Hunter FGA.9 XE646 at Leconfield.
This No.1 Squadron aircraft was based at West Raynham, Norfolk and on 30th December 1966 was being flown on an air firing training exercise on the ranges off East Yorkshire when the engine failed. The pilot attempted to make a landing at Leconfield but could not reach the airfield so he ejected over Leconfield village. He then landed near the village post office but received a spinal injury. The aircraft must have been very low when he ejected because the aircraft then struck and damaged five houses on Arram Road, Leconfield. Remarkably there were no serious injuries on the ground. The first property that was struck was the roof of the old rectory and at that time was occupied by two families. Virginia Moody was in the bath in one of the rooms but escaped injury. The aircraft then hit a garage and destroyed a car stored in it. It then took off the corner of the new rectory house, which at that time was around four years old. Inside was Rev. Norman Dickinson Hennessy, rector of Leconfield Parish Church and padre at RAF Leconfield. He sustained injuries including a broken arm caused by falling debris which saw him being taken to hospital in Beverley with a broken arm. His son was also in the new rectory and was unhurt. The aircraft then demolished the western (rear) part of a double fronted cottage that was home to Mr Harold and Mrs Mary Westerman and their son Ian, his girlfriend Miss Jennifer Temple were all in the property at the time but escaped without injury. What was left of the fuselage came to rest in the street just outside the village church, this included the intact tail portion. A service of thanksgiving was held at the church two weeks later which was taken by Rev. Hennessy.
Looking at the modern layout of the part of the village where this incident occurred it appears that the houses / properties in this area have undergone some remodelling and redevelopment in the years since the crash. Given the old rectory and the church havent moved, the other houses must have been between the two. The current large Willow House may well be the modified "new" rectory house. A smaller bungalow now occupies more of the land. An older, repaired dividing wall visable on Google Streetview still exists that must have been there at the time and may well have sustained the damage as a result of the aeroplane crashing.
Pilot - F/Lt Peter Backhouse Curtin RAF (607717). Injured.
Civilian - Rev. Norman Dickinson Hennessy. Injured.
Peter Curtin was from Worthing and was twenty nine years old at the time of this incident at Leconfield. He recovered from his injuries and resumed flying. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in June 1977 and died in August 2019.
The injured vicar had himself served in Bomber Command as a wireless operator in the Second World War (1001803). On 25th July 1941 he was flying in 57 Squadron Wellington R1369 that ditched in the Heligoland area. Four of his crew were killed but he survived. He spent the rest of the war a PoW.