1956 Hawker Hunter multiple aircraft accident

Aviation accident in England October 2014 October 2014 1956 Hawker Hunter multiple aircraft accident Accident Hawker Hunter F1 WT680 J (6869235518).jpg A Hawker Hunter F1, of the type involved in the incident (seen here in preservation in 2012) 1956 02 08 y 1 5 Hawker Hunter F1 Royal Air Force WW635 WT692 WT629 WT639 WW633 WW603 RAF West Raynham RAF Marham On 8 February 1956 the Royal Air Force lost six Hawker Hunter jet fighters in a multiple aircraft accident. Eight aircraft from RAF West Raynham had been carrying out a 4x4 dogfight exercise at 45,000 ft -3. Upon completion of the exercise, the eight Hunters diverted to RAF Marham, but due to bad weather, six of the aircraft were lost, including one fatality. Accident The eight Hunter F1s from the Day Fighter Leader Squadron of the Central Fighter Establishment departed RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, England at 10:50 to carry out the exercise at 45,000 ft -3 in the local area. Due to the expected bad weather later in the day the aircraft were scheduled to return to West Raynham overhead by 11:15. By 11:00 the weather at West Raynham had deteriorated with poor visibilityhttp://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%200203.html Hunter Mishap Flight 17 February 1956 201 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305170543/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%200203.html 5 March 2016 and the aircraft were told to divert to nearby RAF Marham for a visual approach.Hunter Aircraft (Report of Inquiry) https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1956/apr/25/hunter-aircraft-report-of-inquiry#S5CV0551P0_19560425_CWA_74 Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Nigel Birch 551 cc153-5W 25 April 1956 23 August 2009 The visibility suddenly reduced but due to the close proximity of the aircraft to each other it was not possible to complete ground controlled approaches. In the following confusion and with only 10 minutes of fuel remaining, only two aircraft landed successfully. WT629 Descended to 600 ft m on, but, unable to see the ground, he climbed away to 4,000 ft on and ejected with the aircraft crashing into a field 2 mi 0 in northwest of Swaffham.Ejections and Bale Outs 1956 http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/YEAR_Pages/1956.htm#feb ejection-history.org.uk 23 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20071013180033/http://ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/YEAR_Pages/1956.htm#feb 13 October 2007 dead dmy-all WT639 Descended to 600 ft on, but, unable to see the ground, he climbed away. The pilot ejected when the engine flamed out. The aircraft crashed into a forest 2+1/2 mi 0 in southwest of Swaffham. WW633 Descended to 500 ft on, but, unable to see the ground, he climbed away. The pilot ejected when the engine flamed out. The aircraft crashed into a field 3+1/2 mi 0 in northwest of Swaffham. WW639 Descended to 250 ft on, but, unable to see the ground, he climbed away. The pilot ejected when fuel was exhausted. The aircraft crashed 3 mi 0 in south of Swaffham. WW635 Crashed 4+1/2 mi 0 in northwest of Swaffham, pilot killed. WW603 Belly-landed following engine flame-out just east of the airfield, pilot unhurt. Aftermath Questions were asked in Parliament about the loss of six aircraft worth about £750,000 Hunter Aircraft (Crashes) https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1956/mar/21/hunter-aircraft-crashes Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) 21 March 1956 550 c1215 23 August 2009 and the suspicion—expressed by the Labour MP George Wigg—that "Marks I and II are liable to be deficient in fuel if a crisis arises".Hunter Aircraft (Crashes) Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1956/feb/09/hunter-aircraft-crashes#S5CV0548P0_19560209_HOC_260 548 cc1810-2 9 February 1956 23 August 2009 Concern was also raised about the carrying out of the exercise in the expected weather conditions. Investigation The Board of Inquiry (BoI) reported that the primary cause of the accident was the sudden deterioration in the weather. The board also said it was an error of judgement to divert the aircraft to Marham on the assumption that they could do a visual landing. The BoI stated that the decision to fly in the weather conditions was proper and reasonable, the pilots were all competent, the aircraft were serviceable and had adequate fuel and endurance for the planned mission. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Fighter Command decided that disciplinary action should be taken against officers in charge of flying operations at West Raynham. One officer was reproved and removed from his job and three other officers were reproved. References Norfolk Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1956 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Norfolk Category:Accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft Category:1956 in England Category:February 1956 in the United Kingdom