Tragedy over Suffolk Skies – 70 years on…..
On 4th October 1954 a tragic accident occurred over Suffolk. It was still the relatively early days of jet fighter operations, and accidents were commonplace as aircrew, engineers and designers were still getting to grips with this new technology, the jet engine.
Wattisham was home to Royal Air Force Fighter Command squadrons, and at this time they flew Meteor twin-engine fighters, in both the day fighter role and the night-fighter role. 152 Squadron had moved into Wattisham a few months previously flying two-seat Meteor NF12 Night-Fighters.
In the local East Anglian area there were still a number of military airfields operated by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force. The main early USAF jet fighter was the North American F-86 Sabre, a single engine swept wing jet famous for use during the Korean War, and a number of USAF F-86 squadrons were based in East Anglia.
Meteor WS691 was built by Armstrong Whitworth and delivered to the Royal Air Force in September 1953. After initial modifications it was delivered to 152 Sqn at Wattisham in May 1954.
Flying Officer Derek Edmund Coleman (pilot, age 26) and Flying Officer John Brian Leslie North (navigator, age 22) were the crew of WS691 on 4th October 1954.
During a routine training flight from Wattisham, WS691 was “bounced” by a pair of USAF F-86 Sabres during an un-notified training “attack”. One of the F-86s collided with WS691, causing serious damage to the aircraft. The crew struggled with control as they attempted to recover to Wattisham, but control was eventually lost and the aircraft crashed at Spink’s Farm, Battisford, Suffolk, unfortunately killing the crew. The pilot of the damaged F-86F (2LT Joe D Smith in 51-13490 from the 514th FIS at Manston, Kent) managed to eject from his stricken aircraft, but was also killed.
This tragic accident highlights the dangers faced by the crews during this rapidly accelerating technological age under the shadow of the Cold War, and how quickly a seemingly routine training mission can go so badly wrong so quickly.
