Navy’s best pilot killed in Harrier training crashBy Edmund Conway
Dec. 6, 2002A pilot considered the most distinguished and experienced in the Royal Navy was killed yesterday when his Harrier crashed during a routine training mission.
Lt Cdr Martin London, who trained more than half the current Sea Harrier pilots, was instructing another Fleet Air Arm pilot when their two-seater T8 Sea Harrier went out of control shortly after take-off at RAF Wittering, in Cambridgeshire.
Both pilots ejected, but Lt Cdr London was fatally injured.
Known as Jack throughout the service, Lt Cdr London, 43, a father of one from Somerset, had flown more than 5,000 hours, and had seen operational service in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Yugoslavia.
In 1998 he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air when he landed his Harrier on board the aircraft carrier Illustrious in the Gulf of Aden after the canopy had blown off at high altitude. “Rather than ejecting, which most would have done in that situation, he demonstrated remarkable bravery and control in landing the aircraft,” said a Navy spokesman.
Lt Cdr London likened the experience, recounted recently in the BBC television show 999, to “driving an open-top sports car at 300mph”.
Squadron Leader Tony Walsh, speaking from RAF Wittering yesterday, said an investigation would be launched into the crash on the short take-off and landing strip.
The other pilot had been taken to hospital in Nottingham, but was not seriously hurt. “He was being trained to use the T8 Sea Harrier and had already been trained on other aircraft.”
The pilots were on detachment from RNAS Yeovilton because of poor weather and a lack of available runways. Cdr Tim Eastaugh, one of Lt Cdr London’s commanding officers in Yeovilton, said he had received an MBE for his services to fixed-wing aviation in the Navy and was an inspiration to all those with whom he served. “He was a legend. He was a character, larger than life and extremely humorous, but totally unselfish. He was always last to leave and totally dependable.
“With Jack, aviation was a way of life. He wouldn’t have felt complete without it. His father Peter served in the Fleet Air Arm and it was what he always wanted to do.
“His feats were amazing - his flying, his dedication and his hard work.”
The accident is the second this year to befall a Harrier from RAF Wittering.
In August an RAF GR7 Harrier was lost in the sea during an air show. The pilot safely ejected from the plane, which suffered engine failure.
In December 1998 Gp Capt David Haward died when his GR7 Harrier crashed during a barrel roll days after he was named base commander.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.
Walt
Wow! I had to re-read that line.