 WV623 - 6 FTS - Night landing ground looped, Acklington.
1961 - 25th Spt, Provost T.1 WV564 - 6 FTS - landing accident Acklington DBR.
1962 - 16th Jan, Provost T.1 WV607 - 6 FTS - Airframe overstressed following high speed vertical dive, a/c written off.
1962 - 27th Mch, Jet Provost T.3 XN599 - 6FTS - Swung off runway on landing, Acklington.
1962 - 8th May, Jet Provost T.3 XM422 - 6 FTS - Crashed Acklington, Aerobatics, one killed.
1962 - 9th May, Jet Provost T.3 XN604 - 6 FTS - Crased Felton crew ejected following false fire warning.
1962 - 18th May, Javelin FAW.9 XH755 - 33 Sqn - 7m E of Tynemouth, Northumberland - Control lost, abandoned in spin, one killed.
1962 - 14th Aug, Jet Provost's XF684 & XF903 - 6 FTS - Night collision, both a/c crashed, both crews killed.
1962 - 17th Oct, Jet Provost T.3 - 6 FTS - A/c stalled Ouston, Iraqi student pilot injured.

FAA losses.
1957
19th Feb - three killed.- JOHNSON, Peter T S/Lt.; SUTHERLAND, Alistair P/O (T); TURNER Geoffrey S Lt. [ GANNET AS4 - XA415(283/CU)].
28th Mch - 831 Sqn - two killed. - HUNT, Reginald C Lt. [Wyvern WP343(384/O)] ; MAGGS, Maurice S/Lt. [Wyvern WL887(383/O)].
3rd Aug - 891 Sqn - two killed. - BURT, Brian W Lt.; TOWNEND, Anthony Lt. [ Sea Venom XG619 (435/B)].
20th Aug - 814 Sqn - two killed. - LLEWELLYN, Raymond K (A) LT(A); SWAYNE,William P.H Lt(O). [ Gannet AS4 - XA416(285/CU ? )].

1958
12th Mch - 891 Sqn - two killed. - JAKEMAN, John K Lt; MARTIN, Philip M S/Lt. [ Sea Venom XG728(436/B)].
1st May - 766 Sqn - two killed. - FERGUSON, William A.M Lt/Cdr; MOORE, Michael A. Lt(O) [ Sea Venom XG609(730)].
23rd Jly - HMS Eagle air crash, two killed. - HAMON, Arthur G Lt; HAYWARD, Alan J S/Lt. [ Sea Venom XG689(490/E)].
25th Jly - Air crash Taunton, two killed. - WEBSTER, W. John Lt; WOOD, Brian C Lt. [Sea Venom XG625(463/R)].
25th Sept - 803 Sqn - - one killed. -RUSSELL, John D Cdr (P). [ Scimitar F.1 XD240(145/V)].

1959
21st Apl - 815 Sqn - one killed. - PHILLIPS, Gerald C. A/B UC2(A). [ ?].
26th May - 891 Sqn - one killed. - BUSHE, Charles R Lt/Cdr.[ Sea Venom WW289(437)].
17th Sept - 814 Sqn. - three killed. - FOWLER, Peter LRO(R.O) 1c(A); GLASS, Peter B Lt(O); WEBSTER, John N Lt. [ GanneT AS.4 XA424(283/CU)].
19th Sept - air crash RAF Chivenor,two killed. - CHAPMAN, David S CPO(REL)(A) [ Sea Venom WW297(737/VL) ]; MILLER, Robin W.H Lt(O). [ Sea Venom XG617(733/VL)].
7th Oct - HMS Centaur air crash, two killed. - MEEK, Cecil A Lt(O); OGILVY, Ian W Lt. [ Sea Venom WW213(437)].

1960
24th Feb - Air crash Culdrose two killed. - HARDY, Roger A Midshipman ; HILL, Colin A Lt. [ Skyraider AEW.1 WT963(425)].
Others but abroad and Scotland so not in area wanted.

1961
7th Jly - 781 Sqn air crash, one killed. - GUEST, Robert P. LAC.CX [ There are only a links to Sea Heron XR443 and Meteor TT20 WM260(863/HF).BUT dates do not match for a death].
10th Nov - 700 Sqn air crash - one killed. - ANDERSON, Graham I (A)P/O(A) [ ? ].

1962
9th Apl - air collision Seahawk - six killed. - ARMSTRONG, John M S/Lt(O); HOFMANN, Graham P. S/Lt(P) ; PRICE, Norman E S/LT [ Gannet aew.3 xp197(414) ] BARRON, Michael Lt(O); McCONKEY, Michael A. Midshipman ; PROYER, Peter A Lt/Cdr. [ Gannet AEW.3 XL499(426/V) ].
6th May - Air crash Hampshire two killed. - BOUCHER, George L LSA ; VERNALL, John A.W L()REM. [ ? ].
18th Aug - air crash Scotland - two killed. - DAY, Maurice J. Lt; FOOTE, William W lT(USN) (attached). [ Buccaner S.1 XK535(684/LM) ].
23rd Aug - Air crash Yeovilton, Somerset - two killed. - EYTON-JONES, Richard H. Lt(P); SCOTT, David G (A)S/Lt. [ Sea Vixen FAW.1 XJ493 {766 Sqn, 721/VL(?)} ].
27th Nov - Seahawk, air collision off Eire - six killed. - GRIFFITH, John H. Lt(P); MAYCOCK, Peter. Lt; HALLEY, George C. Lt[ Gannet AS.4 XA414(393/CU); BLANCHETT, Christopher J.Lt; MARTIN, Peter L. Lt; TULLEY, Brian R. Lt. [ Gannet AS.4 XG798(397/CU) ].

REF for above FAA aircraft was: AB's "FAA Fixed Wing Aircraft since 1946".
Alex

**Chris Davies** · 23rd November 2015, 08:10

Hi Alex,

A massive reply thank you.
I have been to all the sites you have mentioned, one or two are incorrect and I have located the exact sites.
It would appear that the aircraft is most probably civilian. My first eyewitness thought it was Navy but two others believe it was civilian.

Regards

Chris