Blackburn B.2 G-ACLD at Clifton airfield.
Blackburn B2 G-ACLD. Photograph via Mr Jim Rudland.
During the weekend of 16th / 17th June 1951 a "Festival of Britain" airshow was held at Clifton aerodrome, York as part of a wider list of events Nationally. During the airshow various civilian and military aircraft, of both the RAF and USAAF, undertook flying displays. Ground displays and parachute jumps were also part of the programme. On Saturday, the first day of the show, a Blackburn B.2 was part way through a display to the crowd and after making a low run over the field the pilot put the aircraft into a climb. At between 25 and 100 feet above the ground the engine cut out. The aircraft then stalled and fell to the ground in front of the crowd within the aerodrome site. The pilot was seriously injuring the pilot and was admitted to hospital in York. The aircraft was owned by the Blackburn and General Aircraft Ltd, of Brough and was being piloted by their test pilot. It was one of only two B2's surviving at the time.
Pilot - Mr Harold Ratcliffe. Injured.
The crash site. Photograph via, the now late, Mr Derek Cooper, of Stamford Bridge. He witnessed this incident as a child.
