2 jet fighters from RAF Filton in Gloucestershire collided in mid-air over the Isle of Wight on 28th November 1954 – 70 years ago today.
One of the planes crashed at Bursledon Bridge in Hamble, Hampshire. 24-year-old Pilot Officer Nigel Palmer bailed out but was killed when his parachute failed to open. His plane narrowly missed yachts at anchor on the River Hamble before coming to rest on the edge of the water then bursting into flames.
The pilot’s body was found a mile from the scene of the crash.
The 2nd plane managed to get out over its home airfield but at the last moment its pilot – Pilot Officer JW Hunter – was forced to bail out and the plane crashed near Bristol.
The pilot was picked up unharmed at a farm 3 miles from where his plane had crashed. The Vampire jet fighter he had been piloting narrowly missed a row of houses before ploughing into a haystack in a field and exploding.
Nowdays on the island Numpty motorists
collide most days, must be an island thing!