This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-36375124
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Woodborough 1966 jets' crash: 'Amazing no-one was hurt' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The 50th anniversary of when two aerobatic jets collided over a village but did not even cause any serious injuries is being marked. | The 50th anniversary of when two aerobatic jets collided over a village but did not even cause any serious injuries is being marked. |
Debris was showered over a wide area in Woodborough, Nottinghamshire on 26 May, 1966, when the Provost planes crashed. | Debris was showered over a wide area in Woodborough, Nottinghamshire on 26 May, 1966, when the Provost planes crashed. |
"It was a miracle no-one was killed," said David Rose, talking of the crash, which happened as children were walking to school. | "It was a miracle no-one was killed," said David Rose, talking of the crash, which happened as children were walking to school. |
"One pilot [who'd ejected, floated down] a few yards away from me." | "One pilot [who'd ejected, floated down] a few yards away from me." |
Mr Rose said he asked the pilot if he "was okay and took him in my Land Rover to get help". | Mr Rose said he asked the pilot if he "was okay and took him in my Land Rover to get help". |
Stung by nettles | Stung by nettles |
John Hoyland, of history group Woodborough Heritage, said it was amazing debris did not "hit any people". | John Hoyland, of history group Woodborough Heritage, said it was amazing debris did not "hit any people". |
"It would have been spread from the butcher's shop to the top of Roe Lane and as far as Foxwood House which is an area of about half a mile," he said. | "It would have been spread from the butcher's shop to the top of Roe Lane and as far as Foxwood House which is an area of about half a mile," he said. |
One news report of the day said the only casualty was a man who was stung by nettles when he dove into a ditch to avoid some falling debris. | One news report of the day said the only casualty was a man who was stung by nettles when he dove into a ditch to avoid some falling debris. |
"[But] it was total chaos. I could see debris flying everywhere," another eyewitness, Mike Batt, remembered. | "[But] it was total chaos. I could see debris flying everywhere," another eyewitness, Mike Batt, remembered. |
"It was scattered all over the village. | "It was scattered all over the village. |
"The schoolchildren were just walking to school at the time, as everyone walked in those days, but none of them were hurt." | "The schoolchildren were just walking to school at the time, as everyone walked in those days, but none of them were hurt." |
A Daily Mail article reported that four aircraft were in the air in total, two of which "brushed while in formation" and crashed. | A Daily Mail article reported that four aircraft were in the air in total, two of which "brushed while in formation" and crashed. |
"The two instructors and a student pilot parachuted to safety," it noted. | "The two instructors and a student pilot parachuted to safety," it noted. |
Margaret Freeman, who was 23 at the time, was working at the post office on the village's main street when a customer ran in saying a plane was about to crash. | Margaret Freeman, who was 23 at the time, was working at the post office on the village's main street when a customer ran in saying a plane was about to crash. |
"One of the pilots parachuted from the plane and landed near the Four Bells and the other one landed near Mrs Russell's house on Main Street," she remembered. | "One of the pilots parachuted from the plane and landed near the Four Bells and the other one landed near Mrs Russell's house on Main Street," she remembered. |
Mrs Freeman said she went to the crash site later and took "a small piece of metal" from the plane that she kept as a souvenir. | Mrs Freeman said she went to the crash site later and took "a small piece of metal" from the plane that she kept as a souvenir. |
She said villagers gathered at the church later for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the fact that no one was killed. | She said villagers gathered at the church later for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the fact that no one was killed. |
Lucky day | Lucky day |
Mr Rose, who took a series of black and white photos on the day, added: "I always carry a camera with me and I had one that day - an old Kodak Brownie. | Mr Rose, who took a series of black and white photos on the day, added: "I always carry a camera with me and I had one that day - an old Kodak Brownie. |
"I took a photo of the debris that landed in Governor's Field - if it had landed a few yards further it would have destroyed the vicarage." | "I took a photo of the debris that landed in Governor's Field - if it had landed a few yards further it would have destroyed the vicarage." |
Janet Hill, now 90, wife of the village butcher, said: "We were in the shop and the dog came running in because of the loud bang. | Janet Hill, now 90, wife of the village butcher, said: "We were in the shop and the dog came running in because of the loud bang. |
"When we went out - there was a fuel tank was sitting in the yard." | "When we went out - there was a fuel tank was sitting in the yard." |
Howard Heeley, of the Newark Air Museum, said: "There is a church memorial (in Woodborough) to the crash that says 'Thanks be to God no one was hurt'. | Howard Heeley, of the Newark Air Museum, said: "There is a church memorial (in Woodborough) to the crash that says 'Thanks be to God no one was hurt'. |
"It it is the only (air crash) memorial in Nottinghamshire that I know of that commemorates the living instead of the dead. | "It it is the only (air crash) memorial in Nottinghamshire that I know of that commemorates the living instead of the dead. |
"One thing is certain - the airmen were lucky and village was lucky that day." | "One thing is certain - the airmen were lucky and village was lucky that day." |