Choloy, France

1955 – 2 (F) Wing – Assorted Sources

Memories of the Bristol Crash - Archie Graham

The Air Force Fire Marshal, Wing Commander Bill MacCallum and I, at that time the Air Division Fire Marshal had just completed an inspection of the four Air Division Wings and Metz. It was then decided that we would visit the Pyrene Company in England which was in the process of building the G-19 Foam Crash Tenders. It had been a busy week so the W/C decided that he would go to London on the Friday evening to get rested up and I would join him Monday for the visit to the plant.

On Saturday morning, 3 December 1955, I proceeded to 2 (F) Wing at Grostenquin France to catch the Bristol Freighter to Langar. The aircraft had to make a stop at 1 (F) Wing Marville to pick up some freight and a couple of passengers. Because of the foggy conditions, the flight crew was making their appraoch into Marville by GCA.

About 5 miles out, contact with the GCA was lost and the aircraft flew into the side of a heavily wooded hill about two miles short of the runway. The Bristol Freighter was ripped apart on contact. The fuel tanks were ruptured spraying gas over a large area and a fire started.

My immediate concern was to get as far away from the crash site as possible. In addition to the crew of four, there had been thirteen passengers on board. Seven passengers died in the crash and four were seriously injured. I was fortunate, I only suffered two broken ribs and a bruised ankle. The flight attendant, LAC J Novak, and I dragged the passengers - some living, some dead several yards away.

The pilot, co-pilot and navigator were some distance away in another part of the wreckage and were only slightly injured, but had trouble walking. Because I was the least injured, it was decided that I should go for help. After a five minute walk, I encountered two Frenchmen cutting wood. They assisted me in getting to the village of Lre-le-Sec and a telephone. I called the Base and requested a crash tender and ambulance, and then directed them to the edge of the woods and the route I had covered. Unfortunately, I never did get to complete the journey to England and spent several weeks recuperating.

I spoke with Archie Graham by telephone on 21 May 2001. He verified the detail mentioned above, and indicated that he had attended the funeral at Choloy for those that died in the crash.

Extracts from the 2 Wing Historical Record

3 December 1955 - Bristol aircraft from Langar departed for 1 (F) Wing shortly after 1100 hours and was reported missing at 1150 hours. No further word received by 1500 hours.

5 December 1955 - Final word on Bristol received during Saturday evening, 3 December with 2 (F) Wing four dead and 1 critical. However, the toll rose to five during the early morning hours of Sunday as the critical died. Dead are F/O BE Patterson, F/O JP Hrenyk, F/O JG Campbell, Cpl. RC Offerdahl and Cpl. Knight from 2 Wing, F/O S Newman from CJS (L), and F/O Pigot of 1 Wing. Funeral arrangements made for Wednesday morning (7 December) in Station Drill Hall for five and in RC Chapel for F/O Newman.

6 December 1955 - Word received F/O Patterson's parent flying from Canada to attend funeral, therefore it has been put back to 8 or 9 December depending on their wishes.

7 December 1954 - Funeral services held at 0915 hours and 0930 hours respectively. Chief of Staff, Air Division attended as representative of AOC.

8 December 1954 - F/O Patterson buried this morning at Choloy. Funeral held up pending arrival of parent. CO away all day at funeral and Air Division.

Extracts from the 1 Wing Historical Narrative