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John
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« on: August 16, 2011, 08:23:07 AM » |
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A fatal accident occured on 9th January 1956 when Meteor Mk14, WS727, struck the ground near Maidstone, killing both of the crew on impact. This accident occurred towards the end of a two-aircraft cine photographic mission from West Malling - one Meteor was to pursue the other and make quarter attacks whilst filming. After being airborne for around 20 minutes both jets were observed flying in line astern at about 1000 feet. Without warning, the lead Meteor started a turn to port which developed into a steep climbing turn. The formating aircraft followed - at a height of around 4000 feet the lead aircraft commenced a roll to port at about 200 knots. The other aircraft followed until almost inverted, and then rolled out into a climbing turn as the pilot considered the manoeuvre too dangerous at their present altitude. The lead aircraft was last seen in a steep dive, and shortly afterwards it struck the ground at Coxheath, near Maidstone.
The pilot of WS727 was Flying Officer D. R. Arundell, a 31 year old with an 'Above Average' assessment and over 430 hours on Meteor Mk.12's and 14's. The navigator was Flying Officer F. Webb. The Court of Inquiry blamed the pilot of WS727, noting that Arundell did not like formation flying and often carried out violent evasive action to shake off his number two. He was found guilty of culpable negligence for carrying out an aerobatic manoeuvre below a stipulated height.
Attached images - map showing scene of crash, and four pictures of the wreckage.
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John
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« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2011, 19:24:59 PM » |
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An extract from the witness statement of the navigator of the Meteor (callsign Ballrock 88) that was taking part in the exercise..
"After this last attack (Ballrock) 82 turned onto 180 degrees and we formated on his starboard. At this time we were about 30 miles North of base. We commenced a gentle let down from 3000 ft. to 1000 ft. and passed about a half mile east of base. At this point both the pilot and the navigator gave us a friendly wave which I am certain was not any form of signal. The navigator (Fg. Off. Webb) had his mask unfastened and was smiling. Immediately after this 82 started a gentle turn to port which was tightened up considerably into a max rate climbing turn to port. At this stage I would like to inform the Court that although Fg. Off. Arundell did not usually indulge in violent aerobatics, occasionally I have known him to throw an aircraft around violently. I'd also like to add that my impression of Arundell was that he was reluctant to having anyone formating on him unless detailed. I thought that 82 was doing this hard climbing turn to port to shake us off and try to lose us, and I was not surprised as I had known him to do this sort of thing before. My pilot followed 82 around in line astern at about 200 yds. for about 360 degrees at which stage his aircraft was in a 70 degree bank turn to port and his nose about 10 degrees above the horizon. 82 then rolled to port, his nose dropped and just before I lost visual contact with him his aircraft was inverted, rolling to port and starting to descend. My pilot followed him round to the inverted stage at which point he remarked to me "This is getting bloody dangerous" and rolled out.."
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John
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« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2011, 09:06:05 AM » |
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The Station Commander certainly wasn't impressed with the findings of the Court, and expressed his dissatisfaction quite strongly.. below are some highlights of his barely-controlled anger at the findings.
"The finding of the Court in this instance is based, in the main, on the evidence of a single witness and this evidence certainly does not prove to my satisfaction that Fg.Off. Arundell was guilty of such negligence. I do not, therefore, accept this finding, and submit that, in my judgement, the root cause of this accident must remain obscure and that there can be no more than a suspicion that it was a loss of control stemming from disobedience of orders... Arundell was accustomed to unusual attitudes in Meteor aircraft of all marks... moreover, provided the configuration of the aircraft permits, aerobatics are performed (in the approved areas) at the discretion of the pilots of aircraft at this Station... I cannot offer any satisfactory explanation for the steep climbing turn described.. the cine film in question is being held in safe custody at this station for further examination if required... I am hurt and angered by the heartless and irresponsible nature of the press report... this Court of Inquiry failed to probe this accident with nearly sufficient care to justify a finding of culpable negligence against the pilot concerned."
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cliveh
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« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2011, 11:33:00 AM » |
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F.O.'s Arundell & Webb's graves in West Malling Churchyard:
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John
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« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2011, 11:54:38 AM » |
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A big 'thank you' for adding those pictures - are the headstones next to each other? Apart from the ciné film which I'm trying to obtain via a FoI request, those pictures of yours provide 'closure'.
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cliveh
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« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2011, 12:42:08 PM » |
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Yes John they are next to each other.
Also there are another two graves for a F.O P M Rolfe & Flt Lt. K M Charles both killed 30th June 1955 - any ideas if there was an aircraft crash involved with these?
cliveh
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John
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« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2011, 17:13:43 PM » |
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Here are the rest of the photographs of the crash scene of Meteor WS727.
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John
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« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2011, 17:14:51 PM » |
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SteveA
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« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2011, 20:31:35 PM » |
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Thanks John.
153 Squadron 20/10/1955 and closeups of the crew.
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John
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« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2011, 20:52:54 PM » |
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Welcome to the forum Steve, and thank you for adding those. It's odd to think that my father would have been servicing the aircraft that your father flew! (See http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1232.0) To explain to others - Steve's father was the pilot of WS727. |
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John
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« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2011, 09:51:53 AM » |
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The latest update from the Ministry of Defence regarding the accident to WS727. I'll let you know the final outcome..
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John
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« Reply #12 on: November 26, 2011, 18:45:45 PM » |
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And here it is. Nothing new, they have redacted information that I have already posted, and there's a lot more to come when I get the time..
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Cyberus
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« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2012, 16:24:28 PM » |
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I have just stumbled on this having done some research. My name is Adam Webb, and Flying Officer Frank Webb was my uncle (although of course I never knew him, as I was not born until some 22 years later). I visited his grave in West Malling for the first time yesterday afternoon.
I am pleased to have found this information, although it is very sad. My father never speaks about his older brother.
Can I please ask where the photographs of the personnel were obtained?
Many thanks
Adam
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John
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« Reply #14 on: January 03, 2012, 16:34:28 PM » |
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Hi Adam, welcome along to K&S. As I always say, I hope that the information provided isn't too distressing - it's hard to present the facts on incidents such as this one without the risk of upsetting people who were related to or remember the people concerned. Steve, the chap who posted the pictures of the personnel and whose father was flying WS727, doesn't come on here very much so I will drop him a line via email.
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