It began with an article I read in the August 2000 number of Fly Past Magazine. The world's last airworthy de Havilland Sea Vixen, XP 924, now privately owned, had been ferried from Swansea to Bournemouth in preparation eventually to join the air show circuit. The Sea Vixen was the last of the de Havilland fighters - a supersonic aircraft designed in the '50's and retired from the Fleet Air Arm in the '70's.
Knowing that Ian Argyle had flown on many missions as observer in Sea Vixens during his service with the Royal Navy in the '60's, I borrowed his log books and found that he had crewed in XP 924 on several occasions.
I thought that if I could make contact with Mr Gwyn Jones, the owner of this aircraft, it might be possible to arrange some sort of fly-by over Aldro during the Summer term as a farewell surprise for Ian!
Gwyn Jones runs a company called De Havilland Aviation (DHA), his aircraft being based at Hurn (Bournemouth International Airport). I found out that DHA were booked to take part in the 39th Biggin Hill International Air Fair on 2/3 June and I reckoned that the flight path from Bournemouth to Biggin Hill passed close to Shackleford - so, rather with tongue in cheek, I rang Bournemouth. I spoke with the Aviation Museum's Curator and he told me that on that very day, 16 February, not only was Gwyn Jones due to arrive from his home in South Wales, but also XP 924 was about to take-off on the first of its CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) test flights: quite a coincidence! Two hours later Mr Jones rang me up and I explained "the situation". He seemed interested and asked me to send him a fax with all the relevant details. I duly did this the next day.
Well, the weeks rolled by - and no news! In the meantime I had told Jo Argyle and the secretarial staff at Aldro about my "project", in case they received any communication from DHA, and all were sworn to secrecy as far as Ian was concerned!
Nothing from DHA had been received by the start of the Summer term, so I wrote a personal letter to Gwyn Jones - "hoping he had got our fax" etc.! Still nothing. In some desperation I rang DHA at Bournemouth and spoke to their Chief Engineer, Jim Goodwin. He was most helpful. He confirmed that all three of the company's aircraft would be at the Air Fair on 2 June and asked me to fax him the details I had previously sent to his boss. So off went another fax.
Now things began to happen. Firstly, Gwyn Jones rang Aldro - his aircraft would be over-flying the School at about 09.30 hrs. on 2 June en route to Biggin Hill, weather and traffic control permitting! I then rang Jim Goodwin to give him Jo's personal telephone number in case of any last minute change of flight time.
I am a regular Air Fair visitor and got to the airport very early on 2 June. Jim Maitland, the organiser, had very kindly arranged for me to have a Press Pass; so, despite some very poor weather, I was in my element! My morale was somewhat lowered when we were informed by the Press Officer that the DHA flight was weather-bound down in Dorset! Luckily, the weather relented later and the flight arrived at Biggin Hill just before noon. The three aircraft, led by XP 924 and followed by a de Havilland Vampire and de Havilland Venom, approached to land - but the Venom, number three to land, had a major problem and touched down wheels-up. Fortunately the pilot was unharmed and the aircraft was not badly damaged - but it did block the runway for nearly three hours! I introduced myself to Gwyn Jones as he went to greet the aircrew of the Sea Vixen and the Vampire; but, under the circumstances, didn't ask if they had managed an Aldro fly-past.
Eventually, the Venom was cleared from the runway and the main part of the flying display got underway. The DHA item filled the last slot on the programme and the thousands of air show enthusiasts waited with bated breath - after all, no Sea Vixen had been seen flying at an air show for nearly thirty years! Dan Griffith, a senior CAA test pilot, led the flight in XP 924 with Air Marshall Sir Kenneth Hays and Mr Jonathan Kerr following in the Vampire. Their display was superb; but, towards the end of their show the Vampire suddenly spiralled down from a low-level right-hand turn and crashed to the north of the airfield, both crew members being killed instantly. The Sea Vixen landed back and a very subdued crowd gradually dispersed. Eventually the public exits were opened, and I got home at about 9.30pm. I telephoned the Argyles and was told that the DHA flight had, as promised, flown over the School during Break and that Jo and Ian as well as many of the staff and boys had seen the aircraft and realised the significance of the occasion.
Biggin Hill's Air Fair was to suffer a further tragedy on the Sunday when a Bell Kingcobra Second World War fighter based at Duxford, crashed, killing the pilot. Only once before had the Air Fair suffered a fatal crash, and that was in 1980 when a Douglas Invader failed to recover from a low-level manoeuvre. It should be noted that no member of the public has ever been injured at an air show at this famous Battle of Britain airfield.
After a suitable time, I wrote letters to Gwyn Jones, Dan Griffith and Jim Maitland expressing my deep sorrow and that of all at Aldro, and added my heart-felt thanks to the DHA staff for all the trouble they had taken regarding the Aldro fly-past.
All in all a sad ending to an otherwise memorable event.
Footnote: It may be of interest to aircraft "buffs" to know that IMA also flew in two other Sea Vixen aircraft which can be seen as static exhibits: XS 576 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford - and XJ 565 at the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, London Colney.
Barry Gardiner