22/06/1953 WJ335 Stalled on take off at Abingdon, 6 died with what was thought to be the elevator locks still in or that had been reapplied.
WJ335
On 22nd June 1953 was ready for take off at RAF Abingdon with a crew of six onboard. It has been stated that WJ335 rose to approximately 300' when it stalled and crashed with the loss of the six crew.
The report suggests that the elevator control locks had been in the engaged position or reapplied after release, there had been an apparent modification to prevent this from occuring.
I received these two emails from Brian Collins this week mid February 2009
Dear Mr Cooper,
I believe that I can correct the brief report on this crash that you include in your website. I was a newly commissioned Army Second Lieutenant at the time. I had volunteered for service in Airborne Forces and in June 1953 was a member of a class of about 30 soldiers on the Parachute Course at RAF Abingdon.
On 22 June we were scheduled to make our first jump from an aircraft and while we were waiting in the "Sweat-box", a hut on the edge of the airfield, the RAF Officer in charge of our course came in and told us that there would be a short delay because "a Hastings from Lyneham was on its way to pick us up"
Sure enough, a few minutes later, he came back and told us to line up outside the hut and watch the plane arrive. I clearly remember seeing the Hastings come in low from the West, and it seemed to land heavily tail wheel first. It then cart-wheeled forward over onto its back and burst into flames.
The RAF Officer, with amazing coolness said something like "Sorry about that, chaps, but we will have another plane here for you soonest". He was quite right, a second Hastings arrived very quickly and we emplaned, took off and all jumped safely at RAF Watchfield.
You will see therefore why I know that the reason that you give for this accident, namely "crashed on take off" is incorrect. The plane crashed while coming into land.
Please let me know if I can help further.
Brian Collins
.....a further email in response to my reply
John,
Thank you for your response.
It certainly was a day to remember, especially as I had never flown in a plane before (our two previous jumps had been from a balloon). I can also add that we were told that three of the fatal casualties were a spare crew that was hitching a ride from Lyneham to Abingdon. The narrative in the link that you gave me is a puzzle. It certainly does not tally with what I saw on that June morning. Please use my account if you wish.
Regards.
Brian Collins
Further update July 2009 from Gordon Clack, Hastings Pilot
John:
I can give an eye-witness account of the Hastings crash at Abingdon on 22 June 1953. I was then serving as a co-pilot on 53 Squadron at Lyneham and three Hastings had left Lyneham that morning to collect parachutists from No 1 PTS (then at Abingdon) and to drop them on an exercise. All three crews were from 53 but the aircraft were pooled for the Lyneham Wing comprising 53, 99 and 511 Squadrons.
We arrived at Abingdon but were told that the wind-strength was too high for dropping the paras so we waited for a while in the hope it would decrease. After some time we were told it did not seem to be decreasing and we may as well return to Lyneham. There was a little rivalry between Lyneham and Abingdon where 24 and 47 (Hastings) squadrons were based so the three captains agreed to take off in turn but to form up into a V overhead and do a pass over the airfield before returning to base.
The first Hastings took off (captained by Flt Lt Geoff Bolton and co-pilot Fg Off Don Butterworth) and circled overhead. The second aircraft (WJ335) captained by Flt Lt Jimmy Dodds and co-pilot Sgt Mead) started to roll down Runway 18 as we (TG610, captain Fg. Off Angus MaClean and self co-pilot) lined up behind, so we had a clear view as it left the ground. Alarmingly, it commenced a steep climb, seemed to hesitate and then stalled into the ground opposite the Fire Section. There was an explosion followed by a fire and it was fairly obvious that no-one would be able to get out although we heard later that the engineer was found on the wing-root, having presumably managed to escape from a hatch but did not survive.
At the time it was common knowledge that although the control-lock lever could be released, unless the control-column was pulled right back ("Full and Free controls check"), the weight of the elevators prevented the locking bolt from coming out. It was therefore possible that the control-lock lever to be released but the elevators still locked in a slightly "up" position, in which case the aircraft would immediately go into a climb with airflow over the elevators.
Hope this may add something to the sad story. I later served with No. 6 AEF (Chipmunks) at Abingdon and whenever I lined up on Runway 18 I was reminded of the earlier sight of the plan-view of Hastings WJ335 just before it stalled.
Sent in by Cecil Irvine on 8th February 2006 re WJ335 which crashed on take-off at Abingdon on 26th May 1953
I was stationed at Abingdon when this crash occurred. I was an Engine Fitter and was on the parking ramp that morning. I watched as WJ335 began it's take-off run. About halfway along the runway it began to lift off. It's attitude at that point halfway between straight and level and the parked attitude.(nose up) Almost immediately the nose-up attitude increased until the aircraft was vertical hanging on the props. It then nosed down and hit the runway, the landing gear collapsed and it slid along the airfield on fire. I offered my eye-witness account to the subsequent enquiry but I never found out the result.
My own theory at the time was that the pilot had taken off with the elevator control locks engaged. When the elevators were locked they were parallel to the ground and not in neutral. On reflection I remembered that the internal control lock lever engaged with the inboard throttles so full throttle couldnt be obtained.
Further reading of your articles brought to light that there was an elevator problem with the Hastings.
I hope this sheds some light on the crash which as you say was a stall prang.
