RAF_Sabres

Hi mbenshar, I recently found your information about Sabre crashes on the internet and offer the attachments to update the information on Sabre XD712 of 66 Sqn based at Linton-on-Ouze. My brother was killed when the sabre he was flying broke up in the air. I understand there was a problem with the wings breaking away from the fuselage on sabres and as I was unable to gain access to the AAR, I assume that is what happened to my brother. The written attachment is from a book by Robert Jackson and is inaccurate in that the aircraft crashed near Brigg in Lincolnshire and my brother was found still in his ejection seat in a field. Hope you find this information useful. Martin Harryman

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	seat	photo
18th July 1953	RAF	Sabre F4	XB882	147 Sqn	crashed four miles north of the Broughty Ferry, Angus	P Off Butrym intended to jettison the canopy to clear the smoke but pulled the ejection handle as well - fatal		NAA
17th September 1953	RAF	Sabre F4	XB683/W	67 Sqn. 2 T.A.F.	crashed six miles from Liege, Belgium.	Flt Lt Wilson lost control of aircraft and ejected		NAA
6th November 1953	RAF	Sabre F4	XB730/Y	67 Sqn. 2 T.A.F.	collision with Sabre F4 XB690/Z near Munchen Gladbach	P Off Craig ejected but he was killed		NAA
6th November 1953	RAF	Sabre F4	XB690/Z	67 Sqn. 2 T.A.F.	collision with Sabre F4 XB730/Y near Munchen Gladbach	pilot ejected AT 15,000FT, 350KT.		NAA
16th June 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XB884	112 Sqn	Suffered an electrical failure shortly after take-off from Bruggen, West Germany. While making an emergency landing back at the base the flight control system went u/s and put the aircraft into a steep climb	Flg. Off. Roger Mansfield ejected		NAA
16th June 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XD711	66 Sqn	collision with XD716 and crashed near Hornsea, Yorkshire	Flg. Off. J. Sweet
16th June 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XD716	66 Sqn	collision with XD711 and crashed 4 miles WNW of Hornsea, Yorkshire	Flg. Off. J. Rumbleow
22nd July 1954	RAF	Sabre F.4	XD707	66 Sqn RAF Linton on Ouse	Taking part in Exercise Dividend. Entered thick cloud and crashed into Kinder Scout Derbyshire	Flying Officer James Desmond Horne killed no ejection
22nd July 1954	RAF	Sabre F.4	XD730		Taking part in Exercise Dividend. Entered thick cloud and crashed into Kinder Scout Derbyshire	Flight Lieutenant Alan Green killed no ejection
22nd July 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XD758	66 Sqn	Fire warning lights indicated fire in both forward and aft compartments. Crashed North east of Helmsley Yorkshire	Flg. Off. Glyn M. Owen ejected at 10,000ft [see also 29th November 1954 (ej), & 28th August 1964 (ej+)]		NAA
23rd July 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XB865	26 Sqn 2 T.A.F	During a tail chase the pilot overstressed the airframe, engine flamed out and then caught fire a/c exploded and crashed four miles from Hede, West Germany	Flg. Off. George Stewart (23) ejected but did not undo the seat straps before pulling the ripcord for his parachute and was killed		NAA
FEEDBACK	This refers to my uncle – Flying Officer GEORGE Stewart. Although he was killed (at the age of 23) long before I was born, my family were very proud of his achievements. He joined the RAF at the age of 16 & had experienced much in his very short life. My grandparents learned of his death over the radio, on a Reuters broadcast. Roberta McClelland (nee Stewart) If anyone knew Flg Off Stewart or can add any extra information to the accident please contact Roberta via this web site
5th August 1954	RAF	Sabre F4		20Sqn		Keith Fitchew egressed on ground no ejection
FEEDBACK	"On 5th August 1954 on 20Sqn, I landed an F86 went into the rough after hitting a tree on finals. Shortly afterwards, Fg Officer Harry Capewell stalled en the approach and his aircraft was wrecked as described. He suffered a broken collar bone and returned to flying duties. See picture of my aircraft." This story is also on my web site. Keith Fitchew in email 9th August 2008
5th August 1954	RAF	Sabre	XB638	20 Sqn	carrying out a roller landing in the dark, hit tress, struck the ground throwing the pilot clear still strapped in his seat at Oldenberg, West Germany	Flg Officer Harry Capewell injured [ Pilot killed see FEEDBACK above that now shows pilot was not killed]
27th August 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XD776	66 Sqn	Fire in the port ammunition bay due to heat control failure. a/c crashed twelve miles southwest of North Luffenham, Rutland	Jed Gray ejected [personal testimony of Jed Gray]
19th October 1954 19:40	RAF	Sabre F4	XB988	130 Sqn RAF Brüggen, Germany	Caught fire during night navigation exercise and crashed out of control seven miles NE of Kassel, West Germany	Flying Officer Christopher John William Woodruff aged 24 did not eject and was killed		NAA

26th October 1954	RAF	Sabre	XB729	71 Sqn. 2. T.A.F	pilot of XB729 carried out an unauthorised attack on XB628 but collided with it. Crashed ten miles from Kronfeld, West Germany	Flg. Off. A. J. Chalkley was thrown from his aircraft and after releasing himself from his seat, made a normal parachute descent.		NAA
26th October 1954	RAF	Sabre	XB628/V	71 Sqn. 2. T.A.F	In collision with XB729 Crashed ten miles from Kronfeld, West Germany	Flg. Off. Jones was thrown from his aircraft and after releasing himself from his seat, made a normal parachute descent.		NAA
29th October 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XB860/B	234 Sqn. 2 T.A.F	Exploded over Wintraal, Netherlands	Flg. Off. Underdown was thrown out of the aircraft still in his ejection seat. He landed in an apple tree, still attached to the seat. Suffered serious injuries		NAA
29th November 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XB772/H or XD772	66 Sqn.	Engine failure. Crashed 5 miles east of Kelstern	Flg. Off. Glyn M. Owen ejected [see also 22nd July 1954 (ej), & 28th August 1964 (ej+)]		NAA
10th February 1955	RAF	Sabre F4	XB839/X	26 Sqn	Dived into the ground from low level eight miles from Oldenberg, West Germany after take off	Flg. Off. F. H. Rickwood pilot ejected but was dragged back along the aircraft, struck the tail and was killed		NAA
16th June 1955	RAF	Sabre F.4	XD712 S	66 Sqn Linton-on-Ouze	Aircraft suffered structural failure during the recovery from a dive and broke up over the Humber Estuary near Scunthorpe	Flying Officer Lawrence Michael Percival Harryman aged 23 was killed Whether he ejected is not clear		NAA
	16‑Jun‑55 XD712 Sabre F4 66 Sqn Near Scunthorpe 1 The aircraft suffered structural failure during the recovery from a dive and it broke up. Flying Officer Lawrence Michael Percival HARRYMAN 23
	Hi mbenshar, I recently found your information about Sabre crashes on the internet and offer the attachments to update the information on Sabre XD712 of 66 Sqn based at Linton-on-Ouze. My brother was killed when the sabre he was flying broke up in the air. I understand there was a problem with the wings breaking away from the fuselage on sabres and as I was unable to gain access to the AAR, I assume that is what happened to my brother. The written attachment is from a book by Robert Jackson and is inaccurate in that the aircraft crashed near Brigg in Lincolnshire and my brother was found still in his ejection seat in a field. Hope you find this information useful. Martin Harryman
	RAF	Sabre F.4