Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2009 17:04:51 GMT -5
This is just out of interest, it's not important. I just happened to come across an old BBC newsreel about a 1951 air race
www.bbc.co.uk/archive/aerialjourneys/5304.shtml?all=2&id=5304
Part way through the aircraft carrying the cameraman overtakes another one with registration G-AKWV. I looked it up and found it was a Percival Proctor built in 1948 owned by a gentleman by the name of John Philip Crowther.
www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AKWV.pdf
I noticed that it mentions that the aircraft was destroyed and I was just inquisitive so I googled the reg
Found a couple of old archive docs that really catch the flavour of the day and show that Mr Crowther was really active in his Proctor at the pretty major air races of the time - must have been quite a wealthy chap. The first link below shows his entry in the actual air race recorded by the BBC.
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1951/1951%20-%201908.html
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200628.html
And then I found this link to a forum where someone who was actually at Southend in 1953 saw two Proctors collide during an air race and G-AKWV fall to the ground and explode in flames killing its pilot. I bet it was Mr Crowther at the controls.
forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1394029
I found this account on another forum
Re the crash at an airshow at the airport this was in fact the Kings Cup Air Race the accident happend on Saturday 20th June 1953 when Percival Proctor G-AKWV was attempting to over take struck the aircraft in front this being Percival Proctor G-AIKJ. Damage to G-AKWV resulted in the tail plane and fin detaching sending the aircraft into an uncontrolled spin dive fire broke out upon impact with the ground killing the pilot. The aircraft that was struck was able to continue in flight and make a normal landing with damage to propeller tips and leading edge.
Anyway I left it there but I found it a fascinating little historical vignette that I thought I'd share
www.bbc.co.uk/archive/aerialjourneys/5304.shtml?all=2&id=5304
Part way through the aircraft carrying the cameraman overtakes another one with registration G-AKWV. I looked it up and found it was a Percival Proctor built in 1948 owned by a gentleman by the name of John Philip Crowther.
www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AKWV.pdf
I noticed that it mentions that the aircraft was destroyed and I was just inquisitive so I googled the reg
Found a couple of old archive docs that really catch the flavour of the day and show that Mr Crowther was really active in his Proctor at the pretty major air races of the time - must have been quite a wealthy chap. The first link below shows his entry in the actual air race recorded by the BBC.
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1951/1951%20-%201908.html
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200628.html
And then I found this link to a forum where someone who was actually at Southend in 1953 saw two Proctors collide during an air race and G-AKWV fall to the ground and explode in flames killing its pilot. I bet it was Mr Crowther at the controls.
forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1394029
I found this account on another forum
Re the crash at an airshow at the airport this was in fact the Kings Cup Air Race the accident happend on Saturday 20th June 1953 when Percival Proctor G-AKWV was attempting to over take struck the aircraft in front this being Percival Proctor G-AIKJ. Damage to G-AKWV resulted in the tail plane and fin detaching sending the aircraft into an uncontrolled spin dive fire broke out upon impact with the ground killing the pilot. The aircraft that was struck was able to continue in flight and make a normal landing with damage to propeller tips and leading edge.
Anyway I left it there but I found it a fascinating little historical vignette that I thought I'd share
