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1954

1955 >>>

January

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
20th January 1954	RN	Sea Hawk				Pilot K. Gregson ejected		Martin-Baker

February

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
7th February 1954	RN	Sea Hawk				Lt. Monsell ejected		Martin-Baker

March

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
3rd March 1954	USAF		F‑86F	49th FIS	10 M NW of Bangor, ME, USA	pilot ejected safely		NAA
23rd March 1954	RAF	Venom Mk.1	WE368	2 T.A.F	Loss of control and fire near Fasberg in Germany	Flg. Off. Sam H.R.L. D'Arcy ejected without injury		Martin-Baker Mk. 1F

April

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
3rd April 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WL128		suffered structural failure following mid-air collision with Meteor T.7 WL462 / Y?? of 604 Sqn near North Weald	P/O W.J. Ellis-Hill ejected at 6,000ft., 230kts. Slight injuries.		Martin-Baker Mk.1E
3rd April 1954	Dutch AF	Meteor Mk.8			crashed at Zoutcamp, Holland, following collision	Sgt. J. Vegtel ejected at 2,500ft., 300kts. Leg straps were two loose and the pilot suffered injuries between the legs		Martin-Baker Mk.1E manual]
7th April 1954	RN	Wyvern			following fire in air near Stretton	Lt. J.D. Newman ejected at 7,000ft., 200kts		Martin-Baker Mk.1B
7th April 1954	USAF	F7U Vought,			entered post stall gyration and crashed	pilot ejected safely		Vought

May

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
2nd May 1954	RN	Attacker WK340		HMS Eagle	exploded after a catapult launch from H.M.S. Eagle	Pilot Lt. Barry ejected but was killed when his chute failed to open		Martin-Baker
7th May 1954	RAF	Supermarine Swift F.1	WK209	56 Sqn	a spin 4 miles south of West Raynham	Sqn. Ldr. G. J. Storey ejected at 10,000ft, approx. 200ktsThis was the first ejection from a Swift with		Martin-Baker Mk.2G
31st May 1954	RAAF	Meteor Mk.8	77 Sqn		collided with another Meteor and lost tail	Sgt D. A. Oswald ejected from the spinning aircraft at 15,000ft. - 12,000ft at near stall. Slight facial injuries from loss of oxygen mask on parachute deployment		Martin-Baker Mk2E

June

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	seat	photo
3rd June 1954	RN	Attacker				G. K. Gorton ejected		Martin-Baker
3rd June 1954						see note at end of month
10th June 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.10	VS973	541 PR Sqn 2 T.A.F	oss of control after collision	F/O. D.J.R. Beard ejected over Germany at 30,000ft., 350kts		Martin-Baker Mk.1
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	Fg 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		NAA
June 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XD716	66 Sqn	collision with XD711 and crashed 4 miles WNW of Hornsea, Yorkshire	Flg. Off. J. Rumbleow		NAA

3-6-1954
RAF Canberra PR3 WF928 of Bomber Command. Crew ejected ???
[Martin-Baker Mk.1C]

July

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
2nd July 1954	USAF	F‑94C		27th FIS Griffiss AFB, New York	engine caught fire. , Walesville, 6 M SE of Rome, NY, USA 4 on ground killed UFO theory	Pilot ejected safely		Northrop
2nd July 1954	USAF	F‑94C		27th FIS Griffiss AFB, New York		RIO ejected safely		Northrop
17th July 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WA852			Sgt. M. Forster ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.2E
15th July 1954	RAF	Venom Mk.1	WK491	2 T.A.F	spin following collision in Germany	F/O. R.T. Stock ejected at 6,000ft using automatic seat		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
22nd July 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XD758	66 Sqn		Flg. Off. G. Owen ejected at 10,000ft
22nd July 1954	RN	Sea Hawk			suffered engine failure near Lossiemouth	Lt. Grahame Foster ejected at 1,500ft, 300kts		Martin-Baker Mk.2D
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. P. Stewart ejected but did not undo the seat straps before pulling the ripcord for his parachute and was killed		NAA
24th July 1954 or 26-7-1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WL114		loss of control after collision near Leuchars	F/O. F.R. Bennet ejected through the canopy at 1,000ft		Martin-Baker
24th July 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WE897			Pilot ejected		Martin-Baker

August

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
5th August 1954	US	A2D‑	125480		Gearbox failure. Lake Los Angeles, CA. USA	pilot ejected safely
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	Pilot killed		NAA
14th August 1954	Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Limited	Hunter F.2	WN905		Lost part of stbd undercarriage during high speed run. Aircraft crashed near East Langton, Market Harborough, Leics	Sqn. Ldr. M. Walton, A.W.A. Ltd. Test Pilot ejected at 8,000ft. 4,000ft First ejection from a Hunter		Martin-Baker Mk.2H
23rd August 1954	A.V.Roe (Canada)	C.F.100 Mk.4			suffered loss of control following fire in Canada	CTP Sqn. Ldr. J. Zurakowski ejected at 2,000ft., 250-300kts		Martin-Baker Mk.1 manual
23rd August 1954	A.V.Roe (Canada)	C.F.100 Mk.4			suffered loss of control following fire in Canada	Observer did not eject and was killed		Martin-Baker Mk.1 manual
25th August 1954	RAF	Supermarine Swift F.1	WK213 (coded 'M' ??)	56 Sqn	nosewheel couldn't be lowered. Pilot ejected. Plane crashed Hemstead Wood, Thaxted, Suffolk	F/O. J. Hobbs, ejected safely at 8,000ft., 250kts.!		Martin-Baker Mk.2G
25th August 1954	USAF	North American F-86H Sabre	52-1981	Edwards AFB	Evaluation of F-86H. Left ejection too late as he attempted to save the aircraft. Crashed Mojave Desert, California	Capt. Joseph "Mac" McConnell, Jr ejected at low level, parachute did not have time to deploy. Killed		NAA
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]		Martin-Baker

September

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew		seat
9th September 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WF704 or WA983		suffered structural failure after collision near Duxford	F/O. R.P. Deas ejected at 10,000ft	photo	Martin-Baker Mk.2E
9th September 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WF704 or WA983		suffered structural failure after collision near Duxford	F/O. J.N.M. Pickersgill ejected at 10,000ft		Martin-Baker Mk.2E
14th September 1954	RAF	Venom Mk.1	WE425	2 T.A.F		F/O E.J. Cross ejected at ground level		Martin-Baker
28th September 1954	RN	Sea Hawk	WF223 or WM909		RN Sea Hawks WF223 and WM909 collided in mid air over Easter Ross crashed near Eileanach Lodge, Glen Galss - other a/c imped back to Lossiemouth and crashed on landing. The pilot was killed	Lt. Cdr. N.J.P. Mills ejected 20,000 ft		Martin-Baker

October

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
October 1954	USN	Banshee				pilot Joe Meder ejected at night at 40,00 feet and rescued by CAP
October 1954	October 1954, Navy pilot Joe Meder became one of the many crash survivors who owe their lives to CAP. Flying at night at 40,00 feet in stormy skies, he was forced to ejected from his burning Banshee jet fighter. Falling almost 30,000 feet as he wrestled with his ejection seat, he was able to separate from it and get his parachute open, only to have it rip and begin to lose air. He slammed into the ground, breaking both ankles and numerous other bones, and puncturing a lung. He crawled 150 feet before collapsing in a rain drenched bean field. Nearing death, Meder was spotted at first light by CAP pilots Vince Causmaker and John Zonge who were part of a two-state air and ground search team. ref: LINK TO WEBSITE
4th October 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WH400 or VZ522		structural failure after collision near Stradishall	P/O D. P. J. Melaniphy ejected through canopy at 30,000ft., 250kts suffering slight injuries		Martin-Baker Mk.2E
4th October 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WH400 or VZ522		suffered structural failure after collision near Stradishall	P/O B. W. Buchanan ejected through canopy at 30,000ft., 250kts suffering slight injuries		Martin-Baker Mk.2E
12th October 1954	RAF	Vampire FB.5	VZ309	233 OCU	Ran out of fuel and abandoned 6nm NNW of Carmarthen	any
12th October 1954	RN	Sea Hawk			structural failure following collision near Lossiemouth	Lt. Mills ejected at 18,000ft., 250kts`		Martin-Baker Mk.2D
12th October 1954	NAA	F-100A	AF52-5764			NAA test pilot George Welch was seen hanging from his parachute. It is unclear whether he actually ejected		NAA
	Test Flight that included a maximum G symmetrical pullup at 23,000ft. Took off from Palmdale AFB. Aircraft reached 45,000ft and began dive towards Rosamond Dry Lake in the Mojave desert. Aircraft either exploded or broke up
13th October 1954	RN	Wyvern		H.M.S. Albion	Mediterranean	Lt. Bruce D. Macfarlane went into the sea following catapult launch. He ejected under the water suffering slight injuries [personal testimony from Bruce Macfarlane] & [conversations with Surg. Cmdr. Sir John Rawlings]	photo via Bruce MacFarlane	Martin-Baker Mk.2B
19th October 1954 or more likely 23-10-1954	RAF	Venom	WR307	M.E.A.F	after spinning out of control, Amman, Jordan	F/O P.G. Cook ejected at 3,000ft., 170kts		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
20th October 1954	De Havilland	Venom	De Havilland , Hawarden	crashed out of control following instrument failure near Chester		Mr. Malcolm C. Muir, De Havilland, Chester, ejected at 1,500ft., 400kts. sustaining injury to left leg and broken left arm due to ejection at high speed causing flailing limbs [personal testimony from Mr. Muir]		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
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 Geilenkirchen	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

November

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
9th or 10th November 1954	USAF	F-100A Super Sabre	52-5771 or 53-5771		crashed in Nevada, Nellis ranges during gunnery practice, part of Phase IV testing -caused grounding of F‑100 fleet	Major F. Emory ejected safely		NAA
16th November 1954	RAF	Hunter F.1	WT589	43 Squadron	Engine flamed out at 1,500' after pilot completed a QGH approach to Leuchars. aircraft crashed into St. Andrew's Bay 6 and a half miles east of the airfield	Sgt. Pilot W.A. Wilding ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.2H
26th November 1954	RN	Hawker Sea Hawk	ST/124	767 Squadron	hit the ground in a dive near Manchester Ship Canal at West Arberton.	Pilot ejected too late and was killed		Martin-Baker
29th November 1954	RAF	Sabre F4	XB772/H or XD772	66 Sqn.	Engine failure. Crashed 5 miles east of Kelstern	Flg. Off. G. Owen ejected		NAA

December

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
5th December 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WH408	604 Sqn	crashed after it went into a steep, spiral dive near North Weald . Landed in Thames Estuary.	Flying Officer Brian Cross ejected at 12,000ft., 550kts. suffering slight injuries due to high speed ejection		Martin-Baker Mk.2E
10th December 1954	USAF	B‑47B	51‑2100	321st BW	Pilot was unable to find the base. Ran out of fuel. 50 M S of Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco	ejected
						ejected
						ejected
Monday, 20th December 1954 approx 19:15-19:30hrs	RAF	Canberra Mk.B2	WE119	Bassingbourn	crashed out of control in steep spiral nearat St Margaretsbury, Herts just North of Hoddesdon,	F/O C. B. Crombie, ejected at 10,000ft., over 500kts. First ejection through the canopy of RAF Canberra.		Martin-Baker Mk.1C manual
Monday, 20th December 1954 approx 19:15-19:30hrs	RAF	Canberra Mk.B2	WE119	Bassingbourn		Other crew did not eject and were killed		Martin-Baker Mk.1C manual
21st December 1954	RAF	Meteor Mk.8	WH299		steep spiral out of control near Wattisham	F/O J. G. H. "Nick" Carter ejected at 4,000ft., 550kts. Sustained injury to right foot that hit structure on way out and fracture of forearm due to right arm flailing [personal testimony from Nick Carter]		Martin-Baker Mk.2E
23rd December 1954	Four RAF Venom F.B. Mk.1's WK490; WR274; WE480; WE315 of 73 Sqn were caught in extreme bad weather and due to lack of fuel were abandoned by their pilots when they ejected at 10,000ft., 180kts., Habbaniya, Iraq - NEED to match pilot with aircraft
23rd December 1954	RAF	Venom F.B. Mk.1		73 Sqn	Caught in extreme bad weather and due to lack of fuel was abandoned by its pilot Habbaniya, Iraq	F/O D. Wyborn ejected at 10,000ft., 180kts		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
23rd December 1954	RAF	Venom F.B. Mk.1		73 Sqn	Caught in extreme bad weather and due to lack of fuel was abandoned by its pilot Habbaniya, Iraq	F/O G. C. Taylor ejected at 10,000ft., 180kts		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
23rd December 1954	RAF	Venom F.B. Mk.1		73 Sqn	Caught in extreme bad weather and due to lack of fuel was abandoned by its pilot Habbaniya, Iraq	F/O J.M.P. Annand ejected at 10,000ft., 180kts		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
23rd December 1954	RAF	Venom F.B. Mk.1		73 Sqn	Caught in extreme bad weather and due to lack of fuel was abandoned by its pilot Habbaniya, Iraq	F/O J.S. Crane ejected at 10,000ft., 180kts		Martin-Baker Mk.2F
31st December 1954	RCAF	CF-100				F/O F. Pickles ejected		Martin-Baker

FEEDBACK

A minor correction
Canberra B2 WE119 was lost approx 19:15-19:30hrs Monday 20th December 1954 at St Margaretsbury, Herts just North of Hoddesdon, and not at Bassingbourne, its home base.
I actually witnessed it demise...I was eight at the time.

All the best...

John Beales

in email 13th February 2006

Thanks John - I've now amended the details