THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE - The Sea Hawks and Chanctonbury

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

THE MYSTERIOUS SEA HAWKS AND CHANCTONBURY - 3rd August 1956

I am always learning something new just when I think I have come to the end of unravelling Findon's history. Christopher Phillips an ex-Worthingite and now in Spain, emailed me to say ....."As a matter of local interest; I have recently finished re-reading 'As I
Walked Out One Midsummer Morning', Laurie Lee, (Cider With Rosie). Apparently he must have hiked through Findon in the third week of June 1934, he recounts sleeping on Chanctonbury Ring, and also earning thirty-eight shillings busking with his violin in Worthing.

It was not until the Spring of 2006 that I heard about the Sea Hawks from Lossiemouth, and the tragedy over Chanctonbury Ring. Why had no one told me of this accident before? I felt quite peeved.

The local downland dips and rises to its highest point as it approaches Chanctonbury Ring....

29th March 2006

Dear Valerie,

Plane Crash

In the mid fifties 2 Sea Hawk jets were making their approach to Ford Naval Air Station from Lossiemouth. 600 miles and 10 to go.

Unfortunately the Downs were covered in sea mist - the young pilots would have been making their "finals" on instruments - the altimeter is no more than a pressure gauge - and has to be reset to local air pressure for an indication of height above sea level.

First aircraft hit the turf just south west of Chanctonbury Ring and disintegrated, the second bounced off and stayed flying. Subsequent landing must have been a bit dramatic.

Emergencies services cleaned the wreckage but it was some days before a "Queen Mary" retrieval lorry could be got to the site to get the bulk of it away.

Meanwhile of course the Findon lads had a field day - must be many bits in attics around the village. Constable Griffen could not be everywhere. Time for an amnesty?

Regards John

John C. Greves, Walton on Thames, Surrey.

The Sea Hawk was the first jet aircraft from the Hawker stable in 1953 and a very worthy successor to the various Second World War fighter designs such as the Hurricane, Tempest and Fury.

The Sea Hawk was very nearly stillborn. The aircraft was rescued at the eleventh hour by interest from the Royal Navy and is now remembered with some fondness by the aviators who flew this "friendly little jet".

The Fleet Air Arm was at nearby Ford — where these two unfortunate Sea Hawks over Chanctonbury Ring were heading.

The official record reads thus:

"804 Sqdn Lossiemouth ('171/O') Hit high ground close to Chanctonbury Ring, Sussex Downs, during GCA control when 12m from Ford on final approach in low cloud. Cat ZZ 28.7.56. (Lt PG Flower killed); SOC 3.8.56"

29th March 2006

Aircraft Crash Location

Crash was on the left side of the track coming up from North End not far from the trig point say 400 yards short of the trees.

Very unlucky - 5 foot higher and they would have made it clear - until perhaps Church Hill!

A few yards to his left and Chanctonbury Ring would have needed replanting.

Regards John

John C. Greves, Walton on Thames, Surrey.

I asked if anyone else remembered this Hawker Sea Hawk accident..... I know many were living in this area at the time. I had began what seemed like a never ending puzzle and a long and complicated saga.

30th March 2006

Valerie

The crash may have been in August 1956.

My german penfriend was staying with us at that time and I vaguely remember hearing about a plane crashing near Chanctonbury ring.

We wandered up there one evening , got lost in a mist and found nothing.

Pam.

Pam Stepney, Findon Village, West Sussex.

31st March 2006

Sea Hawk

August 1956 would be the right time. I was in the Royal Navy doing my National Service, and was demobbed in September 1956.

I went to work on North Farm while waiting to join the Police, and I was shown the scar in the ground where the accident had happened.

I was familiar with the Sea Hawk because whilst in the Navy I served on HMS Bulwark which at that time was flying Sea Hawks.

I have a few photographs in the house somewhere and have been trying to find them, so far without success.

Roger Moulds

Roger Moulds, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Wales.

John Linfield who now lives in Horsham says "I walked up to the plane crash near Chanctonbury, the day after it happened.    I was only 8, & went with some bigger boys.

The scene had hardly been touched, and no guard, like there would be now.

I had a piece of the fuselage I picked up, but think I must have lost it over the years."

John Greves in Walton on Thames wrote again .... "Lots of lead battery plates scattered about - might still find some gridded fragments close to the track - GPS 50/53/45.13N by 0/23/21.11W - last field on the left next to the gates for traditional folk. Many pyrites nodules on that track - used to think they were meteorites".

John added a bit later..... "Sea Hawk ....... crashed a few yards to the left of the camera in your photo of RP's horses ...... close to the dewpond.

Continue if you would like to read From Ring to Ring — and Back Again.

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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com