Operation CHIKARA
RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, England 6 March 1980 Officer-in-Charge = Captain Barrett Resources Section Commander = Corporal Webb MT Section Commander = Corporal Piper |
A detachment from the Squadron deployed to RAF CONINGSBY in Lincolnshire during March 1980 to react to its first crashed aircraft recovery task.
At about 2300 hrs on 5th Mar 1980 a Phantom FGR2 aircraft from 29 Sqn RAF based at RAF CONNINGSBY in Lincolnshire experienced difficulties at high altitude when the pilot caused a hydraulic failure which rendered the flaps inoperative. Upon landing, the aircraft should have been brought to a standstill through use of the Rotary Hydraulic Arrestor Gear (RHAG) However, unfortunately the aircraft only clipped the wire of the RHAG, and then crashed into a barley field beyond the runway. Both the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Andy C. Cairncross and the navigator Flight Lieutenant Nig B. Randall ejected successfully as the aircraft left the runway.
Capt Barrett was tasked to reconnoitre the Royal Engineer assistance required. Cpls Webb from Resources Troop and Cpl Piper from Motor Transport Troop with 7 other sappers of the Motor Transport Troop laid 10 rolls of Class 30 trackway. This enabled a crane to drive into the field to lift the aircraft onto a transporter, and the transporter to carry the aircraft away. LCpl Beveridge and Spr Roberts from Plant Troop were present in the recovery operations. A Muirhill was used to support the aft of the aircraft which was tail heavy. The recovery operation saw a combined effort by all departments of the Squadron.
At about 2300 hrs on 5th Mar 1980 a Phantom FGR2 aircraft from 29 Sqn RAF based at RAF CONNINGSBY in Lincolnshire experienced difficulties at high altitude when the pilot caused a hydraulic failure which rendered the flaps inoperative. Upon landing, the aircraft should have been brought to a standstill through use of the Rotary Hydraulic Arrestor Gear (RHAG) However, unfortunately the aircraft only clipped the wire of the RHAG, and then crashed into a barley field beyond the runway. Both the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Andy C. Cairncross and the navigator Flight Lieutenant Nig B. Randall ejected successfully as the aircraft left the runway.
Capt Barrett was tasked to reconnoitre the Royal Engineer assistance required. Cpls Webb from Resources Troop and Cpl Piper from Motor Transport Troop with 7 other sappers of the Motor Transport Troop laid 10 rolls of Class 30 trackway. This enabled a crane to drive into the field to lift the aircraft onto a transporter, and the transporter to carry the aircraft away. LCpl Beveridge and Spr Roberts from Plant Troop were present in the recovery operations. A Muirhill was used to support the aft of the aircraft which was tail heavy. The recovery operation saw a combined effort by all departments of the Squadron.
References:
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1995/nov/28/military-air-crashes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeroventure/5940753270/in/photostream/
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201601.html
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/F-4_Phantom_RAF.htm
http://www.ukserials.com/pdflosses/maas_19800305_xv436.pdf
http://www.projectoceanvision.com/vox-05.htm
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1995/nov/28/military-air-crashes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeroventure/5940753270/in/photostream/
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201601.html
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/F-4_Phantom_RAF.htm
http://www.ukserials.com/pdflosses/maas_19800305_xv436.pdf
http://www.projectoceanvision.com/vox-05.htm
