Flying through tower bridge...
Discussion
What year was that?
In summer 1973 a single-engined Beagle PupBeagle Pup was twice flown under the pedestrian walkway of Tower Bridge by 29 year old stockbroker's clerk Paul Martin. Martin was on bail following accusations of stockmarket fraud. He then 'buzzed' buildings in 'The City', before flying north towards the Lake District a mountainous region in North West England, where he died when his aircraft crashed some two hours later.
All UK airports/airfields were put on alert during this incident with the Police ready to apprehend the pilot. Never landed though. Think he deliberately flew into a mountain and the final verdict was suicide.
In summer 1973 a single-engined Beagle PupBeagle Pup was twice flown under the pedestrian walkway of Tower Bridge by 29 year old stockbroker's clerk Paul Martin. Martin was on bail following accusations of stockmarket fraud. He then 'buzzed' buildings in 'The City', before flying north towards the Lake District a mountainous region in North West England, where he died when his aircraft crashed some two hours later.
All UK airports/airfields were put on alert during this incident with the Police ready to apprehend the pilot. Never landed though. Think he deliberately flew into a mountain and the final verdict was suicide.
Going by the date on the article it was 1975, the extract I've posted was from here:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1...
The story as I've been told it was he aimed to fly through part of the bridge that no one had (has?) flown through before. He couldn't do this due to a police / CID / MI5 party on a boat near the bridge for which they had large balloons / blimps above the boat blocking his flight path. So instead he did a barrel roll through another part of the bridge then went under the narrowest part of the next bridge. Apparently there was 6" of wing clearance on each side which resulted in the co-pilot passing out and emptying his bladder.
Needless to say he was caught hence the article even though it was a hired plane with all of the numbers etc masked off.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1...
The story as I've been told it was he aimed to fly through part of the bridge that no one had (has?) flown through before. He couldn't do this due to a police / CID / MI5 party on a boat near the bridge for which they had large balloons / blimps above the boat blocking his flight path. So instead he did a barrel roll through another part of the bridge then went under the narrowest part of the next bridge. Apparently there was 6" of wing clearance on each side which resulted in the co-pilot passing out and emptying his bladder.
Needless to say he was caught hence the article even though it was a hired plane with all of the numbers etc masked off.
Never mind that wee puddle jumper...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_Tower_B...
How the RAF used to be!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_Tower_B...
How the RAF used to be!
what's the worst that can happen 
I suppose a fine and/or jail, the way all offences are dealt with in this merry land.
So make sure you have no money, and book the cat into a cattery, and carry on
Alternatively, use a small light wooden aircraft with all ID removed. After the dastardly deed, head away flat out in a fixed direction so they can be sure of getting your heading on radar. Drop to tree-top height, turn 90 degrees for maybe 10 minutes, then drop it into a secluded clearing. Smash the aircraft into bits with an axe, bury the bits and then walk to a bus-stop whistling gently...
So make sure you have no money, and book the cat into a cattery, and carry on
Alternatively, use a small light wooden aircraft with all ID removed. After the dastardly deed, head away flat out in a fixed direction so they can be sure of getting your heading on radar. Drop to tree-top height, turn 90 degrees for maybe 10 minutes, then drop it into a secluded clearing. Smash the aircraft into bits with an axe, bury the bits and then walk to a bus-stop whistling gently...
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 26th February 18:02
Martin43 said:
Never mind that wee puddle jumper...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_Tower_B...
How the RAF used to be!
There was a lot of it about :-)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_Tower_B...
How the RAF used to be!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._501_Squadron_RAF#...
http://brisray.com/bristol/bagorge2.htm
Billy Hunt said:
Wondering if anyone has any more info / newspaper cut outs or photographs (if any exist) of this incident:
I know the son of the man named, but not necessarily shamed, in this short piece so it would be interesting to be able to go to him with any information that exists
I knew Michael Devyea in the seventies when he worked for my father. He said He'd been a pilot in the US navy or army and I do know he lost his pilots licence over the incident. He was a really nice bloke and really interesting to talk to, is he still around?I know the son of the man named, but not necessarily shamed, in this short piece so it would be interesting to be able to go to him with any information that exists
Edited by jagracer on Monday 27th February 19:13
Martin43 said:
Never mind that wee puddle jumper...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_Tower_B...
How the RAF used to be!
Sadly the showing off didn't always go to plan. In 1956 a Meteor crashed in Wadhurst High Street when the pilot attempted to show off to his parents. My mother lived in the village at the time and can remember the aftermath.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_Tower_B...
How the RAF used to be!
Court of Inquiry said:
Flying Officer Stoate, a student pilot at the All-Weather Operational Conversion Unit, Royal Air Force North Luffenham, with only one previous
flight in a Meteor Mark 12 to his credit, was briefed and authorised for a local flying exercise consisting of a height climb into wind, which
was westerly, rate 1 and rate 2 turns, a high speed run towards base, a Q.G.H. and Gee approaches, in Meteor WS.661, on 20th January, 1956. This
exercise is specifically designed to keep pilots within 60 nautical miles of base.
Flying Officer Stoate, with Pilot Officer Paterson as Navigator, took off at 14.40 hours on that day with a full fuel load of 696 gallons. At approximately 15.15 hours, a Meteor was seen to circle below cloud base, which was estimated to be 1000 feet above ground level, the village of Wadhurst near Tunbridge Wells. Wadhurst is approximately 120 miles S.S.E. of North Luffenham. Flying Officer Stoate's parents reside at Durgate [sic] which is about 1⁄2 mile N.W. of Wadhurst and the scene of the crash.
After circling the village at least once, the pilot made a very low run from a northerly direction in a steeply banked and slightly diving turn to port past his parents home at Durgate and whilst still in this turn and on a heading of 0650 and in a position 70 yards to the South of the Queens Head Hotel, High Street, Wadhurst, the aircraft struck two bungalows at an estimated height of 25 feet above ground level, burst into flames and came to rest approximately 50 yards further on, having severely damaged and set on fire several other buildings. Fragmented aircraft wreckage was spread over an area measuring about 50 yards by 200 yards. This wrecked aircraft was identified as Meteor WS.661.
The occupants, Flying Officer Stoate and Pilot Officer Paterson were both killed on impact. One civilian was killed and another died of injuries shortly afterwards.
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=182.0flight in a Meteor Mark 12 to his credit, was briefed and authorised for a local flying exercise consisting of a height climb into wind, which
was westerly, rate 1 and rate 2 turns, a high speed run towards base, a Q.G.H. and Gee approaches, in Meteor WS.661, on 20th January, 1956. This
exercise is specifically designed to keep pilots within 60 nautical miles of base.
Flying Officer Stoate, with Pilot Officer Paterson as Navigator, took off at 14.40 hours on that day with a full fuel load of 696 gallons. At approximately 15.15 hours, a Meteor was seen to circle below cloud base, which was estimated to be 1000 feet above ground level, the village of Wadhurst near Tunbridge Wells. Wadhurst is approximately 120 miles S.S.E. of North Luffenham. Flying Officer Stoate's parents reside at Durgate [sic] which is about 1⁄2 mile N.W. of Wadhurst and the scene of the crash.
After circling the village at least once, the pilot made a very low run from a northerly direction in a steeply banked and slightly diving turn to port past his parents home at Durgate and whilst still in this turn and on a heading of 0650 and in a position 70 yards to the South of the Queens Head Hotel, High Street, Wadhurst, the aircraft struck two bungalows at an estimated height of 25 feet above ground level, burst into flames and came to rest approximately 50 yards further on, having severely damaged and set on fire several other buildings. Fragmented aircraft wreckage was spread over an area measuring about 50 yards by 200 yards. This wrecked aircraft was identified as Meteor WS.661.
The occupants, Flying Officer Stoate and Pilot Officer Paterson were both killed on impact. One civilian was killed and another died of injuries shortly afterwards.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff