Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 6, 2022 16:56:52 GMT 12
In the current episode of The Wings Over New Zealand Show featuring Vampire pilot Tommy Thompson, he talks about the aerial collision he had with Ron Nairn forcing the two pilots to bale out of their Vampires over Mangere, Auckland. Here is some more context, with a NZPA news article and two photos of wreckage from the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
TWO JET PLANES COLLIDE
PILOTS PARACHUTE TO GROUND
CRASH AT MANGERE
(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 22.
Two Vampire jet fighters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force collided in formation flying over Mangere today and crashed. The pilots of both aircraft baled out in parachutes. They landed on the shore of Manukau Harbour, arid are reported to have superficial injuries.
The pilots are Flight Lieutenant R. C. Nairn, A.F.C., D.F.M., and Sergeant-Pilot G. E. Thompson. They are members of No. 15 (Fighter) Squadron [sic, should read 14], R.N.Z.A.F., Ohakea. The fighters were part of a formation of five Vampires' flying from Ohakea to Whenuapai for to-morrow’s Air Force Day' display. The formation left Ohakea at 10.26 a.m.
When flying at about 4000 ft, at high speed, in tight formation, over the north of the Manukau Harbour, the wing tips of two aircraft touched. The two aircraft became out of control, and, after the pilots had baled out, the aeroplanes crashed and exploded.
Wing Commander J. M. Checketts. D.S.O., D.F.C., who was the leader of the formation, called Flying Control at Whenuapai by radio-telephone, and gave brief details of the crash. An Air Force crash party left Whenuapai for Mangere within a few minutes of receiving the news.
The aircraft crashed near the end of a blind road which leaves the main road to Mangere airfield. They burnt for half an hour after crashing.
Mr Bruce Kirkbride, who farms with his brother, Mr Gordan Kirkbride, at Ihumatao watched the formation of aircraft approaching from the south. “The second and third aeroplanes just seemed to tip,” he said. “One blew up almost immediately; the other came down quite a long way before the pilot (Flight Lieutenant Nairn) emerged. I was amazed to see him come out among the flames.”
Mr Kirkbride ran to Sergeant Pilot Thompson, who staggered a few paces towards him and fell. Mr Gordon Kirkbride and Mr Michael Niven, a veterinary surgeon, dashed from the cowshed across the field in Mr Niven’s station waggon and took Sergeant Thompson to the farmhouse. Flight Lieutenant Nairn, who landed in a mudflat bordering the farm, was able to walk to the house. Both pilots are patients in the Middlemore Hospital.
PRESS, 23 FEBRUARY 1952
Hear about this and much more from Tommy Thompson here:
cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2022/11/wonz-263-vampire-month-tommy-thompson/
Tommy's Vampire
WhG3182-52: Engine wreckage of a No. 14 Squadron Vampire on farmland near Mangere airfield, after it collided with another Vampire during a formation exercise. Both aircraft were destroyed but both pilots baled out and survived.
NZ5725 was flown by Flight Lieutenant RCC Nairn.
NZ5729 was flown by Flight Sergeant GE Thompson.
Ron Nairn's Vampire
WhG3179-52: Tail boom of No. 14 Squadron Vampire NZ5725 in the tidal mud flats near Mangere airfield, after it collided with Vampire NZ5729 during a formation exercise. Both aircraft were destroyed but both pilots baled out and survived.
NZ5725 was flown by Flight Lieutenant RCC Nairn.
NZ5729 was flown by Flight Sergeant GE Thompson.
TWO JET PLANES COLLIDE
PILOTS PARACHUTE TO GROUND
CRASH AT MANGERE
(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 22.
Two Vampire jet fighters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force collided in formation flying over Mangere today and crashed. The pilots of both aircraft baled out in parachutes. They landed on the shore of Manukau Harbour, arid are reported to have superficial injuries.
The pilots are Flight Lieutenant R. C. Nairn, A.F.C., D.F.M., and Sergeant-Pilot G. E. Thompson. They are members of No. 15 (Fighter) Squadron [sic, should read 14], R.N.Z.A.F., Ohakea. The fighters were part of a formation of five Vampires' flying from Ohakea to Whenuapai for to-morrow’s Air Force Day' display. The formation left Ohakea at 10.26 a.m.
When flying at about 4000 ft, at high speed, in tight formation, over the north of the Manukau Harbour, the wing tips of two aircraft touched. The two aircraft became out of control, and, after the pilots had baled out, the aeroplanes crashed and exploded.
Wing Commander J. M. Checketts. D.S.O., D.F.C., who was the leader of the formation, called Flying Control at Whenuapai by radio-telephone, and gave brief details of the crash. An Air Force crash party left Whenuapai for Mangere within a few minutes of receiving the news.
The aircraft crashed near the end of a blind road which leaves the main road to Mangere airfield. They burnt for half an hour after crashing.
Mr Bruce Kirkbride, who farms with his brother, Mr Gordan Kirkbride, at Ihumatao watched the formation of aircraft approaching from the south. “The second and third aeroplanes just seemed to tip,” he said. “One blew up almost immediately; the other came down quite a long way before the pilot (Flight Lieutenant Nairn) emerged. I was amazed to see him come out among the flames.”
Mr Kirkbride ran to Sergeant Pilot Thompson, who staggered a few paces towards him and fell. Mr Gordon Kirkbride and Mr Michael Niven, a veterinary surgeon, dashed from the cowshed across the field in Mr Niven’s station waggon and took Sergeant Thompson to the farmhouse. Flight Lieutenant Nairn, who landed in a mudflat bordering the farm, was able to walk to the house. Both pilots are patients in the Middlemore Hospital.
PRESS, 23 FEBRUARY 1952
Hear about this and much more from Tommy Thompson here:
cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2022/11/wonz-263-vampire-month-tommy-thompson/
Tommy's Vampire
WhG3182-52: Engine wreckage of a No. 14 Squadron Vampire on farmland near Mangere airfield, after it collided with another Vampire during a formation exercise. Both aircraft were destroyed but both pilots baled out and survived.
NZ5725 was flown by Flight Lieutenant RCC Nairn.
NZ5729 was flown by Flight Sergeant GE Thompson.
Ron Nairn's Vampire
WhG3179-52: Tail boom of No. 14 Squadron Vampire NZ5725 in the tidal mud flats near Mangere airfield, after it collided with Vampire NZ5729 during a formation exercise. Both aircraft were destroyed but both pilots baled out and survived.
NZ5725 was flown by Flight Lieutenant RCC Nairn.
NZ5729 was flown by Flight Sergeant GE Thompson.
