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<<< 1955

The Year 1956

1957 >>>

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   January  

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
1st January 1956
RAF		 Meteor F8 WE873 504 Sqn Crashed three miles NW of Mildenhall, Suffolk Plt. Off. C. H. Smith Martin-Baker  
13th January 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flg. Off. J. Wood ejected Martin-Baker  
Flt. Lt. J. M. Sorfleat ejected Martin-Baker  
13th January 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flg. Off. J. W. Delorey ejected Martin-Baker  
Flt. Lt. J. C. Kitchen ejected Martin-Baker  
19th January 1956
RAF		 Vampire T11  XD609/C FWS five miles SE of Leconfield, Yorks after the
engine failed		 The pilot ejected Martin-Baker  
25th January 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.5 WP107/A 263 Squadron engine broke up
and aircraft crashed 5miles east-north east of Stowmarket, Suffolk		 Flt. Lt. H. A. Merriman ejected Martin-Baker  
27th January 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk       Lt. A. R. Campbell ejected Martin-Baker  

04Jan56      

  53‑3843    B‑57C  WR AMA, Robins AFB, GA, USA, crew ejected safely

 

   February 

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
8th February 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1 WT629/T DFLS   Pilot ejected safely at 4,000 ft Martin-Baker  

One of eight aircraft which had completed a 4x4 dogfighting exercise at 45,000ft. The weather at base, West Raynham, had deteriorated and Hunters diverted to Marham. They descended over West Raynham in 4 pairs to make visual approaches to Marham, making GCA talk down essential. But Marham GCA had difficulties picking up the four sections, all of which were then down to 10 minutes fuel and there was R/T congestion. In all the confusion all four sections tried to get below the clouds and find the airfield but only two landed safely. Pilot of WT629 descended to 600ft but was unable to see the ground. He then climbed to 4,000ft and ejected safely. His aircraft crashing in a field 2 miles north-west of Swaffham, Norfolk.
8th February 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1 WT639/N DFLS   Pilot ejected safely Martin-Baker  

Pilot descended to 600ft after an unsuccessful GCA pick up, but he was still in cloud. In the climb away he lost his leader and the engine flamed out as he passed 2,500ft.  Pilot ejected safely and his aircraft crashed in a forest 21/2 miles south-west of Swaffham.
8th February 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1 WW633/H DFLS   Pilot ejected safely Martin-Baker  

 Pilot descended to 500ft but could only see the groundoccasionally. Engine flamed out as he climbed away. He ejected safely. The aircraft crashed in a field 31/2 miles north-west of Swaffham.
8th February 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1 WW639/X DFLS     Martin-Baker  

Pilot descended to 250ft but could not break cloud. Shortly afterwards he lost his leader. With fuel about to run out he climbed to 2,000ft and ejected. Aircraft crashed 3 miles south of Swaffham.
note
WW635/L crashed 41/2 miles north-west of Swaffham. Pilot killed.
WW603/G belly landed following flame out just east of airfield. Pilot unhurt.
9th February 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk FB3 WF282/643 738 Sqn Collided over
Portmahomack, Ross and Cromarty. One aircraft crashed at Petley Farm, the other at Rockfield Farm		 Lt. G. J. Sherman
[not sure which pilot was in which aircraft - see next entry]		 Martin-Baker  
9th February 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk FB3 WF276/644 738 Sqn M. W. Hadcock ejected Martin-Baker  
23rd February 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.5 WP193 34 Squadron Engine cut,  crashed 4 miles west of Blandford, Dorset Pilot ejected safely

[possibly Flg. Off. D. T. Bryant ejected]

 Martin-Baker  

01feb56      

  51‑1690    F‑84F  25 M SW of Phoenix, AZ, USA, enetered spin during stall practice, pilot ejected safely

 

16feb56          U‑2A  AZ, USA, cockpit fire at 30,000 ft, pilot ejected safely

 

   March
Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
5th March 1956
RAF		 XH297 RAFC   over Newark,
Notts. after the elevator controls failed		 Flt. Lt. C. P. Francis Martin-Baker  
and ??? ejected Martin-Baker  
22nd March 1956 Swedish Air Force Hunter       Plt. Off. S. O. Loefdahl ejected Martin-Baker  
23rd March 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1 WT658/Q DFLS 3 miles south, south west of
Wattisham		 Pilot, Flt. Lt. R. Watson ejected after seat malfunction. Martin-Baker  

 April  

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
3rd April 1956
RAF		 Meteor       Flg. Off. D. D. Reeves ejected Martin-Baker  
10th April 1956
17:20
Peruvian Air Force		 F-86F-25 Sabre   11th FS, Talara routine escort mission 2nd Roque A. Garcia-Guillern NAA
17th April 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.2 WN909/S 257 Squadron Engine cut and the aircraft went into a dive. Aircraft crashed at Colne Engaine, Essex Pilot ejected but seperated from harness and was killed
(+check recent notes in file)		 Martin-Baker  
17th April 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1  WW599/A 43 Squadron,
Leuchars		 crashed into a field
on South Lambliethan Farm, 4 miles south of St. Andrews, Fife after the engine cut		 Pilot, Flg. Off.
J. A. H. Andreson ejected from 300ft and landed in his seat but escaped with minor injuries.		 Martin-Baker  
April 1956
RAF		 Meteor F8 609 Sqn   Crash near Selby, Yorks after loss of
control		 Flt. Lt. William. S. Campbell ejected  but had problems releasing from seat and was killed Martin-Baker  
26th April 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flg. Off. W. E. Pierce Martin-Baker  
Flg. Off. W. C. Kornyk ejected Martin-Baker  
28th April 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk       Sub Lt. D. E. Ferne ejected Martin-Baker  

03apr56  138608  F11 F‑1  Grumman, nr Edwards AFB, CA, USA, engine quit and control was lost, pilot ejected safely

 

 

 May  

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
1st May 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.4 XE671/K 54 Squadron Engine failure. 2 miles east of
Odiham		 Flg. Off. T. J. D. Price ejected Martin-Baker  
4th May 1956
Vought
USMC		 Crusader F-8A 141337   crashed during an evaluation flight in US Captain James Feliton, USMC ejected safely.
This was the first ejection from a Crusader.
[see 14th August 1956]		 Vought  
5th May 1956
RAF		 Vampire       Sqn. Ldr. C. C. Povey ejected Martin-Baker  
11th May 1956
RAE		 Valiant B1 WP202     Flt. Lt. G. C. D. Preece ejected Martin-Baker  

Suffered a major electrical failure during a test flight from Farnborough. The pilot attempted a crash landing near Southwick, Sussex but the aircraft exploded when it hit the ground. Of the four crew only Flt. Lt. C. D. Preece, the co-pilot survived when he ejected moments before the aircraft hit the ground.

FLIGHT 18th May 1956 -  "Last Friday a Valiant from the R.A.E., Farnborough, suffered what is reported to have been a control malfunction over the Isle of Wight and crashed in a built-up area at Southwick, Sussex. Of the crew of four one, the co-pilot, ejected and landed in some allotments. He was reported to have been still in his ejector seat, but alive. The three remaining crew-members lost their lives. The survivor was F/L. G. C. D. Preece; the others were S/L. K. Orman, F/L. K. E. P. Evans and Mr. A. Knight an M.o.S. technician."
17th May 1956
RN		 Wyvern       Lt. R. King ejected Martin-Baker  
22nd May 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flg. Off. K. B. Parker ejected Martin-Baker  

04may56 141337  F8U‑1  Vought, during test flight ‑ first Crusader ejection, pilot ejected safely

 

 

   June    

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
5th June 1956
RAF		 Vampire T11 WG800 5TFS Crashed near Littleport, Cambs. following loss of control during practice aerobatics pilot ejected Martin-Baker  
11th June 1956
RAF		 Venom FB4 WR380 249 Sqn Engine failure. Crashed near Amman, Jordan Flg. Off. T. L.
Lecky-Thompson ejected		    
25th June 1956
RN		         Cdr. K. A. Leppard ejected Martin-Baker  
25th June 1956
Civilian		 Swift       Mr. G. J. Horne ejected Martin-Baker  
30th June 1956
RAF		 Meteor F.8 WB105 / B 604 Sqn  Jammed ailerons. Crashed 5 miles north east of North Weald Plt. Off. J. E. Hutchinson
ejected		 Martin-Baker  

20jun56    52‑6711  F‑84F  20th FBW, pilot ejected safely

 

 

22jun56    52‑6742  F‑84F  20th FBW, pilot ejected safely

   

 

   July     

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
6th July 1956
RN		 Attacker       J. F. Yeates ejected Martin-Baker  

11th July 1956.

USAF

F-100

54-1849

316th AD, 45th FDS

crashed 3 mi SE of Sidi Slimane, Morocco

Pilot ejected safely

  

NAA
"Friday"
13th July 1956
RAF		 Vampire T11     fire warning and loss of power. Cyprus. NE of Xeros, AOC AVM C. D. C.
Boyce [7,000', 180kt IAS]		 Martin-Baker Mk 3B  
Flt. Lt. Gray M. Bacon ejected last. Martin-Baker Mk 3B  
"Friday"
13th July 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk       Lt. L. E. Middleton ejected Martin-Baker  
17th July 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.4 WV392 66 Squadron Engine failed over the North Sea during Air to Air firing detail. crashed into sea 2 miles east of Filey, Yorkshire Flg. Off. N. R. Williams ejected safely from 35,000ft Martin-Baker  
23rd July 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flg. Off. G. A. Larkin ejected Martin-Baker  
Flt. Lt. G. Murray ejected Martin-Baker  

23ju156    F‑100C  32nd FDS, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands, crashed on landing, pilot ejected

 

05jul56    54‑0211  F‑89D  76th FIS, nr McConnell AFB, KS, USA, engine caught fire on take‑off, crew ejected safely

 

11jul56    54‑1849  F‑100C  45th FDS, 3 M SE of Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, pilot ejected safely

 

20ju156    54‑0225  F‑89D  76th FIS, nr Yuma, AZ, USA, flew into the target sleeve of target‑towing aircraft, crew ejected

    safely

 

 

 

   August     

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo
7th August 1956
RAF		 Venom FB1 WE431 16 Sqn Fire warning. Crashed five miles SW of Wunstrorf, West Germany Flg. Off. R. J. Smith ejected Martin-Baker  
10th August 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk FGA6 XE442
'233'		 810 Sqdn
HMS Bulwark		 ditched at sea  due to the undercarriage refusing to lower during a landing attempt at North Front, Gibraltar Lt. M. McCook Weir ejected   Martin-Baker

10th August 1956

USAF

F-100A

53-1678

 

engine failure during aerobatics in Nevada in Music Mountains, 30 M N of Kingman, AZ, USA

Pilot ejected safely

  

NAA
13th August 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.1 WT627/K DFLS Lost power on approach to West Raynham and crashed 4 miles
south of Fakeham, Norfolk		 Sqn. Ldr. W. Edwards ejected Martin-Baker  
14th August 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.4 XF290/F 67 Squadron Engine failed shortly after a night take-off from Bruggen Lt. M. V. Maina ejected from 700ft Martin-Baker  
14th August 1956
Vought		  F8U‑1
Crusader		     engine failed at high altitude Test pilot John Konrad, the first man to fly an F-8 in March 1955, was forced to eject Vought  
24th August 1956
RAF		         Flt. Lt. P. K. V. Hicks ejected safely, but
later died.		 Martin-Baker  
24th August 1956
Glosters		 Javelin     test flight from Morton Valence - mid-air collision Flt. Lt. R. E. Jeffries ejected Martin-Baker  
Pilot ejected but parachute chord was severed and he fell to the ground Martin-Baker  

Hunter F.4 XF980 of CFS Type Flight, collided with Javelin XA644 , Glosters, over Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. The Javelin on a test flight from Morton Valence crashed immediately but  Hunter crashed at Wotton Under Edge. The Hunter was climbing at full throttle and collided at 10,000ft over Nailsworth, Gloucestershire with the Javelin which was making a rapid descent. The closing speed was 920 knots and the tail of the Hunter sliced through the front fuselage of the Javelin, ejecting both of the crew. The pilots parachute chord was severed and he fell to the ground, other crew member Flt. Lt. R. E. Jeffries ejected.

   September     

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
2nd September 1956
RAF		 Hunter F5 WP134/R 41 Sqn Failed to recover from a spin, in a cloud. It crashed near North Weald, Essex Flg. Off. A. C. Preston ejected   Martin-Baker
5th September 1956
USAF		 F‑89D 53‑2577 465th FIS Marcy, nr Griffiss AFB, NY, USA, engine blew up when afterburner was selected ejected    
ejected    
13th September 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.4 WV412/A 112 Squadron The engine cut in the circuit of Sylt, West Germany.
The aircraft crashed half a mile east of
the airfield.		 Flt. Lt. K. A. Williamson ejected safely from 900ft   Martin-Baker
13th September 1956
USAF		 B‑57B 53‑3875 3rd BW 25 M N of Mite range, Mite, Japan ejected    
ejected    
17th September 1956
RAF		 Vampire VZ349 8 FTS Over Fosdyke, Lincs. after loss of control during
aerobatics.		 pilot ejected   Martin-Baker
27th September 1956
R.Neth.AF		 Meteor       Sgt. A. Durieux ejected   Martin-Baker
27th September 1956
RN		 Hawker Sea Hawk WF156 849 of 1836 Squadron
[Southern Air Division]		 crashed at North Farm, Berwick, Oxford Pilot ejected but was killed   Martin-Baker

   October    

oct56        F‑86D  37th FIS, Underhill range, VT, USA, caught fire during rocket fire, pilot ejected safely

 

01oct56 

  54‑1988  F‑100C  32nd FDS/36th FDW, Wilhelmmakanaal, nr Oosterhout, Netherlands, engine caught fire and

      controls froze, pilot ejected safely

 

02oct56  53‑1551  F‑100A  7407th SS Det.1, 1 M N of Neiderbach, 9 M N of Bitburg, West Germany, mechanical failure

      shortly after take‑off, pilot ejected safely

 

09oct56  54‑2233  F‑100D  45th FDS, 18 NM S of Rabat, French Morocco, engine flamed out, pilot ejected safely

 

26oct56  53‑3896  B‑57B  3rd BG, 60 M E of Johnson AFB, Japan, crew ejected safely

 

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew seat photo

1st October 1956

USAF

F-100

53-1988

36th FDW, 32nd FDS

control system failure crashed into canal near Osterhaut, Netherlands

Pilot ejected safely

  

NAA

1st October 1956

USAF

RF-100A

53-1551

 
Detachment 1 of 7407th Support Sqn / 7499th Support Group

near Neidenbach, Germany

Pilot ejected safely

  

NAA
1st October 1956
RAF		 Vulcan B1 XA897 232 OCU   Sqn. Ldr. Donald R. Howard Martin-Baker
Air Mar. Sir Harry Broadhurst Martin-Baker

 The u/c struck the ground while on approach to Heathrow Airport in fog. The pilot, Sqn. Ldr. Donald R. Howard and co-pilot, Air Mar. Sir Harry Broadhurst
were unable to control the aircraft and ejected. The other four were unable to abandon the a/c and were killed when it hit the runway.
[see "Survival in the Sky" by Ralph Barker] & [Flight oct-1956 p.568 & 4-jan-1957 p.3 edit. & 25-oct-1957 p.658 & 8-nov-1957 p. 755-6 & official MOD Accident report] - [Still to write up individual page of details - plus personal testimony from AM Sir H. Broadhurst]]
4th October 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk FGA6 XE405/232 810 Sqn Crashed near Malta during a mission from HMS
Bulwark		 Lt. J. D. Bridel had ejected Martin-Baker  
Thursday
4th October 1956
6 p.m.
USAF		 Northrop
F-89D Scorpion		   Paine Air Force Base mid air collision Olympic Peninsula Region  
1st Lt. Eugene A. Hamby
pilot
ejected, survived		 Lt. Robert L. Canup, Jr.
Radar Operator
killed		  
Thursday
4th October 1956
6 p.m.
USAF		 Northrop
F-89D
Scorpion		   Paine Air Force Base  
2nd Lt. George L. Deer
pilot
ejected, survived		 1st Lt. Jim B. Paschall
Radar Operator
ejected, survived		  
5th October 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk FB5 WM971/133 802 Sqn Crashed into the sea while operating off HMS Albion pilot ejected Martin-Baker  

9th October 1956

USAF

F-100

2233

316th AD, 45th FDS

engine flameout crashed 18 m S of Rabat, Morocco

Pilot ejected safely

  

NAA
9th October 1956
USN		 Fury FJ-3M 139254 A-207 of VF-142 collided with  FJ-3M Fury BuNo. 139233 coded A-202 of VF-142 flown by Ltjg J. Ricjard "Dick" Powell who "bailed out"
 		 Ensign Rex D. Nellic ejected using RAPEC seat    
13th October 1956
RAF		 Meteor F8 WA855 41 Sqn Engine failure. Crashed at Sidcup, Kent Pilot baled out (ejected??) Martin-Baker  
15th October 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk       Lt. P. Cardew ejected Martin-Baker  
19th October 1956
Martin-Baker		 Meteor     Test
Chalgrove		 M. Michel Tournier ejected at 1,800ft., 420kts
[personal testimony of M. Tournier to upload]		 Martin-Baker  
20th or 24th October 1956
RAF		 Hunter F.4 XF999 CFS crashed three miles east of Kemble after control failure in
the circuit		 Pilot ejected but was killed Martin-Baker  
20th October 1956
Belgian		 Meteor       Pilot ejected Martin-Baker  
20th October 1956
RAF		 Hunter         Martin-Baker  

 

   SUEZ: Timetable to conflict

23rd June 1956

Nasser voted in as Egyptian president

26th July 1956

Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalises Suez Canal, formerly in British and French control

2nd August 1956

Britain mobilises its forces

14th September 1956

Egypt in full control of Suez Canal

21st October 1956

Guy Mollet, Anthony Eden and David Ben-Gurion meet in secret to discuss the Egyptian action. Decide on military action

29th October 1956

Israeli forces, led by General Moshe Dayan, invades Egypt

30th October 1956

Britain and France veto Russian demand for Israeli-Egyptian cease fire

31st October 1956

British and French force bomb Egyptian airfields

5th November 1956

British and French forces launch airborne invasion of Egypt

7th November 1956

UN Assembly votes overwhelmingly that invading nations should leave Egypt

25th November 1956

Expulsion of British, French and Jewish nationals from Egypt

29th November 1956

Official end of hostilities

20th December 1956

Israel refuse to leave Gaza

24th December 1956

British and French troops leave Egypt

27th December 1956

Exchange of Egyptian and Israeli PoWs
   
30th October 1956
IDF/AF		 Meteor 8   117 Sqn Acft went into an uncontrolable spin during a dogfight exercise Hilel Alroi ejected safely   Martin-Baker Mk. M2E
31st October 1956
noon
Egyptian Air Force		 MiG-17     Shot down by Capt Ya'acov "Yak" Nevo IDF/AF in Mystere IV near Mitla Pass

FIRST RECORDED EJECTION IN MIDDLE EASTERN AIR WARFARE

Egyptian Pilot ejected

   KK-1

   November   

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
1st November 1956
USAF		 F‑86D   37 FIS

Rocket pod retracted too early and 4 rockets were fired internally, Underhill gunnery range, VT, USA

 Pilot ejected safely   NAA
2nd November 1956
IDF/AF		 Mystère IV 4584 101 Sqn shot down by AAA over Ras Nazrani Maj Binyamin Peled ejected and rescued SNCASO
3rd November 1956
RN		 Wyvern S4 WN330/J379 830 Sqn Hit by anti-aircraft fire over Gamil Bridge, west of Port
Said, Egypt		 Lt. D. F. McCarthy glided the aircraft for three miles out to sea and ejected
safely near to HMS Eagle		   Martin-Baker
4th November 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flt. Lt. J. B. Flannigan   Martin-Baker
Flg. Off. H. S. Martin ejected   Martin-Baker
4th November 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk     following enemy action Lt. D. F. Mills ejected Martin-Baker
5th November 1956
RN		 Wyvern S4 WN328/J371 830 Sqn he engine exploded while on air support operations for
paratroop landings on Gamil airfield, Egypt		 Lt. Cdr. W. H. Cowling ejected safely
[personal testimony to be uploaded]		 Martin-Baker
6th November 1956
RN		 Sea Hawk FGA.6 XE377 '195' 897 Sqdn aboard HMS Eagle lost on operations during the Suez campaign around the Port Said area Lt. J. H. Stuart-Jervis ejected   Martin-Baker
9th November 1956
USN		 P6M-2 Seamaster 138822   faulty elevator jack crashed near Odessa, Delaware ejected    
ejected    
ejected    
ejected    
10th November 1956
RAF		 Hunter WT587 229 OCU landed in the
sea near Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel		 The Iraqi pilot lost control in cloud and ejected. Later found dead in sea near to dinghy. It was
concluded that he had been thrown out in the heavy swell.		   Martin-Baker
15th November 1956
RAF		 Hunter F6 XG230 92 Sqn Crashed near Easingwold, N. Yorks Flt. Lt. M.
M. Foster had ejected		   Martin-Baker

16th November 1956


USAF

F-100

2258

316th AD, 45th FDS

ditched at sea 5 mi WNW of Rabat, French Morocco

Pilot ejected safely rescued by Navy helicopter

  

NAA
 18th November 1956
Iraqi		 Venom       2nd Lt. A. R. Alizzy ejected   Martin-Baker
18th November 1956
RAF		 Hunter F4 XF945234 Sqn   Engine failure. Crashed at night 15 miles SW of Aachen, West Germany pilot ejected   Martin-Baker
 18th or 20th November 1956 ?
RAF		 Hunter       Flg. Off. P. A. Marsh ejected   Martin-Baker
23rd November 1956
USAF		 F‑100D 54‑2142 45th FDS 1 M S of Sidi Slimane AB operations building, French Morocco pilot ejected safely   NAA

 

 

   December     

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
4th December 1956
RAF		 Hunter F4 XE669 98 Sqn The engine exploded shortly after take off from Jever The pilot ejected but was killed   Martin-Baker
5th December 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flt. Lt. W. L. Pigden   Martin-Baker
Flg. Off. A. W. Hanson   Martin-Baker
7th December 1956
RAF		 Vampire       Plt. Off. J. Attenborough ejected   Martin-Baker
10th December 1956
RCAF		 CF-100       Flg. Off. D. F. Reid   Martin-Baker
Flg. Off. J. J. Paskaruk ejected   Martin-Baker
?? December 1956
RAF		       Involuntary ejection through canopy from Hunter RAF Pilot Flt. Lt. Roy Watson
at 42,000ft. He fell to 10,000ft when automatic Release operated		   Martin-Baker
19th December 1956   U‑2A     on an Indian reservation, AZ, USA pilot bailed out