The RAF in Suffolk

John Cooper · Administrator

RE: Aircraft Accidents

John Cooper · Administrator

June 27th 1951 an Avro Athena, a MK T2 Serial Number VR569 was on an Instrument Flight from MH when the aircraft broke up in flight in a spiral dive, I did hear from another source that the wings folded in flight.

The Athena crashed at Wilby with the loss of the pilot F/Officer J R Corke and the navigator Sgt J E A Walsh

John Cooper · Administrator

EADT Plane crash Crown Point Martlesham [003628].jpg Ipswich Star Plane crash at Crown Poinnt [003627].jpg September 28th 1956 an English Electric Canberra MK T4 serial number WE189 of the Blind Landing Experimental Unit was returning to MH when it performed an undershoot, there was loss of power in the port engine, the aircraft climbed to approx 200' inverted and crashed with the loss of F/Lt L A Coe and Mr J Birkle of the BLEU

John Cooper · Administrator

John Cooper wrote:

September 28th 1956 an English Electric Canberra MK T4 serial number WE189 of the Blind Landing Experimental Unit was returning to MH when it performed an undershoot, there was loss of power in the port engine, the aircraft climbed to approx 200' inverted and crashed with the loss of F/Lt L A Coe and Mr J Birkle of the BLEU

I came across Flight Lieutenant Coe's grave at Martlesham St Mary Church last Friday

sbeeny · Member

Hi John,

very good work on recording these accidents; and especially for the nice touch of showing Flt. Lt. Coe's grave - makes it all the more real, and not just statistics. I had read of this particular incident, but never knew those details. One thing I noticed is the civilian observer, Mr. Birkle. This appears the same practice as the incident I am researching on VN799, in which the observer was a Mr. J. Burgan. Can you tell me some more about the usage of civilian crew at BLEU?

Many thanks,

Steve