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By: - 27th December 2007 at 14:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
You would presumably have this information, welcome to the Forum and best wishes for you search!:)
Friday, 4 February 1972
Beacon Hill, Woodeyes, Loughborough, air crash
HODSON, Robert J, Marine, RM 22599
SEYMOUR, Peter B, Lieutenant
By: - 27th December 2007 at 14:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Helicopter crash Beacon Hill
Thank you. I do have the info you have given but I am grateful for your input. I have no other info at all except that the two young men were new pilots and the flight was, I understand to give them further logged flying hours. It happened a long time ago but I have kept my diary from the time and feel I would now like to know more.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 14:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The serial is XT106 "R" of the 3 Commando Brigade,Plymouth,Devon. Hope this helps.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 15:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Helicopter crash Beacon Hill
Thank you T-21. This is just the sort of info I am looking for. The aircraft was from Coypool, Plymouth. I appreciate the effort everyone is putting in for me. It means a lot.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 15:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The serial is XT106 "R" of the 3 Commando Brigade,Plymouth,Devon. Hope this helps.
Yes, that is a Sioux AH1, c/n 1569.
And here are photos of type.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 15:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Helicopter crash Beacon Hill
Thank you Newforest. I am amazed that for 35 years I have been looking for this sort of detail. I am not inexperienced in aviation research but am stuck in WW2 with fixed wing a/c. Within a couple of hours I am getting good useful facts. It was a particularly nasty accident, I suppose they all are but the need to know has always been important.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 16:14 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hi All
It's actualy "Beacon Hill, Woodhouse Eaves", Leicestershire.
If you find Woodhouse Eaves on Google earth, follow Beacon Road west from the village, it climbs past and to the south of Beacon Hill, which is a public country park. You will come to a cross roads with Benscliffe Road.
The crash happened to the south of Beacon road and the east of Benscliffe road, at the highest point, which is a ridge which runs approx NNW / SSE from Beacon Hill. You will be able to make out a carpark at the western end of Beacon Hill, the crash occurred a few hundred yards SSE of this across the other side of Beacon Road.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Ritch Blood.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 20:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Hello
The cause of the crash was; the aircraft hit some trees and crashed after the pilot became disorientated in fog in high ground. The location is exactly as stated.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 21:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Helicopter crash beacon hill
Thank you Ritch and Max and Mick B. So much detail in so little time. I hope I can return the favour someday. Does anyone know if I might find local newspaper reports either online or in a newspaper archive in the area? Keep this forum going it is so helpful to all of us.
By: - 27th December 2007 at 22:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I tried a local area newspaper search online, but I couldn't go back that far. I think you would need to do a physical search at the newspaper offices or the local library.
By: - 28th December 2007 at 10:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
News papers in the area.
Hi Annek
The two local newspapers to contact would be the Loughborough Echo and the Leicester Mercury, both still exist and have offices in the named towns.
Just a thought, there is an Army base at Woodhouse Eaves, it was called Garrats Hay, but has recently been re named and become an Army college. could the helicopter have been visiting there? the crash site is about 1 1/2 - 2 miles west of the base.
Keep digging.
Ritch Blood.
By: - 28th December 2007 at 10:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Helicopter crash Beacon Hill
Hi Ritch and Max
The helicopter was returning to Coypool Plymouth from 'up country' where the two crew had attended a colleagues funeral. I understand the flight was a means of logging hours.
I do not know which of the crew was the pilot at the time. Both were new pilots.
By: - 28th December 2007 at 10:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
If the ranks are as stated, then it is more than likely that the pilot would have been Lt Seymour, as the minimum rank for a pilot in Army and RM aircraft at the time of the loss was Sergeant.
However, if Marine Hodson had only recently completed the Army Pilots Course (both Army and RM aircrew were trained together at Middle Wallop) he may have been waiting for his substansive rank of Sergeant to be confirmed, although it is more probable that Mne Hodson was either a passenger, or being trained within his unit.
I went through the APC with a Bootie; if you give me a couple of days I'll get hold of him and see if he can find some info from the 3CBAS/847 Sqn archives.
By: - 28th December 2007 at 11:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Helicopter crash Beacon Hill
Hi WG-13
Thank you for your help. I would be glad for any further info you can give. I also thought Mne H's rank was more likely to be Sgt but could'nt find a source for 1972. Wartime stuff is not so hard to get and more modern is still in many people's memories.
I am grateful for your interest.
Anne
By: - 28th December 2007 at 14:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Please contact me!
Hi Annek
If you could send me an E-mail address, I have been out Woodhouse way this afternoon, and have a couple of contact addresses for local farms and I took a photo of the general area I can send if you wish.
Ritch Blood.
Posts: 91
By: Annek - 27th December 2007 at 14:28
Such a lot of info on this site. Is there someone out there who can provide some details of a Sioux [I believe] helicopter crash on Beacon Hill Woodeyes Loughborough on 4 February 1972? I knew one of the two Marines on board but have never been able to get more than basic info from RN.