Meteor 8 WA855 crash, Sidcup, October 1956

[John]

The accident to this Meteor occurred on 13th October 1956 when the aircraft was on its initial approach to Biggin Hill under G.C.A. direction. The pilot, Flying Officer Coulston, had been authorised for a one hour flight including local flying and aerobatics - he was inexperienced in a Meteor, being more used to the Hawker Hunter. Witnesses on the ground saw the aircraft at a range of about eight miles from the runway, flying very slowly in a nose-up attitude at about 1500 feet. It was then seen to make two very fast rolls to starboard, coming out at a much lower level. The Meteor was then seen to turn to port, away from the built up area of Sidcup, still flying very slowly. At about 200 feet the canopy was jettisoned and the pilot ejected - he fell into some trees before his parachute had fully developed, and struck the ground. The aircraft rolled over and crashed vertically into some playing fields about 200 feet further on, and upon impact it burst into flames.

Coulston died of his injuries in hospital the following evening without being able to give a statement, but a Police Constable who gave him first aid at the scene said that the pilot told him; "The aircraft got into trouble I pulled the ejector seat and baled out. That is all I remember. I left it late in baling because of the houses".

Pictures from the crash scene, and a sketch map, attached.

[tonyp]

Reading about the crash reminded me that as a teenager, I heard about the crash on the radio on Saturday (13th October), also living a bus ride from Sidcup I decided to go and see if I could find the crash site. I knew it was in Rectory lane, but on reaching the area I was unable to get anywhere near due to prescence of the authorities. (the nievities of youth)!  However I went back the following weekend and was able to get into the corner of the field where the crash happened.
Rummaging around I located a couple of fragments of metal in the undergrowth, roughly about 4" x 3". I kept these until the mid 1960's when I left home to get married and "downsized" my personal possessions. At the time of the crash I was passionate about aircraft and flying, having had a spell in the local Squadron of the ATC.
I have retained my interest in Aircraft and Flying since then, and at one time managed to persuade one of my employers to fund my PPL Training -- but that, as they say is another story.

[John]

Thanks for that post tonyp, it's good to have some memories from that incident on here.

A few more pictures of the scene of the crash of Meteor WA855..

[John]

The headstone for F/O Coulston can be seen HERE.