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Post by FoLA on Mar 30, 2012 19:33:11 GMT 1
Does anyone have any information on an incident that took place at Ringway near the AVRO hangar during the Berlin Airlift in November/December 1948?
An incoming York came down the wrong way and hit a lorry on the old road crossing the runway and crashed.
I know it was reported in the Manchester evening paper but I've not been able to trace anything about it.
Any help greatly appreciated
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Post by viscount on Mar 30, 2012 21:51:00 GMT 1
Thought the incident might have shown up in the production listing for the Avro York in 'Piston Engined Airliner Production List' TAHS Eastwood & Roach 2007. However, in their listing no York airframe ended its flying days in an accident at Manchester. So either the aircraft was damaged insufficiently to be written off, or their brief summaries of each aircraft's fate is too brief.
So sorry, I for one don't know of a source for information.
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Post by speedbird1960 on Mar 30, 2012 22:45:28 GMT 1
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Post by FoLA on Mar 31, 2012 10:31:03 GMT 1
Appreciate that thanks - think it was military tho' Good luck with the turbo! |
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Post by groundhugger on Mar 31, 2012 18:48:00 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2012 18:51:34 GMT 1
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Post by viscount on Mar 31, 2012 20:25:14 GMT 1
Ah, a slight move of the 'goal-post' if possibly military. However it does not help in tracing an Avro York. Also looked at other transport types of the Berlin Airlift period and immediately after. Avro Tudor, well several crashed at Woodford - but not Ringway. HP Halifax, umm..... a candidate here is c/no. 1380, built as RAF PP318 destined for civilian use, but damaged beyond repair after the undercarriage collapsed whilst landing Ringway, Manchester 30.11.45. Perhaps a little early date-wise (although month matches), but is military destined for civilian, while the circumstances possibly match, certainly at least the place is right!
Can definitely discount the Hermes IV and C-4 North Star/Argonaut (well, until Stockport 4.6.67), while Lancastrians are not covered in the TAHS production list book.
Source consulted: 'Piston Engined Airliner Production List' Roach & Eastwood, TAHS 2007.
However, now located exhaustive detailed histories on the Avro Lancastrian in military and civilian use, which were researched and published by the MAS in 'Flypast' 1983. While not every fate was traced, I'm sure one crashing 'on our doorstep' could not have been overlooked - so another type that can join the discounted types list.
Incidently the 'Aviation Safety Net' listings (covering several pages for each year in the 40s into the 50s) are not an exhaustive listing of accidents.
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Post by FoLA on Apr 2, 2012 11:41:52 GMT 1
Many thanks to all who offered suggestions and information -
From the info gleaned so far it seems the plane was RAF Transport Command and had flown from RAF Abingdon.
The aircraft was returning from Gatow to Lyneham and on to Abingdon, Berkshire, landing there the morning of (it is thought) 14/11/1948 for a Major overhall.
Abingdon was full and the plane was refuelled , a 'D.I.' (daily inspection?) carried out and the plane took off for Ringway.
It approached ringway at about 15.30 hours and it was just going dark when it landed downwind at Ringway.
At this time a tipper lorry was travelling along the road (across/near) the airfield (which was later replaced by a tunnel) and was struck by the plane. The starboard undercarriage broke away, the port wheel buckled and the plane skidded on a wing tip and belly.
Luckily it did not catch fire.
The pilot maintained his radio was not working but both VHF and Medium radios had been tested before takeoff.
The lorry was completely wrecked that it appeared "like a pile of old metal" whilst the driver (I think) got a fractured skull and various broken bones. (I think) his name was Ben Lumb.
The incident was reported in the newspaper next day
Main source of info is the Radar/Wirelss fitter who carried out the inspection and also a passenger in the plane, but much of the info is vague due to age/memory.
Cheers
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