Short conversation with Norman Didwell 4

Short conversation with Norman Didwell 4

Norman discusses accident involving 99 Squadron Wellington which had an engine failure after take off and crashed into a barn.

00:00:52 audio recording

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SBondS-DidwellNv10011

Norman Didwell, 4th of July talking about the overshooting accident at Mildenhall to a 99 Squadron Wimpy. Engine failure immediately after take-off. Hadn’t even got the wheels up. Hit the roof of a barn which slewed it around, came down and slid sideways across the road at Beck Row. If it had gone straight on instead of sideways it would have hit the houses. It was just taking off on endurance tests. It had a full load of seven hundred and sixty gallons of petrol and, ‘Boy, it didn’t half burn,’ said Norman. A lady came running out of the house screaming, ‘Where are my children?’ They were safe sitting on the wall some way up the road.