Canberra Crashes, Near Laverton

[Warhawk]

Hi Ho,

Does any person have the USAF Serial of this WB-57 that crashed after take-off from the east west airstrip at Laverton RAAF on the 17/06/62 following an Public Ppen day, on the day before? Perhaps there's a photo of it in static display?

Crew that died were Captain P Palmer and Captain J Irvine both of the 57th Weather Squadron, USAF. They were returned by C-124 Globemaster II 19/06/62.


Oh , this wasn't the last one to crash. Another WB-57 went into the sea later that year on the 16/10/62 some two miles off Aireys Inlet, Victoria, killing its crew of two; Lieutenant G Sprague (Pilot)and Lieutenant J Gelbrecht (Nav) both again of the 57th Weather Squadron, USAF.

Was this wreck recovered?

Thanks
Gordy

[pgh]

Warhawk

There are two s/n's that may be the answer to your request;

WB-57B s/n 52-1496, &
WB-57C s/n 53-3826
It is reported in http://www.derwentshore.com/B-57_Down.htm


Hope this may be what your looking for

PGH

[Warhawk]

Thanks PGH

Appreciated

[Rod Farquhar]

Gordy, I went to one of those open days at Laverton but it was either late 62 or early 63, definitely warm weather, can't imagine having an open day in June.
The WB-57s used to operate out of Sale along with the U-2s but they all moved to Laverton early60s, 4WB-57s and 1or2 U-2s.
In 1966 the W/RB-57Fs (2of) came back to Sale.
Here is a pic of one of the WB-57 on display at Laverton, not the one you are after though because of the date.
Rod.

Attached Image

[Warhawk]

Thanks Rod, though 53-3827 is a sister ship to #53-3826 (Update, maybe my intep is wrong!)

May have to dig a little as there could have been between 4 or 6 of them there

Much appreciated

Best
Gordy

[Rod Farquhar]

Gordy, had another rummage through the files and came up with this B&W pic of 4x WB-57s at Sale around late 1961.
Rod.

Attached Image

[Rod Farquhar]

And just for interest this pair of R/WB-57Fs in 1966

Attached Image

[Demon50]

Amazing stuff !

I grew up in Melbourne during the 1960s but never had a clue that USAF aircraft operated from Laverton or Sale, let alone some being lost nearby. It's only in recent years that I've become aware of the activity.

I heard whispers about the "secret" airfield at Avalon in the early 60s but not much else until 1967 when the "Sun" published photos of Mirages arriving from Williamtown. As a teenager I didn't have the resources to venture any further than Moorabbin.

I attended my first real airshow at Laverton in 1967 when a friendsd older brother drove us there.

[Warhawk]

RB-57F 63-13288 and 289

Per Joe's Page

Serials of General Dynamics RB-57F:
63-13286/13302 Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F-CF
Rebuilds of existing B-57A, B, and D.
63-13500/13503 Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F
Remanufactured from existing RB-57Ds. all
later redesignated WB-57F.

Best
Gordy (Outstanding stuff Guys, and thanks)

[Luig]

Demon 50,
There was nothing much at Avalon in July 1969 when I flew an RAN Sea Venom (with RAN Vampires) there to do some Fleet Support work in Port Phillip Bay (with probably a River Class Destroyer). Usually the RAN did FSUP from RAAF Laverton but the short runway was a hazard for Vampires with full drop tanks and/or Sea Venoms. Avalon had a much longer, but very rough surfaced runway.

When doing flying training earlier at RAAF Point Cook in early 1968 we were told that Avalon was used by Qantas pilots in 707s for circuit practice touch and gos. While there in Venom I saw my first 747 parked on the concrete. It was HUGE! :-)

At that time there was no ATC at Avalon, our aircraft reported to Laverton tower.
Phil.

[Demon50]

Hi Phil

Thanks for your reply and comments about the short runway at Laverton being a hazard for Vampires and Sea Venoms.

I remember that a Vampire or Sea Venom crashed at Laverton in 1967 (?) with two fatalities but I don't know if the short runway was a contributing factor.

Cheers

Bob

[Luig]

From this website:
N6-837 4105 T.34 T34A Delivered 1954. Originally A79-837. Coded 927, 956 or 960 between 1954-58. Coded 805 between 1963-68. Noted in Navy service still wearing A79-837. Crashed 11/10/67 Laverton Vic. Killed were the Pilot Sub Lt Lynch and passenger. Noel Fenton adds "Crashed at Laverton in October 1967. The cause of the crash was the failure of the engine main thrust bearing at a critical time during takeoff. The aircraft continued beyond the runway end into the over-run. Unfortunately, it hit the railway embankment which demolished the nose of the aircraft and caused damage to one of the two full drop tanks. Burning fuel sprayed over the two crew and they died from major burns. The non-pilot (a Pilot Officer just graduated from Melbourne University) was an Engineering Officer attached to ARDU and had been posted to Point Cook for his Pilots Course a day or so earlier."
____________________________________
In photo below Mick Lynch is shown standing on the right. From my memory of Laverton usually we liked to take off South towards the railway/highway. However lack of wind on a hot day made a full drop tank takeoff marginal. Without fuel in drop tanks no problem. To the north there was much more housing buildup as I recall. I guess on hot northerly wind days then takeoffs would have to proceed to the north. If taking off south we needed to jink to the east to avoid Point Cook and run out to Port Phillip Bay in the exercise area south of Port Melbourne.

This post has been edited by Luig on Sep 16 2007, 01:07 PM

Attached Image

[gph]

Rumour has it that the USAF B57 crashed at LAV while attempting a barrel roll after takeoff. Another victim of "Airshow Exuberance".

I once owned the 200ft/90kts Martin Baker Mk3 seat that came out of tthe stbd side of A79-837, replaced by a 0ft/90kts seat just before she crashed. It came complete with gun, drogues etc and being just that bit crazy I fitted it to a swivel base, the idea being that you could get as pissed as a fart watching the footy while strapped into the seat and never fall over. It was surprisingly comfortable after a few beers. My good mate Barry Evans baby sat it for a while when we were at Nowra and quite a few folks "punched out" while enjoying the legendary Evans hospitality.

Eventually some years later, my dear wife decided that it didn't really suit our decore and convinced me that it should go to 21 Sqn who were looking for seat bits for their Vampire restoration. I'm not sure, but it may have flown again in the rebuild of A79-636. There are two pics of the bang seat on the gallery pics for A79-837.

Ah yes the good old days!

GPH :)