This week it's part 2 of Julie's "Several wrecks and an aeroplane" run from Hayfield. A chance to get out in the sun to explore Kinder Scout and surrounding areas with a focus to find the wrecks of two Sabre aircraft that crashed after colliding with the Kinder Plateau in the mist - details below. We'll be out for about 2 hours or a bit more. Bring sun tan cream, sunglasses and water!
Remnants of one of the Sabres
Park in the Sett Valley Trail car park or anywhere nearby in Hayfield. We'll meet and run from the Trail car park at 9.30. Tea & cakes in one of the Hayfield cafe's afterwards.
If convenient meet at Tucker's for a 8.50 departure, otherwise at The Sett Valley Trail at 9.30.
North American FM.k4 Sabres XD707 and XD730. Kinder Scout and Black Ashop Moor. 22nd July 1954.
Formatting pilots, both killed:-
Flying Officer James Horne, section leader (XD707), Flight Lieutenant Alan Green (XD730).
No 66 Squadron RAF Linton-on-Ouse, nr York was one of the few units equipped with the Canadian Sabres. Most Sabres were based in Germany.
On the 22nd July 1954 four of the squadrons Sabres were recovering back to Linton-on-Ouse. The formation leader split the section into two pairs for the descent. As the formation leader passed 5,000 feet and still in cloud (from 12,000 feet), he transmitted an advisory warning to Flying Officer James Horne, who was leading the second pair, against descending below 3000 feet on their present heading. The foursome had already noted that Horne's radio was weak at times, and it is presumed that he may have not heeded the warning.
Nothing more was heard of him or his number two - Green, until 3 days later when a walker came upon a body on The Edge, Kinder Scout. Bad weather had hampered the search.
Nobody will know what made Horne take his number two that low. A scenario would be a "suckers" gap - a beckoning clearance that closes in around you. The court of inquiry found Horne had failed to observe the area safety height. No blame was put on Green.
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