The Crash of Vulcan XM610: Find Out What Happened in Wingate, County Durham
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2022
- Avro Vulcan B2, XM610 of 44 Squadron RAF crashed in the village of Wingate, County Durham, England on January 7th 1971.
It came down within metres of the Wingate Junior School and a major disaster was narrowly averted.
What began as a routine mission for the crew will rapidly turn into a struggle for their very survival and place the residents and school children of the village of Wingate, County Durham in serious danger.
44 Squadron had been operating the Avro Vulcan since 10th August 1960 with the introduction of the B1 variant but this was upgraded to the B1A in Jan 1961 and this in turn was upgraded to the latest B.2 variant in September of 1966.
It was an Avro Vulcan B2 model that took part in this sortie over the Northern England Low Flying Zone close to the Scottish borders.
Fortunately, no lives were lost in this accident with all 5 crew members making successful exits from the aircraft.
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Well this is a surprise. As a 6 year old boy in 1971 living in Peterlee, I watched this Vulcan fly over the field I was playing football in out the back of our house! Flames pouring out the back. Dad grabbed me and we drove to Station Town where the crash site was already taped off. Dad spoke to a Policemen and for years we had 2 little pieces of metal form the plan in a shoebox.
Thanks for the video. It brought back the memories of a 6 year old so vividly.
I was a navigator on the crew that took 610 around the world in 1967. It was always my favourite aircraft for that reason, we were very sorry to hear it had crashed.
I was 11 year old at Downhill primary school when I seen this pass overhead, i remember the teachers took us in early from 'playtime'. Hard too think how vivid it still is in my mind being 51 year ago.
I was security for this Aircraft (and a few others) the night before the flight. There was a similar engine failure on another Vulcan around the same time. It took off from Waddington and my colleague said to me as we watched, that they seemed to be firing flares out of it as it lifted off. The pilot did a quick circuit and landed attended by numerous fire engines and other vehicles. I believe it was the same problem. The Aircrews and servicing Crews on these aircraft were all dedicated guys, and carried a big responsibility.
Done believe this guy. He’s one of the Monkees 😂😂😂
@@flyingphobiahelp 😂😂 I'm watching you from the grave👻👻
Spitfire, Lancaster, B-52, Concorde, Chinook, A-10, Vulcan..
Some aircraft just hit *different* when they fly over.. that Vulcan howl is as iconic a sound as _any_ in the history of Aviation.. I feel so privileged that I got to hear it in person on more than one occasion ❤🙏🏻🍻🇬🇧
What about the Ospreys tilt wing? Two flew over us. I could hear something but had no idea what it was until they appeared, they sounded like nothing I've heard before, very interesting. Also the Lightning going supersonic in the climb, the crowd just stood and cheered.
I remember standing on the airfield about 100m from the runway when Concorde trundled past and let loose with the afterburners. That was such a machine..... Also seriously impressed by the sound of the Vulcan and how the pilots were able to get such a big plane and roll it and climb.
I remember seeing a Harrier perform at the Sunderland Airshow. It's held right on the sea front, so a perfect venue.
The Harrier zipped past a few times, back and forth, rolling and banking, before settling into a hover, right on our eyeline. It was like it was staring, right at me, and the sound was like nothing I've heard before, or since. It wasn't _audible,_ as such, but a physical sensation - as though the air was squeezing me.
One of the most awe inspiring experiences I've ever had.
(Also, in those days we were lucky enough to live right under the flight path of any of the aircraft coming up to the show from the south. The distinctive sound of six Merlin engines approaching in formation was impossible to miss.)
I love Vulcans and this was a story I'd never heard. Congrats on the genuine human commentary complete with genuine Geordie accent. I'm fed up with text-to-speech converters.
I miss seeing XH558 when it used to take off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire...It was a sad day when it was retired!
A sad day indeed.
Thanks for telling this story. I’d never heard it.
This crew exhibited outstanding airmanship and great courage.
A good story and nicely narrated. Thanks for not putting annoying and unnecessary music all over it.
Thank you
Agreed. Thanks for the history…
08/01/2023: Amazing story. The skill & bravery during a crisis of those airmen is simply outstanding. Well Done!
I remember seeing this incident unfold as the Vulcan passed over the west of Houghton le Spring. A group of us were attracted by the loud noise, at first thinking the pilot was using his after burners but soon realised the plane was in trouble. As it travelled further south we saw the first parachute and then a second as the plane turned eastwards. We then saw a flash of flame as it suddenly it went into a spiral dive and turned back inland. At this point we lost sight but heard on a radio where it had come down.
Thanks for sharing your memories. It must have been some sight.
I’m from Easington and was in the school yard in Horden when this passed burning overhead. I was only five but remember it clearly. I remember that we all looked up, unable to process what we were seeing. Thanks for explaining everything so clearly.
Yet another fascinating history lesson I knew nothing about, well researched and brilliantly told, many thanks. I saw several in my youth take off with that thunderous roar from their engines, yet appear to just hang in the sky like paper darts when turning. Greatest respect to all RAF crews who flew them, especially those who cratered the airport runway kicking off recapturing the Falklands. Now that's a story worth recounting.
Thanks very much
dito
I was stationed at RAF Waddington from mid 1970 to 1976 and was an LAC A Mech (P} when this disaster occurred. Thank you for telling the story, it is factual and well delivered. I remember a whole bunch of guys being shipped up to Wingate to guard the aircraft at the time. We were later all briefed on the accident. I also remember the very sad 1975 crash as I personally knew one of the Crew Chief's.as part of that crew that perished. 'Blue Skies'
1975 Zabar Malta ?
Unbelievable well done guys 👏
Peace to you and all who keep and kept us safe in our sleep thankyou all for your sacrfice xx hope to you all 🐾🐾🐾🐾
I recall my father once described that he saw the plane come down (he thought initially onto the school) and went to help. On his way and crossing an open field he looked up and saw a paper object fluttering towards him which landed perfectly in his hands. He saw that it was a map. Almost immediately a 'military dressed man' came across the field and confiscated the map claiming it was MOD property or such, and walked off again........
what a fantastic series of events...
Did your father also happen to work for the FBI New York City field office in the early 2000's, by any chance...?
...Any British military air crash is under the Official Secrets Act; in other words any piece of wreckage and report is considered top secret until the aircraft type is retired or any survivors died of old age...
@@gabriellourenco4334 I'm sure my father would have handed it in. If he was still around I would have liked to ask if the man who came to him was dressed like the aircrew, I guess he would not have known exactly what they looked like then. Whoever this man was he was very quickly on the scene.
What a lovely story....
Awesome Vulcan footage, well done finding it and putting it all together, it was a pleasure to watch and the story was riveting as I had never heard about this incident before.
I was christened at RAF Finningley around this time, this base operated Vulcans too. I remember going to air shows and seeing more than one Vulcan in the sky and my god was it glorious.
Finningley airshows were amazing, the start was always four Vulcans taking of from the quick reaction alert pad right next to the crowds. Never to be forgotten by those who attended.
Growing up in Vancouver, B.C., Canada a visit to the Abbottsford International Airshow was an annual tradition. The Vulcan was a perennial performer in the '70's and always the most impressive part of the show.
I was sailing near Oban Scotland when a Vulcan came over quite low, the big delta wing is a sight no easily forgotten, it is interesting that the Eurofighter shares that planform.
A sight I'll never forget. Early 60s. at an air show at Laverton Victoria Australia. A Vulcan came in low, pointed its nose up and with a tremendous roar, went straight up. So impressive to me, a young air cadet.
I remember that...I was at Radschool then.
My father in law was head teacher at Wingate School (Doughie Haigh) when it crashed. He told me the story years ago. He is 90 now and I’m sure would love to see this. Many thanks!
Wow. Mr haigh now there’s a name from the past mr haigh taught mr in the 80s. I found him strict but fair. Hope he’s in good health. He made a great impact on my early years.
Ha ha! Imagine going out with his daughter!! I’m going up to see him soon for his 90th I’ll mention you to him. Thanks for the comment.
@@maharishijetset4609 He was the best with a cane I ever encountered. Nearly took your finger ends off. Fully deserved I might add. He was a good head teacher. Give him my best regards please.
@@roymeadows1708 now there’s a name from the past mr meadows. Do you still live in wingate mate.
@@jmc0075 Yes mate..Now in Market Crescent..Been there for 20 years now.
As a child living close to The Cheviots I remember the low flyovers like it was yesterday. The noise, the excitement and the incredible flying skills all evident.
Thanks for sharing
An outstanding video of an incident that required exceptional airmanship. Bravo Zulu to the crew of XM610. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
My grandparents lived in a street called Lake view which is just across the road from where the Vulcan crashed, It crashed in a field behind the Coop store, They suffered a few broken windows as did nearby houses. I was given a vacuum gauge from the Vulcan by my uncle who found it on the road near the crash site. Wish I still had it.
This crash is described in the prologue of Rowland White's book "Vulcan 607". Navigation Plotter, Jim Vinale, later went on to be part of Operation Black Buck raids on the Falklands in 1982.
Another quality monograph about a fascinating incident. Your presentations consistently demand my undivided attention.
Yes, the three crew in the back are not well cared for in the design of any of the V bombers in terms of exiting the aircraft in flight. They would be forgiven for concluding that they were dispensable.
I was fortunate enough to see a Valiant on one of these low-altitude training runs whilst trout fishing with my Dad on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales, circa 1962. It came barreling up the valley, low, massive, white, noisy and fast. I remember looking across the valley rather than up at the sky; it was lower than the hills. I was then an impressionable 7-year old. Needless to say, I remain impressed.
So glad you enjoyed it. That's quite a tale from your youth. It must have been quite a sight.
I read a book by the "test ejector" Doddy Hay who pioneered ejection seats and he and others complained that the rear crew should also have had the ejector seats, but that it was the Labour government that would NOT provide the cash to pay for them. Many died as a result. The book was called "Man in the Hot Seat" i think. One aircraft captain had to eject and lost 6 crew in two abandonments, another told his co pilot to eject and stayed with his rear crew having had to abandon 3 men in a previous incident. The price of our freedoms is too high and we should never allow governments to reduce the safety of our personnel due to cost when we waste so much of our nation's finances on policies such as the profligate waste on the illegal immigrants, and abandon our valuable people who serve so courageously and professionally. They deserve better in service and after service too. God speed and a salute to all who served and serve.
That seems to be a hallmark of Avro designed aircraft. The Lancaster was even worse, almost impossible to escape from. Particularly for anyone aft of the main wing spar.
The Americans incidentally took considerable pains to ensure crew could escape.
@@leighrate I have been inside a Lancaster and as a parachutist, it would seem going out from the side door would have been easier for the mid upper gunner, and possibly aiding the rear gunner, the ones in front of the main spar were in closer proximity and would seem to have far less chance of getting out. I have also been inside a Shackleton Mk3 and the same would seem to apply there. In the Shackleton the escape "chute" which is basically a shaft between the pilots did seem rather restrictive. I am not sure where the other escape hatches were but it could warrant further investigation. One of my relatives was a ww2 and post ww2 RAF Pilot who flew single engine and twin engine aircraft, as well as being transported on Halifaxes, which were easier to get out of apparently from what he said. Both Halifax and Stirling were used to drop "sticks" of Paras, SAS and SOE, i cannot recall if Lancaster'
s were ever used for that. That wing spar is a very chunky obstacle in both the Lancaster and Shackleton by the way.
Great story. The tactical route (low-level) skirted around the UK and was used by Vulcan crews to practice low-level flying at 500 ft above ground (agl) while avoiding built-up areas (quite difficult in parts of the UK, especially in England); the Dominie navigator trainer aircraft had a back end designed to mimic the Vulcan with two rear-facing nav stations and also flew low-level sorties following the "tac route" at 500 ft agl using map-matched radar predictions (MMRP) for nav updates.
Weather could be a major issue, resulting in a climbout to a safe altitude; however, the introduction of Tornado with its terrain-following radar (TFR) changed low flying. The auto-pilot, tied in to the TFR, allowed Tornado to navigate in cloud down to 200ft agl; as a navigator used to pulling out of low-level as weather approached, it was an extremely weird experience the first time I sat in a Tornado with AP/TFR engaged flying into cloud over the North York moors at 250 ft agl. That certainly concentrated the mind!
Great story and your narration is perfect.
I’m from County Durham now living in Melbourne. Such a delight to hear the names of towns from my youth. Once again another brilliant piece of aviation investigation. These videos are so riveting can’t understand why the site doesn’t have a larger following, it leaves others of similar ilk in the dust.
Thank you very much
You lucky beggar lol
It’s amazing how many ex pats absolutely love living in Australia yet miss so much of home. My cousin lives in Geelong Victoria although he loves living in Australia he misses the U.K. like mad. He said he actually looks forward to visiting home every other year to see his family and friends. Must say I’ve been to Australia 3 times myself and it is a great place to live🙂
@@matty6848 I'd swap Durham for Australia in a heart beat mate. Yeah I'd miss it, but I wouldn't want to come back lol 😆
@@stemartin6671 yeh that’s what cousin says. He like you really does miss the U.K. more family and friends than anything else, but he wouldn’t ever come back or leave Australia. Especially as his kids were born over there, so that’s all they know. It is a great outdoor lifestyle though. Although I must admit I went over one year towards the Australian winter and I was shocked how cold it gets down south in N.S.W and Victoria in the winter. Not as cold as the U.K. winters though🥶😂
Great video. Thank you. I saw the latter stages of this unfold as an 8 year old boy in the playground of East Rainton Junior School, Co Durham. Incredible.
Another excellent episode, thanks for producing it.
I have a very vague memory of this incident - unless there was a different Vulcan crash around that time. I was still in elementary school at the time. Love the Vulcans, such an elegant aircraft. Don't they say in aviation design, " if it looks right, it probably is right". The Vulcan definitely looks right.
This is also a good example of why you never stop training. Every crew member did their jobs, and didn't hesitate when they were told to jump.
The number of military aircraft which crashed over the UK post war without killing many civilians on the ground is amazing. It shows the bravery and dedication of aircrew in distress avoiding civilian areas. I remember the Stubton Victor crash in Lincolnshire caused by an unrecoverable flat spin. The aircraft crashed into and demolished a farmhouse, killing two people inside the house and two rear crew members who were unable to bail out (no ejection seats in the rear) because of gravitational forces caused by the spin. The third rear crew member bailed out and survived and the pilot and Co pilot ejected safely.
I watched this disaster from the playground of Wingate Junior School along with teachers and the rest of the pupils.I can still hear the noise it made as it hit the ground.
MUST BE FROM GLENVIEW I'm FROM NORTHBROOK & SAW VERY BLACK SMOKE THROUGH TREES 2. 1/2. MILES AWAY. IT WAS A MAJESTIC PLANE ,, WHEN CLIMBING IT WOULD UPTURN AS IF ON A HINGE---- NO OTHER PLANE EVER BUILT ON THIS PLANET COULD DO THAT:: 1981 it came back toNAS GLENVIEW IT FLEW DIRECTLY OVER MY HOUSE @ ONLY 400' -- goosebumps I t reminded me of the CONCORDE
Years ago, at MCAS El Toro, I had the pleasure of seeing the Vulcan in person. What a beautiful aircraft! The best part? Her sound! When you are standing behind, the crackle of those engines was pure magnificence.
When I was a kid we often camped near an R.A.F base in Devon, Vulcans, often accompanied by Lightnings were a fantastic sight and sound as they arrived/departed and flew the circuit.
Very, very well done ! ! !
You described it excellently! ! ! Thanks!
As a kid I remember this on the news, and discussed by family members...
Thank you very much!
Nicely done.
Loud but beautiful birds. My sis was an RCAF met observer. One idled for hours outside their office in St Hubert PQ on delivering the video tapes to Canada. Her hearing was never the same.
Excellent story telling, content and visuals. Thank you.
At Wingare secondary Modern school at the time remember it well. Both Senior and juniors school were lucky that day.
It came down closer to the infant's school . And it wasn't long before Fred Martindale was bouling one of the tyres up north road east
I was working on a new tower block in Newcastle,whilst waiting in the exterior hoist on the last descent of the day i saw an object on fire crossing the Tyne valley to the west of us going south and pointed it out to the hoistman at the time.I later learned from the news about the Vulcan crash.
Brave fellas... decorations well earned.
I was at the accident scene of XL390 in August of 1978 in Glenview, IL. I was only 7 years old. I'll never forget it.
I wondered when that was. I had an uncle that was stationed at Glenview and remember hearing he saw the crash, or at least it's aftermath.
I lived in Northbrook. It happened 11 August 1978 - it crashed 3 miles from me : I heard a thud & smoke in trees in forest::
Iwas 21 year old all pilots were killed, I trying to get to crash site
WHY DID HE CRASH?? someone saw white smoke as it turned quickly over BIKE track & garbage dump which it crashed into. !
@@JohnSmith-fg6pt We were so close. My mom was driving our Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, and my twin brother and I, both 7, were in the back seat watching the plane fly its pattern. Just a coincidence we were there as our mom was dragging us around to thrift shops that day. We were so amazed because of its delta wing design. We had never seen a plane like that. And then it went down. We were so close as the plane was so big in our car's window... likely 2 miles away, or less. We felt the impact. Our mom pulled over, got out of the car and we all saw the smoke rise. She was shaken as were we. I'll never forget it.
At the time, my Dad was stationed at Ft Sheridan and a US Army Major General. He was a senior officer with the Corps Of Engineers, and the Chairman of the Mississippi River Commission, appointed by President Carter. He traveled a few miles to Glenview Naval Air Station for a memorial ceremony 2 or 3 days later for the British crew. Very sad.
7th January 1971, I (Simon Williams) was at St Hild’s school in Durham aged 11, on the Dragonville estate, the bell had just rung for the end of playtime when this airplane attracted our attention. One boy called out it was ‘Concord’, we all laughed at him and told him it was a Vulcan, and for sure it was on fire - or at least a black smoke trail laid out behind it - we could see no flames.
I can see Leigh Coulson also commenting - he was one of my friends in my class (not seen him for 51 years!), this incident clearly etched permanently in all our minds.
Durham is 6 miles from Wingate, and at this stage fair to say the plane was at about 6000 feet and 2 to 3 miles north of Durham. We watched as it went in a straight line roughly toward the east coast and out of sight. A teacher later confirmed the plane came down at Wingate just missing a school and the pilot had ejected - to which we speculated the pilot was now 2 inches shorter - none of us appeared to have thought about the rest of the crew!
5 years later aged 16 I was on my epic Newbury to Durham journey (300 miles avoiding motorways) on my Puch Maxi N2 (30 mph max speed) (took me 2 days), and going past RAF Dishforth with the longest runaway parallel to the A1, a Vulcan did 3 touch and go’s in the time it took me to do the length of the runway! You can’t get more ‘open top’ than a moped, and a Vulcan over my right shoulder, and doing circuits round me, what a sight, totally made my day.
3 years later with an RAF flying scholarship (Air Cadets) and learning to fly at Kirmington, near Hull, I had an ex.RAF Vulcan Navigator teaching us flying theory (we called him ‘teach’) - he told us the visibility from the cockpit of the Vulcan was quite poor and certainly not easy to see other light aircraft. I can imagine that trying to ‘dump’ a stricken Vulcan into the ground was never going to be easy, hence, the pilot ‘targeting’ the North Sea made sense. I note the incident never put me off wanting to be a pilot in the RAF (although had count my blessings for just being a private pilot.)
4 years later we have Vulcan XL319 landing at Sunderland on Video.
th-cam.com/video/MQKL_5YVuVE/w-d-xo.html
1983 - Great sound at my old Sunderland flying club - great people - and now the Nissan car manufacturing plant - all credit to Nissan and the huge investments they’re making.
And thanks to all those who have pieced history back together on the Internet.
Superb presentation thanks xxx
I was in Wingate Junior school same as Roy, I was 8 yrs old. I remember all of us looking up at it for what seemed like ages, came really low over the school and into the ground. Everything went quiet for a couple of seconds then a ball of flames shot up in the air, very frightening.
Quite a sight for someone so young.
Fascinating story, excellently told and thoroughly researched. A joy to watch, thanks
Many thanks!
Flt Lt Alcock also had another Vulcan ejection in 1975 from XM645 in Malta. This had fatalities after a landing mishap and a go-around. Looking at a number of these incidents (including the Victor bomber) it is frustrating that the rear crews did not have ejection seats.
Yes, I did read that as part of my research for this story. The rear crews certainly did get a rough deal.
It was always controversial and the Vulcan crash at Heathrow after a hitherto successful world tour on 1st October 1956 when four crew died, but the two pilots ejected and survived put this feature into sharp relief from day one of V- Bomber operations. Given favourable circumstances Wingate did at least show that complete crew survival was possible. I used to live not far from the RAF Leeming flight circuit and Vulcans would visit from time to time. On leaving they would do some circuits then climb out almost on full power heading south. On a calm summers evening you could hear their engines for ages rumbling into the distance as they climbed. It was a little eerie in some ways.
When I got to climb up into the Vulcan, I could look but not touch the front because the seats were live, but the rear seats were fine to sit in. Reminded me of the A-3 Skywarrior crews that had to jump out of a hatch in the floor. Imagine if modern airliners had ejection seats for the pilot & co-pilot only.
My great friend George Heslop RIP was a paramedic that day in Malta that day I think it was the CO last flight and his family were watching he would never ever forget that scene and loss of life years later he was at faslane and one of the first on the scene at Dunblane
a lot of controversy over what happen over Zabar Malta. Alcock is said to have let the copilot attempt the landing. something nog recommended at the time because of the runway. a lot long now than back then. he came in heavy anx bounced hard damaging the landing gear. alcock too over.. for a go round.. the rest is history
Outstanding video and details
Lived in the area all of my 70+ years. Never knew about this !!!
Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
As a child out on break while attending a British Forces school in Malta back in 1975, I witnessed one of these magnificent aircraft explode in mid-air following a failed landing at Luqa airport. As I understand it, and similar to Wingate, the crew were also trying to make it out over the sea in order to ditch the aircraft, but fire spread too quickly and only the pilots, using their ejector seats made it out. The aircraft crashed into a village. Five crew members from the rear and one person on the ground lost their lives, but the toll could have been substantially higher considering how densely populated much of Malta is. I could be wrong, but I think the Vulcan was pulled from service not long after that incident.
I was 8 (9 in the March of that year) and i was in the school playground in Dene House Juniors in Peterlee and i can remember vividly the plane flying over with smoke coming out of the rear.
It crashed not far from my Aunt's house in Station Town. FLt Lt Alcock was later to be on the crew of the Vulcan that bombed the runway in the Falklands war.
I was at school in Peterlee when this happened I clearly remember the Vulcan flying over the school very very low was a big shock
I really enjoyed that. Thanks. Subbed and look forward to further gems of History.
Awesome, thank you!
Very interesting, I don't remember that one at all but I do remember the Vulcan crash at Syerston back in the late 1950's. I was once driving down the A1 about 1981/2 and as I came round the roundabout at RAF Leeming I was met by Police in the road who told me to stop and turn off my engine. After a few minutes a Vulcan came in from the west just above the road surface and landed at the airfield and off we went again. Wonderful sight so close to it. I heard later the plane was being retired there and that was its last flight.
I was working at Philadelphia Central stores for the NCB at the time and saw this plane going down over Wingate. I was 15 years old at the time and remember it well. Glad all crew were safe and well
Fascinating story.A beautiful aircraft came to a fiery end,at least no people lost to its demise.Keep up the good work👏👏👏
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.
I can recall standing in my school yard at Ushaw Moor junior school aged 10, looking up at this vulcan on fire and counting the parachutes opening as the crew bailed out. Thankfully it didn't put me off becoming a pilot in my adult life.
Great video, glad everyone was safe. As kids, we regularly saw Vulcans fly over Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire, at low altitude when they were out on exercise/patrol from RAF Waddington. It was a sight to behold when they banked sharply around the back of the now demolished Ferrybridge ’C’ Power Station. It was like watching a huge metal Pterodactyl flying around. And when the pilot levelled out and headed onwards towards RAF Church Fenton, that was also amazing: the huge cry/roar as the pilot opened the throttles; the thick dark soot from the four Olympus engines… still gives me goosebumps. Fine, just fine. Ahhhh, time machine please!! Sorry, good memories. Love your channel. Keep up the excellent work.👍🏻
That must have been some sight and sound! Thanks for your comment
@@TheNorthernHistorian It was, and you’re welcome. :)
Thanks for taking us back there with you via your well written comment! I can just see it. How everyone does not get goosebumps with a great
fly-past, that I’ll never be able to grasp.
@@rumpstatefiasco Aw, you’re welcome George. I appreciate your kind comment very much. They were magical times back then. I was lucky and I had a very accommodating father who encouraged my interest in aviation. We’d go to regular yearly airshows, such as RAF Church Fenton & RAF Finningley, and more. We would go to RAF Binbrook at least once a month to watch the EE Lightnings (my favourite military jet, next to TSR-2), which was always a fantastic day out, even if it rained! Calling in at RAF Coningsby, Waddington or Scampton would be part of those trips as well.
I’m still a keen follower of everything aviation, but modern aircraft are far too clinical and soulless to me. I know things are different and technology has moved on hugely, but you’ll never beat the days of the Lightning, Vulcan (V Force), the Phantom, Folland Gnat, Hunter, Jaguar etc (and that’s just the RAF!!). Everything was more real back then; more grunt and honesty; far more piloting skills were required, too. Too techie in assistance for me these days, although of course modern day pilots still require immense skill. Anyway, just my opinion. Thanks again and be well. Simon
When Coningsby or Scampton, forget which, moved to Cottesmore in '64, a Civilian Working Party (CWP) arrived from Bristols, the engine makers, and their job was to fit armour plating to the Olympus engines, working out of 1 Hanger. We were put on 12 hour shifts, 2 weeks of days,1 week of nights is how the three shifts operated. The three sqdn's we were servicing proved challenging, as a mod programme was embodied and a number of STI's were carried out. One STI involved removal of the emergency overwing defueling connections and I as a scrawny erk was much sought after to hold an open ended spanner on the four bolt heads whilst someone from underneath, perhaps in an engine bay, I don't recall, ratcheded off the nuts etc. I say sought after because I had to lie on my back and slither forward through the gap made by removing the rectangular panel underneath one of the airbreaks, and the outer skin, and hold my spanner at arms length.
Superbly narrated and researched, thanks.
Many thanks!
I remember camping in Anglesea in the 70s and watching the Vulcans practicing their bombing dives, very impressive at the time. I've never heard about this incident though, thanks for posting.
My grandparents use to live in Hutton Henry just south of Wingate and I didn't know about this accident.There's some largish towns south of Wingate; Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough so imagine if it had landed on one of them or worse crashed into ICI Billingham!
I used to live in Kelloe, and always wandered what happened. Thanks
Well deserved award and commendations for the crew. A fine and well interesting film! 👍
Pilot Alcock was also in another Vulcan crash in Malta Zabbar. This time his crew died but as the Vulcan had only two ejector seats the pilot and co-pilot were saved. I saw it all.
British engineering at its finest. Such a great shame that there are no flying examples anymore.
A shame indeed.
Superb video and commentary! Really well done!
Thank you so much.
great video thanks. I lived in shotton colliery just north of wingate at the time. I was ten years old and this memory has always stayed with me. I remember it was very low passing over head I remember the noise and the plume of smoke trailing from the left engine I wondered has it got bombs on it. Also remember seeing for the first time in my life a couple of parachutes slowly decending. then it was gone followed by a boom soon after seeing a plume of smoke south of shotton colliery
Well done for an excellent account of an incident from my childhood!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Fascinating, many thanks👏🏻👏🏻
Brilliant story. I was one year old when this happened my dad had to cover my ears as he says the noise from Vulcan was loud We lived in aclom street station town a stones throw from crash site. Local farmer still has parts of plane in his barn.
I lived in Front street two doors down from Wynns shop
@@roymeadows1708 Roy just clicked on who you are I used to drink with you now and then in the top house drewits disco Friday nights 😂
@@jmc0075 Happy days mate..😁
an amazing story and well told sir! I live nearby, in Durham, and did not know anything about this.
I am no aeronautical engineer, but I can apply logic.
The lack of ejection seats for the rear crew is simply down to weight, and the structure of the aircraft. ...... Pilots are VERY expensive to train, so it makes sense to prioritise saving pilots, plus the cockpit roof is relatively easy to remove to permit ejection. ...... Each ejection seat adds 100 to 150 lbs weight, but more than that, one would need to completely redesign the rear fuselage to accommodate a clean exit of no less than 3 seats, which would add a lot of structural weight.. ...... With weight and space already at a premium, ejector seats simply were never a practical proposition.
The Vulcan is my fav aircraft. Nice video, thank you!
Glad you liked it!
The is an Avro Vulcan B.2 XL319 at Washington Rd Sunderland, recently renovated. There is a vicious rumour the locals stripped the wreckage site bare and reassembled and tried to weigh it in at Newton's Scrap Yard a few hundred yards away. They would have too but the lads reckon it ran out of juice.
That will be right
wow I didn't know about this, I'm from Stockton and often cycle upto Sunderland along the old railway that stops right by Station town then Wingate, every days a school day thanks for sharing.
Same here ! I cycled the same route a few summers ago on a trip back home to Hardwick and stopped in station town on route to Seaham ! Would have tried to find the spot if I'd known.
@@johnwalker194 Yeah next time I'm up that way on the cycle path I was thinking the same must be a bit of a big depression in the ground if a Vulcan went in as they are huge might have a look.
Great video. Liked it as always
Thank you! Cheers!
Superb. Fascinating account well told with spot on graphics.
Glad you liked it!
My friend , I've only just discovered your channel, what a brilliant video with superb footage and a fantastic commentary of the story, I'm subscribed!!!
Many thanks!
Ha "Ask and thou shall receive" what a legend mate 👍
That was a great recounting of fact. A very interesting story. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Good story, very well told, great editing from found footage
Much appreciated!
I live a few miles from Wingate snd never knew of this.
Yes before I was born, but still WOW !!
Thanks for the video 👍
I'm in Newcastle and I was unaware also. Glad you enjoyed it.
@@TheNorthernHistorian assumed you were from 'The Toon' before you mentioned it... geordie is obvious.
Great to get someone local putting stuff out.
That was an intense situation! Good thinking of the Pilots & flight crews... Sometimes, things like these happen, even to the most advanced planes. It was very lucky , after the pilots ejected, that the plane did not come down in a populated area...
Vulcan B2 XL390 of 617 Sqdn crashed at Glenview NAS, Chicago on 11 Aug 1978 during an air show.
Got to meet the awesome crew and got a tour of the cockpit and sit in the coal hole before they flew their show at El Toro, Ca, early that same year. I was just 12, but this still haunts me. Thanks for the excellent video.
1 was 21 I saw smoke billowing in nearby forest was 3 miles from crash in my home 🏡 town - Northbrook they coulda hit houses but turn back immediately after take off, turned to south , crashed in Glenview garbage 🗑 dump just north of willow rd.
WHAT CAUSE THE CRASH ????
They were too low to eject 400' they all burned to death-EXCEPT 1 AWent out hatch not enough time to deploy a chute . ... ..🙏 rip.
11th August 1978- Glenview , Illinois 🙏
I WAS 20 & 2 MILES AWAY IN GLENVIEW ILLINOIS WHEN IT CRASH I WAS IN NEIBORHOOD. EAST NORTHBROOK. AND HEARD THUD & SAW IMMENSE SMOKE THROUGH FOREST
Hadn't heard of this incident before. Excellent video, sir!
Thank you
@@TheNorthernHistorian
Oh, thank u!
What a beautiful aircraft.
Old and slow and a Big Fat 🎯
@@wst8340 ...and _beautiful_.
@@wst8340 ...and beautiful!
Great video - thanks.
You are welcome!
That was very interesting - thank you for posting. I have always thought the vulcan one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great analysis Mr Geordie.
Thank you
Great video thanks.
You're welcome!
Very interesting, Thank you. I lived close to Waddington as a kid and spent many hours at on the road at the end of the runway watching the take off.. I would ride up from North Hykeham on my push bike. I'd have been 12 yrs old in 1971 and who knows I may have seen it leave on the day of the disaster.
Man, I loved the design of the victors and vulcans. They looked so futuristic.
Brilliant video
Great work guys
I lived nearby in Trimdon Station and while i was born aftwr this happened i heard the story from the locals that saw it many times over the years.
Great story with a good end.
Thank you.
I grew up seeing these aeroplanes flying overhead in the North of Scotland.
Glad you enjoyed it
Steve Palfrey
1 second ago
I was in the playground in Wingate. 10 years old and saw it go over on fire. It actually came down behind houses in Station Town( a small ex colliery village next to Wingate). I shut my eyes and plugged my ears as it hit, but the ground shook. We only found out afterwards that noone was on board and that one of the airmen landed on Peterlee roundabout. A piece of wing broke off and landed down the road from where I lived.
I was from trimdon station, I was at the school between trimdon colliery and trimdon village back road near fox cover, I remember the teacher ringing the bell to go in after play time and we all seen the plane on fire .. long long time ago but remember it so clear .no 1 killed was a miracle really .
This story forms the prologue to the book Vulcan 607 by Rowland White. It's a fantastic novel detailing up to and including the first Black Buck raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands Conflict of 1982. It's taken from a personal account of my father's cousin Jim Viñales (pronounced Vin-yar-les, not Vin-ale!).
Jim went on to be the Nav Plotter in the lead Vulcan (XM598) on Black Buck 1 which unfortunately developed a pressurisation problem. As a result the backup Vulcan (XM607) had to take over and complete the mission, and their crew got all the medals. Uncle Jim is still miffed about that!
XM607 was kept as gate-guard at RAF Waddington (at time of writing under restoration) while XM598 lives in the Cold War Hangar at the RAF Cosford Air Museum.
I visited Waddington in 1969 as part of our training on air radar. Very sad the number of pilots and crew lost since the last war.
Very interesting. Thanks 😊