On the 22nd February 1953 the pilot of this aircraft was flying as part of a formation, the pilot was flying as number two to the formation leader and the aircraft climbed to 25,000 feet. This aircraft was seen to lag behind and be flying a thousand feet below his leader. The formation then made a 180' turn to port but this aircraft did not follow the formation and went missing. At 11.42hrs the aircraft was seen to a near verticle dive descending at high speed. It crashed into woodland near Markington killing the pilot instantly. Given the facts prior to the crash it was assumed the pilot had suffered from anoxia and had passed out well before impact with the ground. The aircraft reached such a high speed in the dive that it passed through the sound barrier, causing a sonic bang in the area.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Rodgers RAF(Aux) (2688634), aged 29, of Urmston, Manchester. Cremated Manchester Southern Cemetery.
I was contacted by the son of Sgt Rodger and began some research into this incident to try and help him learn more about why his father lost his life. He was born in Oldham on 14th January 1924. At the outset of this correspondance the location of where this aircraft crashed was unknown by both of us but after some contact with other air historians, one of which, Andy Hunter had found the site some years previously during the course of his day job.
I visited the site in June 2005. The large crater is now filled with fallen timber, possibly put there after the crash to fill in the crater.
A small peice of the aircraft's engine.