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Date: | Tuesday 29 August 1961 |
Time: | |
Type: | Gloster Javelin FAW.8 |
Owner/operator: | 41 Sqn RAF |
Registration: | XH971 |
MSN: | |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Location: | Geilenkirchen (ETNG) (NRW) -
Germany
|
Phase: | Approach |
Nature: | Military |
Departure airport: | |
Destination airport: | RAF Geilenkirchen (ETNG) |
Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:Gloster Javelin FAW.8 XH971 ("A" of 41 Squadron RAF) was written off on 29/8/1961:destroyed to due break up of airframe during formation "run and break" - following structural failure - over the runway at RAF Geilenkirchen, West Germany. Both crew - Pilot Flt. Lt. John Lawrence Hatch, and Navigator Flt. Lt. John Charles Patrick Nothall - underwent a spontaneous (not crew-commanded) ejection and were killed
Per eyewitness report from Cpl/Tech Peter Harden: "...my own recollections and those of a fellow serviceman are that the Gloster Javelin FAW8 XH971 which crashed at RAF Geilenkirchen on 26th August 1961 did not break up just as a result of structural failure.
I was an airframe fitter on 3 Sqn at RAF Geilenkirchen and was a passenger on an aircraft towing-tractor up at the Canberra Quick Reaction Alert revetments when the two Javelins were flying over the airfield in formation. The Javelin which broke up actually had a slight collision with the surviving Javelin and then began to break up. The port wing spiralled down right above us and actually landed about 3 metres behind the tractor causing the tractor to actually shudder. The starboard wing spiralled on to the married quarters and hit the ground in gardens behind the houses.
I told my squadron commander of these events but I was not called to give my evidence. There were several other mechanics etc on board the tractor (this was a common practice for ground crew who wished to get around the airfield) who could also have borne witness to this event"
Sources:
1. Air Britain: RAF Aircraft XA100 - XZ999, published 2001
2.
http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1961.htm 3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/Gloster_Javelin.htm]
4.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4793338 5. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/javelinpics/xh971.jpg]
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
24-Aug-2011 13:08 |
Uli Elch |
Added |
28-Sep-2013 09:10 |
Dr. John Smith |
Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
26-Dec-2013 08:58 |
Nepa |
Updated [Operator] |
06-Nov-2019 15:47 |
Peter Harden |
Updated [Narrative] |
06-Nov-2019 15:49 |
harro |
Updated [Narrative] |