07/03/1962 TG508 Crashed on landing and caught fire at Thorney Island.
Updated 27th December 2004
My father, George Bish, was instructor Engineer on TG508 on this aircraft when it crashed and a student Flight Engineer was in the chair for the landing. My father has also asked me to inform you that the reason this and TG610 crashed at Thorney (Island) was due to the terrible crosswinds and the size of tail plane of the Hastings. The runway was parallel to the hangars and the wind used to blow fiercely from the west between the Hangars and across the main runway. Two of the hangars were angled in the form of a funnel that channelled the wind and therefore caused a crosswind to the runway.
The crews of both these aircraft tried in vain to correct a lift to the wing in direct line of the funnel but unfortunately were not successful. TG508 just missed the control tower whilst TG610 hit the Radio Servicing Flight Workshop at the end of the runway causing severe injuries to the personnel inside.
Based at RAF Dishforth 1954/5 she "belly flopped" at then RAF Middleton St George, now Teeside Airport.(recalled are the appalling weather conditions of that period of winter).
TG508, was regarded as a jinx kite since the sum of her digits made the un-enviable total of Thirteen. [In reality other aircraft survived similar numerology]
Part of the team who re-established her airworthiness and flew with her back to Dishforth to prove good faith and confidence, I would be interested in news of her "finals" since I have rumour she was later written off after another prang. Source Ron Gibson
TG508 then crashed on landing and caught fire at Thorney Island. 07/03/1962 and was written off
