Remembering six young lives lost in helicoptor crash...
Two remembrance services planned for 60th anniversary
SIXTY years ago, on April 26, 1962, an RAF Belvedere helicopter lifted the spire and its sculpture onto the roof of the newly built Coventry Cathedral.
Wing Commander John Dowling piloted the aircraft, designated XG465, on a bright Spring morning. Assisting him were Co-pilot, Flight Lieutenant R Salt and crewman, Flight Lieutenant J H Martin.
Making headline national news, the event marked the introduction of the Belvedere into service with the RAF Helicopter Support squadron. It was the first of the new generation of twin rotor blade heavy lift helicopters.
Sadly, three months later on July 30, XG465 crashed while on a NATO deployment in West Germany.
This tragedy cost the lives of six young RAF aviators including the brother of Leek town councillor, Mike Ottewell.
At the time, there was a high state of readiness in Europe because of political tension with the Soviet Union. These were the months leading up to the Cuban Missile
Crisis. XG465, together with two other Belvederes, and several Westland Whirlwind helicopters, were on operational service supporting army ground forces.
The exercises were a success, demonstrating the effectiveness of helicopter support for lifting and moving various stores and weapon systems around the battlefield. Another first was using the Belvedere’s capability to recover one of the Whirlwind helicopters that had been damaged in a forced landing. Unfortunately, the success of this mission was overshadowed when XG465 crashed shortly after take-off for the return flight to its base at RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
On board this fateful flight were pilots Squadron Leader Bryan Watson (30) and Flight Lieutenant Colin Ross (29); two support technicians Roy Mitchell (26) and Dennis Ottewell (23) and by a cruel twist of irony, the two pilots of the damaged Whirlwind; John Brundle (22) and Colin Crocker (29).
So, as Coventry celebrates the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of its Cathedral, the RAF station at Odiham, together with veterans and family will also be marking the 60th anniversary of the loss of six young lives aboard the Belvedere XG465.
Two remembrance services are planned: the first is at the National Memorial Arboretum Staffordshire on Wednesday, July 27, organised by the Leek Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.
A private service will also be held at the Memorial Garden of the RAF’S Helicopter Support base in Odiham, Hampshire. Family members and service veterans who worked on or flew with the RAF Belvedere will be attending both services.
Mr Ottewell, who is Dennis’s younger brother, said: “Efforts to contact surviving relatives have so far accounted for four of the six crew members.
“We are still searching for relatives of Colin Crocker and Bryan Watson. If anyone can help, please contact us through our website www.rafbelvederexg465. info
“A fundraising appeal has also been launched to fund an Air Cadets award for excellence in craft and modelling skills. The money raised will be donated to a local air cadets unit for use at the discretion of its Civilian Management Committee. Initially the scheme will be administered by the Leek Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.”
Efforts to contact surviving relatives have so far accounted for four of six crew members
Mike Ottewell