Growing up in east London and being obsessed with aviation, back in 1977 aged 14, me and my friend Stephen Burgess cycled our way from Walthamstow into the wilds of Essex and using some rudimentary maps we found Stapleford Tawney aerodrome almost by chance. We of course had no idea of this story. I don’t know where Stephen is now, in fact I’ve not seen him since I was around 20, but I hope he somehow sees this.
A very interesting and tragic story for sure. Many years ago I flew in a D.H Dragon Rapide from Duxford. It was a great trip back to the 1930's, canvas and wire, even wicker cabin seats too!
You were lucky to have seats. The 20odd time I flew in G-AGTM and G-AJHO from Netheravon, I was sat on the floor with another 8 people. And we had to get out at the top too.
De Havilland Rapide , was the very first plane I ever flew in at the age of 8, many years ago. It was from that flight that I was determined to become a Pilot myself , which I did.
One of those tragedies that hit the headlines for a few days and then vanished, seemingly forever, except for the families directly involved. Except that nowadays such stories can be learned about through the research and dedication of TH-camrs like yourself. I understand that Amy Johnson worked for a time as a pilot for Hillman?
Thank you for another excellent piece of aviation history Nick. Although I had some prior knowledge of the incident, I was not aware of the cause of their jump until today! A sad but most interesting tale. I look forward to the next one.
@@wellbraehome9896 I'm always stumbling across potential stories for the channel but I've tended to stay away from accidents and crashery as I don't want to become all ghoulish - profitable though it generally is. However, the occasional tragic story is worth telling.
What an interesting but sad story you have presented. I always feel that the family and loved ones left behind suffer the most and for the longest... Thank you for these unusual stories you manage to find.
I've heard it said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. That certainly seems to be true here; an attractive young woman from a prominent family would have her pick of suitors. What a pity that she was carried away by the passions of the moment and made such a rash decision; worse still that her sister was swept up in them as well.
Oh my goodness how sad …true love/grief .. an evolution of emotion in humanity looks back and forward and like no other animal in this world says .. no .. without you I give my life … For them , if an after life I wish hugs and kisses with their love for eternity
Thank you once again for a very interesting story. I went to Stapleford once or twice as a 13 year old to collect the aircraft numbers in the mid 50's. Took the train and underground from Southend.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Just missed it then. I think I was there in 1956. You probably won't know, but had EFT flown to near Hornchurch from Southend? As far as I know it was still based at Southend in 1958.
Close to home that one...There are often other pressures to play adding to the final way out of it all. Huge fallout for those around at the time, and something one learns to live along side. Echoes there after. We are complex beings for sure. Fascinating time period and good story telling.
I remember going to Hilman's airfield in1934/5 to see an airshow.We lived in Hornchurch or ChadwellHeath at the time.Saw the same sort of thing at RAF Hornchurch then as well.
A rather tragic but interesting story. I noticed while reading the newspaper clippings a mention of Alfred Loewenstein whose death might make for another fascinating video.
Did you know there was a copycat jump in Switzerland just a few days after the Du Bois sisters jump? Two lovers decided to end it all at Basel-Birsfelden; like the sisters, the couple bought all the tickets and then met their Maker in spectacular style! No doubt they'd been reading the papers.
Yes I did, there's mention of it in the British Newspaper Archive. It was my intention to include the press cutting but I didn't as I don't want to become a TH-cam ghoul!
See, this is why suicide always involves the lives of other people who had nothing to do with it. If it is only the people who have to clean up the mess. Abridge airport was actually right where the first map shows, but today there is a motorway crossing that field. Sad and tragic story this. Good work.
@@drstevenrey Yes, all rather gruesome. Abridge (Loughton Air Park) is correct on the map; Abridge (Essex Air Port), also known as Abridge Stapleford and later Stapleford Tawney, is from where the incident flight commenced. As you rightly note, the Loughton site is now bisected by the M11.
@@senianns9522 An autopsy was performed on the Friday before the inquest but it concentrated on seeing whether the girls had been drugged. They were clean as far as could be ascertained. Even if they'd been comprehensively rogered by the RAF, it was only a matter of a couple of weeks previously; any pregnancy would have been in an extremely early state.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Thanks for the clarity! Would any autopsy ever looked for pregnancy with the high society girls in those days? Altogether a sad story!
@@senianns9522 Such beastliness might have been glossed over for the sake of the parents. This is the first film I've made about a tragedy and I was careful with the level of detail. Given that the response has been astonishingly good, I'm definitely going to make some more films on this theme. However, I don't want to turn into a TH-cam ghoul.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair You did a good job! I was unaware of this story and surprised as it unfolded as i thought 'When the pilot looked back they were gone'--they had fallen through the open door as the aircraft banked? No seatbelts onboard? Quite a moving story in all Well done! Greetings from Thailand.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair really I have drinking paint brush cleaner again , for correcting you erroneous video, OK, prove me erroneous if you can. " AMERICAN CITIZENS DO NOT EXIST ON THE PLANET EARTH , NO ON THIS UNIVERSO " . saludos mi negritochino
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair you are a censor machine, now, where is my reply to you primitive response , AMERICAN CITIZENS DON'T EXIST, stop you assignment of erroneous identities to people you are a criminal, saludos
A sad story with your usual excellent voice over.
Poor old Captain Curtain must have had hell at school. "Curtain pull yourself together! "
I thought much the same when Kirton had to close the sliding door!
Incredibly sad story, but expertly told and presented. Thank you.
Growing up in east London and being obsessed with aviation, back in 1977 aged 14, me and my friend Stephen Burgess cycled our way from Walthamstow into the wilds of Essex and using some rudimentary maps we found Stapleford Tawney aerodrome almost by chance. We of course had no idea of this story. I don’t know where Stephen is now, in fact I’ve not seen him since I was around 20, but I hope he somehow sees this.
@@JJ62 That’s a great story, let’s hope Stephen does see your post.
A very interesting and tragic story for sure. Many years ago I flew in a D.H Dragon Rapide from Duxford. It was a great trip back to the 1930's, canvas and wire, even wicker cabin seats too!
You were lucky to have seats.
The 20odd time I flew in G-AGTM and G-AJHO from Netheravon, I was sat on the floor with another 8 people.
And we had to get out at the top too.
Thank You. A very sad but very well told story. Life is full of surprises!
This is a crazy story. I'd never heard of it before.
A fascinating and professionally told story. Thank you
Fascinating and Tragic and the Falling Gold 😮 Told well and with maps 🏆
Thanks for another interesting video with some comdy here and there!
I do my best!
Thanks. Looks like a Fox Moth in a couple of the photos, was the first type of aircraft I flew in, a joyflight at Southport UK 1950s
@@allanm250 Yes, Hillman’s had Fox Moths, Puss Moths, Dragons and Rapides. The perfect airline!
Had a flight in a Rapide from Duxford many years ago, beautiful old craft.
A fascinating, tragically romantic story, very well presented.
There is a great movie in this story. Somebody needs to make it.
DH Dragons and Bunny Boiling?! Quite a mix!
That is an amazing story, thank you for posting
De Havilland Rapide , was the very first plane I ever flew in at the age of 8, many years ago. It was from that flight that I was determined to become a Pilot myself , which I did.
In one picture there is a Fox Moth next to Rapide, my first flight in Moth 1976, also carried on to be pilot.
Dragon. Oblong wings. Rapide had curved tapered wings
@@Daverotherham Yes look very similar.
Very interesting story, first rate narration.
One of those tragedies that hit the headlines for a few days and then vanished, seemingly forever, except for the families directly involved. Except that nowadays such stories can be learned about through the research and dedication of TH-camrs like yourself.
I understand that Amy Johnson worked for a time as a pilot for Hillman?
Yes she did. I'll make a film about Ted Hillman and his airline soon.
How sad, so many people affected by the situation.
Very interesting. A story I had not heard. Thank you!
It is a sad fact that particularly in our younger years, we can be overwhelmed by our feelings to the point of taking our own life!
Another fascinating story so well put together, as usual. Thank you for putting these videos up 👍
Thank you for another excellent piece of aviation history Nick. Although I had some prior knowledge of the incident, I was not aware of the cause of their jump until today! A sad but most interesting tale. I look forward to the next one.
@@wellbraehome9896 I'm always stumbling across potential stories for the channel but I've tended to stay away from accidents and crashery as I don't want to become all ghoulish - profitable though it generally is. However, the occasional tragic story is worth telling.
What an interesting but sad story you have presented. I always feel that the family and loved ones left behind suffer the most and for the longest... Thank you for these unusual stories you manage to find.
@@derrybelcher3286 I agree, very hard on the families. The Du Bois parents were devastated for the rest of their lives.
I've heard it said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. That certainly seems to be true here; an attractive young woman from a prominent family would have her pick of suitors. What a pity that she was carried away by the passions of the moment and made such a rash decision; worse still that her sister was swept up in them as well.
@@MemphisBBQ640 Yes, it was all a bit hasty.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair I don't agree that it was hasty - this suicide was planned from the outset.
Don't judge suicidal people by your own criteria
@@John-k6f9k No-one is being judged.
I was expecting a plane crash story, what a surprise, oh the horror. Thanks for the history!
Well done. What a story. Thanks!
I thought it might be a bit too gruesome but the response has been wonderful. More ghastly tales soon!
Intriguing story
Oh my goodness how sad …true love/grief .. an evolution of emotion in humanity looks back and forward and like no other animal in this world says .. no .. without you I give my life …
For them , if an after life I wish hugs and kisses with their love for eternity
Yes, it's quite a story; not my usual lighthearted nonsense but a tale worthy of record.
Thank you. A sad story indeed
Thank you once again for a very interesting story. I went to Stapleford once or twice as a 13 year old to collect the aircraft numbers in the mid 50's. Took the train and underground from Southend.
My Aeronca C3 was stored at Stapleford from 1958 to 1961 after a crash at nearby Hornchurch on the 9th November 1958.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Just missed it then. I think I was there in 1956. You probably won't know, but had EFT flown to near Hornchurch from Southend? As far as I know it was still based at Southend in 1958.
@@raymondhoward1581 Yes, it still lived at Southend; sold by Bernard Collins in September 1958, the new owner wrecked it a month or so later.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Squadron Leader Bernard Collins, the airport manager.
Close to home that one...There are often other pressures to play adding to the final way out of it all. Huge fallout for those around at the time, and something one learns to live along side. Echoes there after. We are complex beings for sure. Fascinating time period and good story telling.
An interesting ragic story, well researched and told
I remember going to Hilman's airfield in1934/5 to see an airshow.We lived in Hornchurch or ChadwellHeath at the time.Saw the same sort of thing at RAF Hornchurch then as well.
Youth can, at times, see the world in very harsh black and white. Unless there was some hidden factor, time would have healed the wound.
Without a doubt but I think the girls were rather spoilt. Too much parental indulgence is not a good education for life.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Yeah, you are probably right. But there seems to be a real mystery there. What a story!
Sometimes heals a wound but not the memory.
Yet we keep our pecker up.
Very sad.
Very interesting! Sad story. Thanks.
New to me, thank you, RB, Canada,
A rather tragic but interesting story. I noticed while reading the newspaper clippings a mention of Alfred Loewenstein whose death might make for another fascinating video.
@@scask Loewenstein, now that’s quite a story for conspiracy theorists like Grassy Knollington.
I recently read a book on that "incident", pretty strange.
A jew...?
@@alfonsfalkhayn8950 Why not? They seem to do better than the other team.
My God! Youth is a daisy chain of booby traps! Makes me relieved to reach age 71!
Did you know there was a copycat jump in Switzerland just a few days after the Du Bois sisters jump? Two lovers decided to end it all at Basel-Birsfelden; like the sisters, the couple bought all the tickets and then met their Maker in spectacular style! No doubt they'd been reading the papers.
Yes I did, there's mention of it in the British Newspaper Archive. It was my intention to include the press cutting but I didn't as I don't want to become a TH-cam ghoul!
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair I think you can tell these stories without becoming typecast as a ghoul! They are worth telling and suit your channel content.
@@loomisgruntfuttock Seconded!
Wow. Unbelievable.
See, this is why suicide always involves the lives of other people who had nothing to do with it. If it is only the people who have to clean up the mess. Abridge airport was actually right where the first map shows, but today there is a motorway crossing that field. Sad and tragic story this. Good work.
@@drstevenrey Yes, all rather gruesome. Abridge (Loughton Air Park) is correct on the map; Abridge (Essex Air Port), also known as Abridge Stapleford and later Stapleford Tawney, is from where the incident flight commenced. As you rightly note, the Loughton site is now bisected by the M11.
well. not exactly a "vintage delight", I'd say.
but still, a story you ran across, that you felt was important to tell.
It was all rather vintage and delightful until the Grim Reaper turned up.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair yup...there's someone at the door, darling...he's wondering something about the reaping.
(i've forgotten how that goes)
Weird.
The sisters might have been impregnated which would have been a huge scandal back in their day.
I think you're on the money there! * Note bodies cremated at Golders Green London. That's a big Jewish community area. Autopsy ? Hmmn.
@@senianns9522 An autopsy was performed on the Friday before the inquest but it concentrated on seeing whether the girls had been drugged. They were clean as far as could be ascertained. Even if they'd been comprehensively rogered by the RAF, it was only a matter of a couple of weeks previously; any pregnancy would have been in an extremely early state.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Thanks for the clarity! Would any autopsy ever looked for pregnancy with the high society girls in those days? Altogether a sad story!
@@senianns9522 Such beastliness might have been glossed over for the sake of the parents. This is the first film I've made about a tragedy and I was careful with the level of detail. Given that the response has been astonishingly good, I'm definitely going to make some more films on this theme. However, I don't want to turn into a TH-cam ghoul.
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair You did a good job! I was unaware of this story and surprised as it unfolded as i thought 'When the pilot looked back they were gone'--they had fallen through the open door as the aircraft banked? No seatbelts onboard? Quite a moving story in all Well done! Greetings from Thailand.
Who knew that Alfred Hitchcock’s brother voiced documentaries?
@@deweypug Someone said similar a while ago; unfortunately I’m getting tubby like my voice double too!
they are no American Citizens on planet earth. saludos
I think you've been drinking paint brush cleaner again?
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair really I have drinking paint brush cleaner again , for correcting you erroneous video, OK, prove me erroneous if you can. " AMERICAN CITIZENS DO NOT EXIST ON THE PLANET EARTH , NO ON THIS UNIVERSO " . saludos mi negritochino
@@FlyingForFunTrecanair you are a censor machine, now, where is my reply to you primitive response , AMERICAN CITIZENS DON'T EXIST, stop you assignment of erroneous identities to people you are a criminal, saludos
You've forgotten your meds again, old man!
This story brought to you by Flying For Fun?
@@John-k6f9k It was fun until the Grim Reaper appeared.