Merlinkeith

A history of the crash of Vulcan VX770 at R.A.F Syerston on Saturday September 20th 1958 at 12.55 while taking part in the Battle of Britain display.

 

For many years this incident was something I hardly ever thought about, but when I decided to create a web site of my family history and put it on-line, it sparked a host of contacts from many people and so I felt it should be recorded in chronological order.

 

I begin with my own personal memories of that day:

 

On Saturday 20th September 1958 it was “Battle of Britain” Day. And like many other R.A.F. stations throughout the country R.A.F. Syerston was staging an open day.

And as the Second World War was still fresh in the minds of many people, there was always a huge crowd of visitors wandering around the static displays, and watching the various fly-pasts of well-known aircraft.

All week the station had been subjected to a “spit and polish” and we were all ordered to wear “best blue” uniforms on the day.

The medical team were to be on duty with a crash ambulance by the runway throughout the day, and so it was that I was on duty for the first shift from 1200 hours with the ambulance driver S.A.C. Keith Wheelhouse.

The fly past was due to begin at 1400 hours and so Keith and I - who always had a reputation as a pair of rebels, slid open the roof of the ambulance and sat enjoying warm sunny day out of sight of the sergeant.

At about 1245 hours it was announced over the ‘Tannoy’ that an extra item had been arranged.

A Vulcan Bomber stationed at Hucknall and fitted with the new Rolls Royce Conway engines would be doing a low fly-past in ten minutes.

Keith and I sat on the roof of the crash ambulance watching the Vulcan as it flew passed when suddenly, the wing began to disintegrate. It looked like confetti falling from the wing, then with a huge roar it crashed at the end of the runway.

We looked at each other in horror, then Keith said “Let’s go” so we dropped into the seats and set off down the runway into what looked like a wall of smoke and flames.

Later we learned that it had fallen on the air traffic caravan in which were two sergeant air traffic controllers, and a jeep with two firemen in it.

Keith and I were first on the scene and to our amazement an airman came staggering out of the flames; he was S.A.C. Turnbull, one of the firemen, who was taken back to the sick-quarters. 

From there he was taken by Mick Starr, one of the other medical orderlies to hospital with a fractured skull, and amazingly he survived.

The crew of four, the two sergeants, and the other fireman were all killed instantly.

The fire crew were the next to arrive at the scene, and I was handed a fire extinguisher and ordered to, “Go and put him out”.

The body of one of the aircrew had smashed through the perimeter fence and was burning in the field.  I had never seen a dead body in my life before and here I was spraying a burning body with a fire extinguisher!

 

(A memory of that moment from one of the fire crew)

I was a fireman at Swinderby at the time we were at Syerston for the day. I remember one of you asking me to put a hose on the bodies over by the fence as they were too hot for you to handle on to stretcher. It was a very shocking experience. If I wrote my story it would have been almost the same as yours. As we approached through the smoke appeared the injured fireman we dropped off one of our crew to attend to him. I was operating the foam monitor onto the controllers caravan once the fire was out we entered what was left but the two controllers were burned so badly almost black there were some terrible sights which I would not want the families to hear or see. You wrote a good account spot on.

Cheers for now.

Allan Evans age now 72 RAF 1957-1969 Australia 1970-Love it

 

We spent the whole day as the show continued collecting parts of the dead and taking them into the mortuary. 

It was a gruesome task on an awful day; which ended with seven burned and dismembered bodies in the mortuary.

One incident stands out in my mind.

On one of our trips back to the mortuary, looking filthy dishevelled and tired, I was pulled up by an Acting Pilot Officer and put on a charge for not wearing a tie! Naturally I heard no more about it.

Later that evening, I was on duty in the sick quarters on my own when Mrs. Hanson from the married quarters came to ask to see her husband, Sergeant Hanson.

I misunderstood and said we had no patients in that night, she explained that her husband was one of the sergeants in the air traffic caravan and was now in the mortuary.

I spent an hour persuading her not to go in to see him because he was unrecognisable. Eventually she agreed if I would put the small bunch of violets she had brought along with her beside his body.

As I did so, the body parts and scraps of humanity we had been collecting all day suddenly became real people, and I was overcome by grief.

On Monday morning, the 22nd. We took all the bodies to a mortuary in Nottingham, but for several days after the area was searched by teams of experts looking for clues of the cause of the disaster.

 

 

On the 20th March 2008 I wrote to Fiona Barton at East Midlands Today asking if they would be interested in running a piece on the crash to commemorate the 50th anniversary as they had recently run a story about an air crash at Cottesmore:

 

Dear Fiona,
I recently e-mailed you with details of the R.A.F. crash at Syerston in 1958. Could you please tell me if you received this o.k. and if it is a subject you are likely to consider.
My reason for this follow up is that recently I have been contacted by the pilot's granddaughter who lives in Birmingham.
Regards Keith Stevenson

 

Fiona Barton wrote:
Hi Keith,
Many apologies, but would you mind re-sending your original e-mail.  I have been away for some time and I originally printed it off as a hard copy which I have misplaced.
Kind Regards, Fiona

 

Hi Fiona,
since I last contacted you I have been asked by Catherine Coulthard, the granddaughter of the pilot to send her a full and personal story of what happened on that day as I remember it. I have attached a copy for you as we both feel that those who died on that awful day should be commemorated in some way. Catherine is planning on creating a Web Page in their honour.
Kind Regards, Keith

 

Dear Keith,

Just a quick note to let you know that I took your e-mail into our editorial planning meeting to see if there was any interest in us doing a piece on the crash at Syerston. I read out your note, but my colleagues say that we did do a piece commemorating this crash fairly recently (I must have been away at the time, as I was unaware of this). 

However, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for sending in your idea, we always appreciate story ideas from our viewers.

Kind Regards Fiona

 

Dear Fiona,

Thank you for your interest in the story I sent in. I have no wish to press the point further, but I think you will find that the story covered by your team was of a crash at Cottesmore in 1968 in which no one was hurt.

This was an altogether more tragic incident as you will have gathered from the story.

And as it will be the fiftieth anniversary in September, and as you had continually run a promo for the restoration of the only remaining Vulcan, I thought it would have been of interest to you.

Regards Keith

 

Hi Keith,

I have checked our archive and you are right, the crash we reported on was at Cottesmore, though I did note that there were four fatalities in this crash.  I will, again, mention the crash at Syerston at our next planning meeting.  I will also talk to my colleagues at Inside Out, who work from this building as well. Do you know if there are any plans for a memorial service in September?

Regards, Fiona

​

During the same time I began a conversation with Catherine Coulthard. Step granddaughter of Keith Sturt.

 

Dear Catherine,
I have just found your moving request on the PPRuNe forum. It is strange to think that for 50 years that day has often come back to haunt my dreams. I was the first person to reach the crash scene, being the crew of the crash ambulance, and it was me that attended to injuries of S.A.C. Turnbull.

If you would like to contact me my e-mail is [email address].
I felt it better to send a personal message as you may not want to know the full details of what happened on that terrible day.

Regards and best wishes
Keith Stevenson (5043153 S.A.C. Stevenson K.)

Dear Keith,

I do apologise its only now that I have noticed your response to my thread on PPRUNE regarding Keith Sturt and Syerston. I'm absolutely overjoyed that you got in touch. I am the step granddaughter of Keith Sturt and this part of our family history is very much shrouded in secrecy. My family have been very reluctant to reveal much regarding Keith and my Grandmother Norah. In fact it was only until her death in 2003 that I even realised that she had remarried following her divorce from my Grandfather (AVM C.W. Coulthard)...it was then that a file was found where she felt that the MOD/ Rolls Royce had wrongly accused Keith of pilot error. She had compiled this file together for years and had argued for quite some time that the prototype Vulcan that Keith was flying that day had not been checked/ maintained properly.That aside I wish to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of this chapter in our family history. I am trying to get a website together to commemorate Keith's memory and those who died with him. I can well imagine that even after 50 years the incident in question would be extremely difficult to forget. As my quest is to find out absolutely everything there is to know I would very much appreciate your account of that day (I hope that is not too much to ask) and I don't want the   sugar coated version. Could I trouble you to write this down or either call me so that I can make notes? I would also like to know what happened to Keith Sturt's remains (if there were any...?) as I would like to know where he was buried if you have this information to hand?

I am so pleased that you got in touch - you have no idea how much it means to me, I'm sorry about the delay!

With kindest regards and look forward to hearing from you,
Catherine Coulthard
0121 2477094
07886 234661

Dear Catherine,
Since I last contacted you I have been in touch with "BBC Midlands Today" again in the hope that they will run a piece on the crash in their evening programme. I cannot help with the place of your grandfather's burial, but I can assure you there were remains, as I myself delivered them to a mortuary in Nottingham on the Monday.

Have you tried contacting Rolls Royce at Derby? They may be able to help as he died in service. I have attached a very personal account of the day from my own perspective, and some official photographs and details I have obtained from the WWW.

Much of which I am sure you already have. If you would like to contact me further please get in touch again.
Kind regards Keith
 
Dear Keith,
Thank you so much for this very personal and heart rendering report. I have read the technical reports, newspapers clippings and the various other articles that are available on the internet but it all becomes very clinical. When I read your report it placed things into a more emotional perspective and I appreciate so much that you would recount the terrible things that you had to encounter on that day all those years back.

I wanted to ask you, did my Grandmother (Norah Sturt nee Coulthard) speak to you or did you have any contact with her at all after the accident? Were there any other members of Keith's family around?

I am also trying to track down any of his family/ siblings etc. I did indeed manage to locate the final resting place of Keith Sturt - it happens to be in a cemetery in Hucknall and the Chairman (David Birch) of the Heritage RR Trust was kind enough to visit the grave and take some photos of it. It’s very worn and forgotten so I intend to take a trip there very soon to clean it up and lay some flowers. I have also learnt that it would have been Keith's birthday on April 20th (this Sunday) - he would have been 79. I would be very interested in finding out if BBC Midlands today would like to run an article on this bit of family history - it would be of invaluable help to my research which sadly gets put to one side when I have to work (otherwise I'd work on it full time!). I am still working on a website...it will have photos of Keith Sturt, his career history, articles about the Venoms and Vulcans that he flew and the clip of the Conway as it crashed (I found it at last!). If there is any further info that you come across regarding this then I would be indebted to you. I'll be in touch again with the website details. Thank you once again, Catherine

Hi there,
I've created a montage in tribute to Keith Sturt and thought you'd like to take a look. You can find it here:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RzJi4EV28rE
Tony I hope you're ok for me to publish the photos - it just occurred to me that I didn't ask you first.

Dave, I’m not sure if any of my other family members have been in touch with you regarding the restoration of Keith's grave It seems that me asking for this sort of help has created a wall of silence/ indifference which is a great shame Please can you let me know what the status is and an address (RR Trust?) and I will send you a cheque for £100 now and another £100 in August if that's ok.

Many thanks, Catherine

 

Dear Catherine,

thank you so much for contacting me about your tribute. It was very moving, especially the small piece of film that made me go cold inside even after all these years. (Is it possible you could e-mail it to me for inclusion into my family history?)
I also felt the music was very appropriate, is the setting of "O Lord and Father of Mankind" commercially available?
It seems now that after many e-mails with the producer, East Midland Today have decided not to run a piece on the crash. If the situation changes I will let you know.
Thank you again for all your efforts. Kind regards, Keith

 

Hi Keith,
It was lovely to get your email thank you so much. I’m glad you approved of the piece of music that I used, my brother and I also agreed that it was very apt. It comes from the film Atonement and is actually called 'Elegy to Dunkirk'...it’s quite haunting with the hymn overlapping the classical piece. You can buy it as part of the film soundtrack - I bought that particular one on ITunes. The record company who own the audio have already claimed their partial copyright to this tribute but as it’s not being used for monetary gain they've allowed me to use it.
I will email you the mpeg of the Vulcan crash in a separate email, it’s only a few seconds long but it really does leave you feeling quite cold as you say.
It’s a real shame that East Midlands Today aren't willing to do a piece on the crash. The story itself is worthy of at least a 30 minute documentary especially when you connect further pieces of the jigsaw with the fact that Keith had, had a long affair with my Grandmother whilst she was married to his CO out in Germany - my Grandfather (Colin Coulthard) was another illustrious pilot who went on to become the UK Air Attaché in Washington, US in the 60's. Tony Blackman who was Keith's best friend tells me that he has since had a conversation with the Rolls Royce Maintenance chap who was meant to be looking after the Vulcan on that day and he told him that he didn't even know that it was meant to be doing aerobatics on that fateful day! Tony is resolute in his thinking that it was due to poor maintenance of the aircraft...this would make a really interesting and perhaps controversial piece to broadcast. Do let me know if the situation changes - I'd be only too happy to contribute.
All the very best, Catherine

​

Dear Keith, Dave, Tony and Bob,
Thanks to the wonders of the internet the BBC have contacted me today asking for permission to do a 50th anniversary commemoration of Keith Sturt in time for 20th September.

It's a 3 minute article for 'East Midlands Today' news and they hope this to be televised on 20th September. There is also a strong possibility of doing further work on a 30 minute documentary later in the year.

Keith I know that you were particularly interested in participating in this and I know for a fact that the BBC are keen to interview you some time very soon, preferably at RAF Syerston for you to recount your memories of that day.

Dave, I told them about the very kind work that you are doing to restore Keith's grave and they would like to speak to you as well.
Tony, I’m hoping that the incomplete enquiry re the cause of accident can also be thrown into the limelight, your personal accounts re why you argue this will be particularly interesting.
The person leading this broadcast is Rosemary Harding and works at the News Room for BBC Nottingham.

 

Bob, Rosemary is very keen on speaking to RAF Syerston regarding the possibility of paying a visit and filming there. If you all don't object then I will pass your email details to Rosemary who no doubt will soon be in touch. And I do so hope that perhaps very soon as this filming gets underway I’m able to meet you all.
Many thanks, Catherine
07886 234661

 

Catherine Coulthard wrote:
Dear David, Keith and Walter,
I just wanted to send you my deepest appreciation for the contribution you made to the BBC clip that was televised yesterday and commemorates 50 years since the Vulcan crash that killed Keith and his colleagues 50 years ago today. My family had previously remained doubtful as to what use it was going to be to broadcast this story and get as far as the BBC, I’m so glad that I persevered and that my daughter Claire was with me yesterday - she was very pleased to be there.
It was fantastic to see this story and its protagonists from 1958 given the attention and remembrance that they deserve. I’m going to ask James if he can release the clip to me on a DVD to keep as there are photos of the accident that I’ve never seen before. I also did a radio broadcast on BBC Nottingham for yesterday's breakfast show but I think I may have gotten a bit too nervous as I don't think it has the impact that the televised article did - prove that live broadcasts are not my forte!
I’m hoping that the BBC are going to take the lead with a documentary...they have alluded interest so I will keep you posted.

David, thank you so much for putting so much effort into renovating Keith's grave - you have no idea what it means to me. It absolutely splendid compared to the photos you originally sent to me when it was in a terrible state. Please pass my thanks and regards to Walter. We were very pleased to see the Heritage Trust and the Plaque too - I know that once my brother Sebastian is back from naval deployment he will want to come and visit the Trust too.

Tony, your photos came in so handy...so many people (including my own family) wanted to know what Keith looked like.

Keith I’m sorry we missed each other and didn’t get to meet, I would still very much like to stay in touch and perhaps meet in person in the not too distant future - my family research continues so no doubt you'll be hearing from me again.
My warmest regards to you all. 

Catherine

Dear Catherine,
You may like to know that I have just returned from Spain to find e-mails from the son and grandson of one of the sergeants that died in the crash. They found my web site and contacted me through that. Quite separately from the TV coverage, how strange after all this time that so much is being unearthed. They are both very keen to talk to me and I have given them my phone number. I saw both you and your daughter on the report whilst in Spain through the wonders of satellite TV, and I felt they handled the story very sympathetically. Do you have the report in mpeg or any other transferable medium? I too would very much like to meet in person, perhaps we will have the chance if the programme goes ahead. Kind regards, Keith

Dear Keith,
Thanks for your email - hope you enjoyed your holiday.
What wonderful news and how coincidental that contact has been made by the Sergeant’s relatives. Please do let me know further info as and when you receive it/ make further contact. Speaking of coincidences it's rather bizarre to see a number of these 'coincidences' occurring as of late. The day before the BBC contacted me the recently restored one and only Vulcan that currently flies/ tours the UK passed right over my house en-route to Coventry.

It flew very low and stealthily and reminded me of Keith straight away.

When I met my current boyfriend earlier this year I found out that he lives 5 mins. walk from the house where Keith Sturt was born (Ash Vale)...3 years ago when I attempted to find out all that I could about Keith and the story in general I was met with such a vast lack of information that I had to temporarily drop the investigation - until now!
From my side the BBC have put me in touch with the chap who originally made the cine film of the crash and have offered to provide me with a copy of the entire reel - I could then transfer to mpg format....who knows, we may even spot you within the film! Someone else has also made contact - the only living descendent of Keith Sturt (his cousin) but the phone number that the BBC have given me isn't correct so I may have to follow that one up.
The C.O. of RAF Syerston apologised profusely for not allowing the BBC to film within, apparently there is a process that needs to be followed and it was too short notice by the time BBC got in touch with RAF press office. He has offered for us to visit at any time of our choosing so that we can take a look around. I wouldn't mind doing this but would prefer an emphasis on the crash site itself and no doubt will need you there as a guide. Hopefully the BBC with their documentary plans will take the lead with arranging this (best to do in good weather!).
On the day of the report filming (Sept 19th) - once filming was complete Claire and I went to the same gate/ area where you and your wife stood for the camera (Longhedge Lane?). At that point I didn't know where the actual crash site had been and assumed that it had occurred on the A46 road side so I stood there contemplating it for a bit. But once we saw the report I noticed that you pointed to the opposite direction of the runaway for the crash. David Birch also picked up on this as a friend of his swears that the crash happened on the roadside? Can you confirm what side it actually happened?
Another question I had for you. SAC Turnbull who survived with a fractured skull - is he still alive today and if so are you in contact with him?
James Roberson told me the story that you related to him re how an Officer demanded to know where your tie was as you were removing bodies - what a strange thing to happen! I can only assume that it's the old skool 'British' way of dealing with chaotic situations...discipline is the order of the day no matter what you are doing!

 

I also found out that RR gave my grandmother £15K in compensation for Keith's death, but Keith's parents had insured him for £1million...he was their only child so they must have lived on in great comfort for the rest of their days. I’m trying to track down what happened to them. They certainly didn't approve of the marriage between him and my Grandmother as she was 10 years older than him! A member of the family has some love letters that he wrote to her but I’m having difficulty trying to get them released to me as copies...families can be such hard work!
If you give me your address I'll be happy to send you a copy of the news report in mpg/ dvd format. I’m not sure re copyright - I obtained a copy from the BBC and forgot to ask. I'll ask Rosemary about it as I want to get this on a website much like you have done.
I also wanted to comment on the other very touching parts of your website. I hope your wife is managing with her Lymphoma - the idea of transcribing this onto a blog/ website is wonderful and no doubt will give comfort/ reassurance to others affected by this. The obituaries to your brother/ brother in law are very apt. The commonality that I see I have with you is that we're not content to keep things under wraps in the 'British way'. As I said in my previous email my family had no intention whatsoever to assist with my research into the Syerston crash, they kept asking 'what's the point? It's such a depressing story and all you're doing is trying to revive ghosts' but in my humble opinion the whole point is keeping the memory of these people alive. I've been so touched to the point of happy tears to receive the comments, tributes and offers to assist in my research by complete strangers. I believe that Keith Sturt, grandma and the other guys who lost their lives that day are up there very happy at the progress we are making :-)
Anyway enough of my rambles, hope to speak to you again soon. Take care, Catherine

 

Dear Keith,
I just wanted to say how wonderful it was to speak to you the other day; a very welcome surprise thank you.
I haven't forgotten about the BBC report. I'm just in the middle of converting it from DVD to mp3, I thought the BBC had originally sent it to me as mp3 but they hadn't - they've sent me the entire news reel so I’m just converting and editing it right down to the little bit that we need.

It should be done some time this week so I'll send the two formats to you.

Have you had any further luck with other contacts and research? I’m still keen to look for SAC Turnbull and his family - no luck as yet though. I have had some leads from an Aunt who had the addresses of the wives of the other crew members - I'll try writing to them to see if I can make contact (the chances are slim though).
I also wanted to ask you re your website - how did you get it set up? I’m now at a stage where I'd be ready to put my array of photos and info on a site but need to find something fairly decent. I know basic html and have set up web pages before so Im not entirely new to this. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hope you are well.
All the best, Catherine

 

Dear Catherine,
Thank you for your work on the BBC report, but please don't hurry, it isn't an urgent matter, and I'm sure you are busy with other things. Sadly I have not heard from Sgt Hanson's son yet, if I don't hear this week, I will try e-mailing his grandson again. The website I use is run by Freewebs.com. It is completely free and you don't need any HTML skills as you can upload direct from Word. So far I have found no problems with it at all, and you can enter your details into the major search engines again for free. All the information comes in very useful help files, and you even have tracking option to see the traffic on your site. Of course the problem with all free sites is that you have to put up with an advertising banner, but it is a small price to pay I think. There is the option of upgrading to a paid site, which I assume, gets rid of the advertising, but I have not felt the need.
If you are interested, go to our site and click on the "free website" button at the bottom and go from there.
I hope you find it useful. On another point. We have friends in Coventry and Solihull who we meet often at the Appleby Inn Hotel just off the M42 at Appleby Magna, for lunch or dinner and a chat.
If you are interested perhaps we could meet there.
What do you think?

Kind regards Keith

 

 

A year later Tim O’Brien a local author and illustrator contacted me which eventually culminated in a chapter in his book ‘The History of RAF Syerston’ later Tim came to give a talk at the Men’s Fellowship at Christ Church.

 

Dear Keith and Lesley,
I have visited your fantastic website several times as I am researching information for a book about the history of RAF Syerston as a follow-up of my RAF Newton book.
With this in mind I am interested to hear more about your first-hand account of the Vulcan tragedy and with your permission I would like to include your story in the book.
Also I have just visited a gentleman in Newark who as an 18-yr old took the well-known photograph of the Vulcan disintegrating (not the one on your website, but one taken from the other side) and he is interested to talk to others who were there that day too.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Tim

Hello Tim,
It is strange how this incident has suddenly come to the front of my life again after lying dormant for so long.
You may not be aware that last year the local television news ran a programme on this to commemorate 50 years since the accident, and Lesley and I were filmed at RAF Syerston for the programme.
You are very welcome to use my story in your book, and if you feel it would help for us to meet then we can certainly arrange that too.
With regard to the photograph you mention, would it be possible for me to have a copy of that for my records?
I am still trying to obtain a copy of the video taken on the day too.
Kind Regards
Keith

 

Hello Keith
Thanks for your reply and for agreeing to help with the book project.
Even though I knew that it was the anniversary last year I'm afraid that I missed the TV programme although when I visited Syerston again a few weeks ago the gliding school did mention that a group had visited last September.
As for the photograph, I'll have to ask the photographer David Midworth for his permission before I pass on a copy, but you can no doubt discuss that if he comes along with me to meet you. But his photograph appears in the Nottinghamshire Air Crashes book by David Needham if you wanted to see it sooner - although it has been printed the wrong way round and they have not given David credit!
As for the cine clip that appears on YouTube, I think the step-grand-daughter of the pilot may have posted that onto the web, so she may be able to help (unfortunately I don't have her contact details though).
As for a meeting, yes that would be great - is it possible to have your phone number please?
Whereabouts do you live? I can then plan where to meet in case I bring David (the Vulcan photographer) and possibly someone else who was also at the air display that day.
Regards
Tim

Just seen the BBC News clip on the web and found David's photograph that he took which is on the web which niggles him to this day that he took it, but after he had to surrender a copy to the RAF and a local newspaper got hold of a copy every magazine and newspaper has printed it since and claimed copyright etc!
Regards
Tim

Hi Tim,
I can understand how annoyed the David who took the photograph must be, after all, it really is a once in a lifetime photograph, and he should be given the credit for it.
With regard to the step granddaughter of the pilot, her name is Catherine Coulthard, and I have been in contact with her over the last year, we are trying to arrange a meeting but it is proving difficult.
My phone number is 0115 919 1287.
Regards
Keith

​

Hi Keith
Good to talk last night. Am armed with plenty of information/stories for the Vulcan crash chapter now thank you.
Forgot to ask - had you come from the medical profession prior to National Service and did you continue in a medical role afterwards?
Will be in touch soon once I have sorted something out regarding a meeting.
Best wishes
Tim

Hi Tim,
Before my call up I was training to be a chemist at the Boots factory in Beeston, which I returned to after de-mob.
But I found factory life difficult after two years away, and so left to become an insurance salesman and spent the rest of my working life in sales. Looking forward to our meeting.

Hello Keith,
Just thought I would touch base to give you an update. Basically I am trying to make contact with my Gliding School contact again, but he is proving a little elusive at present. But when I do, I would like to see if it is alright for yourself, David Midworth and myself to meet at Syerston - fingers crossed!
 
Have also spoken to an elderly chap who was an Airframe Inspector with Royces at the time and was due to get a 'jolly' as a passenger in the jump seat on that very flight, but had to get off at the last minute to talk to his boss who turned up unexpectedly - surely the luckiest man alive that day!
Hopefully will call soon with a plan.
Best wishes
Tim

​

Hi Keith
Unfortunately I still haven't been able to pin down a day/time for a meeting yet, but I suspect it may be towards the end of June/early July after we have returned from our holiday in Norfolk and having got other work commitments out of the way. Meanwhile I have been writing up a rough draft of the chapter about the crash and wondered if you could tell me the rank and name of your Chief Medical Officer on the day?
Also, can you remember the first names of the fatalities on the ground Sgt C. Hanson, Sgt E. D. Simpson and SAC J. J. Tonks plus the survivor SAC C. Turnbull?
Finally with ref to the PPrune story about Volare being on the radio at the time, can you remember hearing it on the station radio etc.?
Regards
Tim

 

Hi Tim,
Thank you again for contacting me. However I'm afraid I am not going to be much help with your questions.
In 1958 National Service S.A.C.'s were classed as very low life, and so Sergeants did not mingle with the likes of us.
So I am not able to tell you the first names of the sergeants, but I am in communication with a friend of the son of Sgt.. Hanson and hope to find out about his father and his full name.
The two lads in the fire tender were people we knew but I'm afraid again memory fails me on the names.
Our M.O. was a Squadron Leader and the assistant M.O. was a Flight Lt. but again 50 years have played havoc with my memory, but I'm sure I would recognise the name if confronted with it.
As for the song.
As I explained I was on duty at the time in the crash ambulance beside the control tower and so we had no access to radio except the two way walkie-talkie with the control team.
I'm very sorry to be so unhelpful on this but I will keep trying to contact Sgt Hanson's son.
Regards
Keith

Hello Keith,

Thanks for your reply. Hope the hospital visit went okay this week?
Don't worry if you can't remember their names as the way the chapter is shaping up, it's not vital as to whether they appear or not, but I just thought I'd ask the question. When the chapter is completed, I will let you have a copy to check and approve before publication next year.
A couple of days ago, someone told me about a Wg Cdr Houghton who lives in Lowdham. Besides being a Lancaster pilot at Syerston during the war, he was also a Rolls-Royce test-pilot after the war and apparently flew VX770 during the morning sortie on the 20th. Hope to talk to him soon. Strange, how about three months ago I didn't know a great deal about the crash and now all sorts of interesting people are appearing to tell their tale! We're off to Norfolk next week, but hope to arrange a meeting sometime in the latter half of June. If we can't get onto Syerston, a pub lunch might be the best option.
Best regards
Tim

Hi Keith
I'm still having trouble getting personnel at Syerston to respond to my emails, letters etc, so I think we shall have to meet up in a local pub for a chat as you originally suggested. Then if a site visit crops up, we can make that for another meeting.
I'll have a look through my diary and see when would be best and come back to you ASAP. Are there any days to avoid on your side? And any suggestions for a venue?
Going back to the Vulcan story, I interviewed an elderly RAF pilot who was seconded from 617 Sqn to fly VX770 earlier that morning. I got a few snippets of information, but you could tell that he was of the RAF's 'old guard' and remained very tight lipped and told me that I needed to GET IT RIGHT! And that it wouldn't serve any purpose in dredging up any of the controversy that you read about on the internet regarding the causes etc.
Hmmm, so I've been warned! This chapter is certainly proving to be a challenge in trying to write it in a way to please everyone concerned and readers too.
Talk to you soon.
Tim

Hi Keith
A big thank you for the photographs; they look great to me in relation to file size etc.

But it is the book layout specialist at the end of the day with all his Apple Mac kit that will tell me for definite. I hope to see him soon; so will run them by him.
Glad you enjoyed the meeting. Thought it would be good for you, David, Brian and Neil to chat about what you all witnessed that day. Having spoken to David and Neil since, I think they all feel for you with what you had to deal with and gives their stories some sense of perspective.
Even though the 'Vulcan crash' chapter is nearly complete, I need to leave it for a few weeks before adding the final touches to the text and running a copy by you for approval. Perhaps I could always call over to Beeston on this occasion: as I would like to take a contemporary photo of you as well; as I have done with other people involved in the story.
Oh yes, before I go; I forgot to ask: are you still in touch with Keith Wheelhouse? Or do you know how the crash affected him etc?
Thanks again and I will be in touch soon.
Best wishes

Tim

Hi Keith,
Certainly do remember you. Apologies for going off the radar of late; but have been catching up on 'paying' jobs and the Syerston book keeps getting pushed into the background. Although I have been progressing other chapters in my spare time. I would still like to think that I could publish the book for this Christmas, but have a feeling that it might be summer 2011.
So with that in mind, yes please; I would like to hear about any information regarding Flt Lt 'Polly' Parrott. I have spoken to the pilot (Wg Cdr Ron Houghton who lives in Gunthorpe) from his RAF crew that flew VX770 in the morning of the fateful day. He recalled how the civilian crew were short of a navigator as the civvy one had not turned up; so they asked 'Polly', and his crew said "Well, its up to you": he decided to go!
Best wishes
Tim 

 

 

In 2010 I had contact with Gill Ingham, the daughter of Flt/Lt Raymond Michael Parrott

 

Thank you so much for getting in touch.
Could you furnish me with some more details about Flt Lt. Parrott.
Regards
Keith

 

Hello Keith
I have just spoken to my Mum on the phone.  She would be happy to give you details about Ray.  I'll have to sit down with her and take notes and then type them up and email them over to you. 
I read that there was a Vulcan accident in America, shortly after Ray was killed.  Mum said that she knew one of the crewmen.
I know she has some photos somewhere of Ray.  I will ask her to dig some out, so that I can scan them.  All of this may take a couple of weeks to achieve.
I would be very grateful if you would let me know what your interest in this particular Vulcan is. 
I'll look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Gill Ingham  

Hello Gill,
As you may have seen on my web site, I was the first on the scene of this Vulcan crash and as a medical orderly helped to remove the bodies from the plane.
I have felt for many years that the men who died should have a fitting tribute paid to them and to that end last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary I became very involved in the story again when I met the granddaughter of the pilot and together we put together a piece for the BBC on their "East Midlands Today" programme.
I have also had a meeting with Tim O'Brien who is writing a book on the history of RAF Syerston and who has a chapter on the crash.
Any information, photographs etc of Ray would certainly help to add a personal touch to what was an awful experience for all concerned.
Thank you again for contacting me
Keith
 

Hi Keith
Thank you so much for this information.  I watched the film clip you talked about yesterday, I thought it was great!  I told my mum about it and she is going to watch it.
I think your plight will be very close to her heart. 
Gill  Ingham  

Good Afternoon Keith

My Mum and Dad have just been round to my house to watch your BBC film clip. 

My Mum would love to speak to you.  I know she has many questions she would like to ask you.  Would it be possible for you to let me have your phone number, so that I can pass it on to her?

My Mum’s name is Irene Ingham and my Dad is Bill Ingham. 

We live in North East Lincolnshire.

Kindest regards and sincere thanks

Gill Ingham

 

Flt/Lt Raymond Michael Parrott – 3110239

Born 3 May 1930 – Chingford, Essex

From being a school boy, Ray always had a keen interest in aeroplanes.  His one ambition was to join the Air Force.  He was a member of the Air Training Corps. 

Once he joined the Air Force, he quickly passed through the ranks.  Shortly before his death he passed the exam to become a Squadron Leader (after many nights of studying).  He was a keen sportsman, mainly rugby and tennis.  He worked with the American Air Force on two occasions, once doing an “Escape and Evasion” exercise in Germany.  The second time, he was the Liaison Officer at Brize Norton Air Base.  From this he received a glowing report from Colonel Smith, USAF, which was passed on to Bomber Command H.Q.

 

Events of the fateful weekend conspired against Ray. 

He wasn’t due to fly that afternoon, but volunteered to replace someone who was sick.  Also he should have been in London fulfilling the duty as God Parent to his nephew, but unfortunately christenings were only held every fourth Sunday of the month.

The wording on Ray’s grave stone at Scampton Churchyard is as follows:

“To a beautiful life

came a sudden end.

He died as he lived,

everyone’s friend”.

These words sum him up perfectly.

Irene Ingham nee Parrott

Wife of Flt/Lt Parrott at the time of the crash.

14 April 2010

 

In 2017 I received an e-mail from Janet McCahon, the cousin of the co-pilot Mr. R.W. Ford

 

3:18 AM on January 23, 2017 

Keith, sensational to read your fine detailed account of the Vulcan crash. I have tried to piece together parts of this crash as my cousin was Ronnie Ford whom I remember was a test pilot for Fairie Aviation in Cheshire and was 'on loan' to Rolls Royce for the testing of the Vulcan.

I do have from my fathers archived newspaper clippings of the crash. Dad, John Ford was left to attend the inquest etc. as Ronnie’s father was a too frail and traumatised to attend and continued to look after his widow Pat and son Miles for many years even continuing through to all our years in Australia. I sadly lost contact with Miles in the late 1990's when he was living in East Grinstead, I would love to find him, we had a wonderful cousins/relationship for many years

 

Dear Janet,

Thank you so much for getting in touch and keeping alive the memory of those people who died so tragically that day.

After all these years I am still receiving messages from relatives, and yours helps to fill in more information of the families of the victims.

I have had many conversations with the widow and daughter of the Captain on that day, Keith Sturt and so it was good to learn a little more of your cousin.

You mention newspaper cuttings of the event and I wonder if it is possible for you to scan them and send me a copy for my archives, I would be very grateful to receive them.

Once again thank you for getting in touch

Kind Regards

Keith

 

Thanks for your reply Keith, yes I will go and retrieve the newspaper cuttings from my storage and scan and send them to you later this week.

I also have a photo of Ronnie sitting at his desk at Fairie Avation just shortly before his death. I clearly remember that day, as a family we had been to Chester Zoo and when we arrived home we found 'Rolley' (Miles) Fawkes (another test pilot and I think from Fairies) sitting in our driveway waiting to talk to my father Jack (also John) about the crash as he was Ronnie's KOK as Ronnie's dad William was quite frail and lived in Southend.

When I was reading down all your messages from various people I found one from 'John Ford' and was stressed to see he was incorrect with his heritage! He said his grandfather was Johnny Fords brother, well, Ronnie (as he was known as in the family) never had a brother but I am intrigued to see another 'Ford ' that I am unaware of and would love to talk to and see where he fits in within the family. As I mentioned before I am desperate to find Ronnie's son Miles who we lost contact with a decade ago and this 'Johnny Ford' might help fill the gap in finding Miles.

If you have access to his email address through your web page I would really like to talk to him if you could forward his details on to me please.

It was by default that we found your web page, my partner Grant was a Sqn Ldr in RAAF and recently retired after 30+ years as a ATC and have often discussed Ronnie's crash. I have many photos of him, Pat and Miles on my family photo wall. Last week Grant was watching a 'War time Crash Investigators'(BBC or ITV) on TV and the last three minutes talked about the Vulcan crash and showed a short film footage, knowing Ronnie was my cousin and my obsession about Miles he then went on a web search and found your site! Who would have thought 14,000 miles away thorough a repeated TV program we would discover your web site!!

Thanks Keith and keep well,

Regards Janet

Past District Governor Janet McCahon

Rotary International

District 9820

Australia

Ph: +61359757694

Mob: +61418541993

29.01.2017

 

Dear Janet,
Once again thank you for contacting me and I look forward for the scans whenever you have the time.
John Ford's email address was jkford@btinternet.com
when he wrote the message on the blog in 2014.
I hope you can get in touch with him, and also hope he can help in your search for Miles.
If there is anything I can do to help here in the U.K. please let me know.
The only footage I have ever seen of the crash was taken by a young man called David Midworth.
I met David some years ago and he told me he had just been given a cine camera for his birthday and he brought to the Battle of Britain day to try it out. I will attach a full copy of the video, and right at the end of the sequence you will catch a glimpse of the ambulance rushing to the scene in which I was the medic on duty.
 
With kind regards
Keith

 

Hi Keith, as promised attached here are the newspaper clippings from Ronnie's crash.

As you see they are not only old and faded but have been transported over various moves both in UK and here in Australia over the past 50+ years so have become somewhat tatty!

The other ones I have just will not copy at all but it's only repeated what’s said in the Sunday Express the following day.

There was a lot more publicity during the two inquests but I think my father must have tossed them as I remember seeing them when we were still living in the UK but don't have them now.

There is mention that Ronnie was stationed at 'Ringway' (now of course Manchester Airport) which was a very short distance from where we all lived and I would often go via his and Pats cottage on my way home from school.

 

If anyone can ever find Miles, he has all Ronnie's log books, his leather flying helmet and various other bits and pieces that my father kept for him and gave to him when he was at prep school here in Australia. Pat's stair well in Sussex was a sea of photos of Ronnie in various planes and wonder if Miles has kept them.

Unfortunately the email I sent to John Ford has sadly never been answered, he was my hope for the missing link to Miles. The last I knew of him was at East Grinstead before his mother died.

Now somewhere is the copy of the movie film mentioned in the newspaper………………….where would one start to find that??

I remember seeing it but for the life of me can't remember where or when, perhaps at the 'Newsreel' in London with my grandmother who always took me there during school holidays.

Thanks again for your interest in something that was a direct link to your history in the RAF and my life too,

Regards, Janet

 

Dear Janet,

As I said in my last e-mail, the only recorded video of the crash was made by David Midworth, who handed a copy to the investigation team. I tried to attach a copy of the film but you obviously didn’t receive it.

 

You can find David’s report of the accident here: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Bomber-crash-a-vivid-memory

 

And his film is here: https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=FKtTWNrGKfCAgAamx6GQCA#q=vulcan+crash+at+syerston

 

I am sorry you had no reply from John Ford, but sometimes people take ages to reply so don’t lose heart yet.

Kind Regards

Keith

 

In February 2020 I received the following e-mail from Allan Brooke

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Dear Mr. Stevenson,

My name is Allan Brooke I was a RAF Fireman from 1968-1977 a member of the RAFA, RBL and The Royal Air Force and Defence Fire Services Association and supporter of The Museum Of RAF Fire Fighting.

The last two organisation are in the process of trying to locate the location of all RAF Firemen who died on duty (Where their place of burial is)

After reading your report on your experience on that sad day I was wondering if you can help me with my research into where SAC J J Tonks was buried we think he came from the Birmingham area but are not sure. Also do you know if SAC Turnbull fully recovered or was discharged due to his injuries? As I live in the Newark area I was asked to do an article for the RAF&DFSA magazine on this crash. It was then that I found that I had talked to Tommy Thomas the Fire Officer on that day, Also John Smith who took some of the photographs that we see when looking up the Vulcan crash alas both of these interesting men have died so I cannot pick their brains. That is why I was very pleased to find your report and hope that you may be able to help me. Yours Allan.

 

This is my reply.

 

Dear Allan,

Firstly I want to thank you for getting in touch and adding to the many contacts I have had over all these years about a day which will always be a part of my life.

As I am now in my eighties I suppose I am one of the few people left who were in the midst of the events of that day, which is still etched clearly in my mind.

And although I have a great deal of details of the aircrew sadly I cannot be much help with the ground crew.

I do remember that SAC Turnbull came visit us in the sick quarters a few weeks later after his discharge from the hospital with a few gifts of thanks

(Which being a humble SAC I never saw!) And I am sure he had made a full recovery. But I never met him again.

As for S.A.C. Tonks, the only help I can give is that his name is on a memorial at the National Arboretum (photo attached) and I wonder if they can help with details of his grave.

You may be interested in an e-mail I received from Australia some years ago from Allan Evans:

 

I was a fireman at Swinderby at the time we were at Syerston for the day. I remember one of you asking me to put a hose on the bodies over by the fence as they were too hot for you to handle on to stretcher. It was a very shocking experience. If I wrote my story it would have been almost the same as yours. As we approached through the smoke appeared the injured fireman we dropped off one of our crew to attend to him. I was operating the foam monitor onto the controllers caravan once the fire was out we entered what was left but the two controllers were burned so badly almost black there were some terrible sights which I would not want the families to hear or see. You wrote a good account spot on.

Cheers for now.

Allan Evans age now 72 RAF 1957-1969 Australia 1970-Love it

 

I’m sorry I cannot help you further on this, but as National Serviceman we were very much “ships that pass in the night”

Please let me know if you do find anything more as I would like my report to be as complete as possible.

Kind Regards

Keith