Jaguar GR.1 XX972 near Startforth.
In the days prior to this accident there was a multi-national low flying training exercise held over the UK named "Osex-4". Aircraft from America and Denmark took part alongside the RAF. Several Jaguars from 31 Squadron, normally based at Bruggen, West Germany took part and flew over from their base to Lossiemouth where they were detatched for the period. Thursday, 6th August 1981 was to have been the final day of the exercise. At around 09.00hrs four Jaguars from 31 Squadron took off from Lossiemouth. Twenty minutes later they were flying over Northern England at low level with Jaguar XX972 flying at No.4 in a formation. When they flew into low cloud this caused the aircraft to climb and at around the same time the formation leader's radio failed so the No.2 pilot assumed control of the formation. Owing to the weather, the formation split into individual aircraft and they decided to turn around and fly back into clearer skies. At 09.30hrs Jaguar XX972 made a tight 180' turn to fly back north and as a result flew over Bowes heading toward Barnard Castle. The aircraft continued to lose height and it initially struck the ground in a field near Smartgill Farm. It then climbed to 200 feet and broke up, disintergrating over a number of fields to the north of the A67 road and behind the Streethead Farm and Startforth Grange. The pilot stayed with the aircraft and did not initiate ejection, he was killed in the crash. A memorial plaque to the memory of this pilot was later dedicated at Barnard Castle. The cause of the crash was not fully determined but it was thought that the aircraft may have suffered a partial instrument failure.
Pilot - S/Ldr Roger Martin Matthews RAF (4232926). Aged 33. Cremated Chester.