Meteor VZ418 on Burn Moor, near Keasden, Clapham.

On 10th July 1951 the pilot of this aircraft was on a training flight with the pilot undertaking a series of high speed runs at height, during the exercise the aircraft dived into the ground at 11.53hrs in the Clapham area, on Burn Moor to the south-west of Keasden. Although never confirmed it was thought that the pilot had suffered the effects of annoxia and lost control of the aircraft but it was never fully understood. This accident occurred in very similar circumstances to that of Meteor VT239 which crashed in the same area only weeks previously and sadly the pilot was also killed in this incident.

Pilot - P/O John Valentine RAF (4039629), aged 25, of Methil, Fife. Buried Methilmill Cemetery, Buckhaven, Fife.


John Valentine received a short service commission to P/O on 10th April 1951 but with his period of service to count from 16th October 1949. Nothing more is known of the accident or the pilot.

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