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| Winter Hill: Man recalls aftermath of 1958 air disaster | Winter Hill: Man recalls aftermath of 1958 air disaster |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has described his memories of arriving at the scene of a "forgotten" air disaster in which 35 people died. | A man has described his memories of arriving at the scene of a "forgotten" air disaster in which 35 people died. |
| Only seven people survived when a flight bound for Manchester crashed near Horwich, Greater Manchester on 27 February 1958. | Only seven people survived when a flight bound for Manchester crashed near Horwich, Greater Manchester on 27 February 1958. |
| A memorial service is due to take place later to mark the 60th anniversary. | A memorial service is due to take place later to mark the 60th anniversary. |
| Arthur Brooks, a schoolboy at the time, has described rummaging among the debris of the wreckage and even climbing inside the cockpit. | Arthur Brooks, a schoolboy at the time, has described rummaging among the debris of the wreckage and even climbing inside the cockpit. |
| Now 74, he believes the crash remains largely "forgotten" because it happened three weeks after the Munich air disaster. | Now 74, he believes the crash remains largely "forgotten" because it happened three weeks after the Munich air disaster. |
| He told how he and some friends had seen a rescue helicopter fly across their school towards the crash site, on the north-east slope of Winter Hill. | He told how he and some friends had seen a rescue helicopter fly across their school towards the crash site, on the north-east slope of Winter Hill. |
| The group later arrived to find what Mr Brooks described as a scene of "devastation". | The group later arrived to find what Mr Brooks described as a scene of "devastation". |
| While the victims' bodies had been removed, the emergency services had left the site undisturbed, as a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigation was due to begin. | While the victims' bodies had been removed, the emergency services had left the site undisturbed, as a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigation was due to begin. |
| Mr Brooks, of Bolton, said: "Five of us decided we'd go up and have a look that night. There were no buses so we walked the six miles. | Mr Brooks, of Bolton, said: "Five of us decided we'd go up and have a look that night. There were no buses so we walked the six miles. |
| "All the casualties had been removed but the police had gone away. It was the responsibility of the CAA to look after the wreckage. | "All the casualties had been removed but the police had gone away. It was the responsibility of the CAA to look after the wreckage. |
| "It was just an utter scene of devastation. There were bits and pieces everywhere." | "It was just an utter scene of devastation. There were bits and pieces everywhere." |
| Mr Brooks said only two sections of the wreckage were recognisable - the plane's tail, and a section of the fuselage and cockpit. | Mr Brooks said only two sections of the wreckage were recognisable - the plane's tail, and a section of the fuselage and cockpit. |
| "We didn't recognise it at first," he said. "We dropped down through a hole and found ourselves in the cockpit. | "We didn't recognise it at first," he said. "We dropped down through a hole and found ourselves in the cockpit. |
| "Fourteen years old, it was just a big adventure to us. We weren't really thinking about what had actually happened. | "Fourteen years old, it was just a big adventure to us. We weren't really thinking about what had actually happened. |
| "We were playing about with all the controls and all that. We were there a couple of hours." | "We were playing about with all the controls and all that. We were there a couple of hours." |
| Before long "about 20 or 25 adults" had also arrived at the site out of curiosity, Mr Brooks said. | Before long "about 20 or 25 adults" had also arrived at the site out of curiosity, Mr Brooks said. |
| "You were just staggered. You couldn't believe how much it had broken up." | "You were just staggered. You couldn't believe how much it had broken up." |
| The plane had crashed after a key navigational error during hazardous snow and fog. | The plane had crashed after a key navigational error during hazardous snow and fog. |
| Most of the victims were mechanics, engineers and motor traders from the Isle of Man who were on a trip to visit Manchester's Exide battery factory. | Most of the victims were mechanics, engineers and motor traders from the Isle of Man who were on a trip to visit Manchester's Exide battery factory. |
| Horwich Rotary Club members were widely praised for being heavily involved in rescue attempts, digging through snowdrifts to reach the injured. | Horwich Rotary Club members were widely praised for being heavily involved in rescue attempts, digging through snowdrifts to reach the injured. |
| A memorial service organised by the Rotary Club of Douglas was held on Monday at the Winter Hill Memorial in St John's, on the Isle of Man. | A memorial service organised by the Rotary Club of Douglas was held on Monday at the Winter Hill Memorial in St John's, on the Isle of Man. |
| A second service is due to take place at Winter Hill itself later. | A second service is due to take place at Winter Hill itself later. |
| Mr Brooks said he believes it is important to continue to remember the disaster. | Mr Brooks said he believes it is important to continue to remember the disaster. |
| "As a kid at the time I didn't think about it. As a 14-year-old it's just 'an aircraft has crashed, let's go and have a look'. | |
| "But as you get older you realise there were 35 people who perished up there. It should be remembered, always. It upsets me thinking about it. | "But as you get older you realise there were 35 people who perished up there. It should be remembered, always. It upsets me thinking about it. |
| "To me it's always been a great injustice that the Munich air crash, because they were a football team, that was worldwide news. But this one is hardly ever mentioned and yet more people died here. | "To me it's always been a great injustice that the Munich air crash, because they were a football team, that was worldwide news. But this one is hardly ever mentioned and yet more people died here. |
| "It's not forgotten by the locals but probably around the country and never mind worldwide, most people don't even know about it." | "It's not forgotten by the locals but probably around the country and never mind worldwide, most people don't even know about it." |