Jet Provost T.3 XN465 near Easingwold.
Jet Provost XN465.
On Wednesday, 24th February 1971 the crew of this No.3 Flying Training School aircraft were carrying out a training flight at 19,000ft, undertaking a range of flight training exercises. During the flight, the trainee pilot put the aircraft into a spin to the left and after four turns the instructor asked him to pull out of the spin, the aircraft then went into a spin to the right and the trainee could not control it. The instructor took control but he was not able to recover from this spin so ordered his trainee to eject, the pupil ejected at 7,000ft. The instructor then left the aircraft at 6,000ft. The aircraft spun into the ground and crashed to the north of Easingwold with the crew landing nearby. Both men were taken to hospital but made full recoveries, both had long and distinquished careers in the RAF.
Instuctor Pilot - F/Lt Simon Glyn Lloyd-Morrison BSc RAF (2619713).
Trainee Pilot - Acting P/O Paul Anthony Spears RAF (8025346).
Simon Lloyd-Morrison was appointed to a commission in the reconstituted section of the RAFVR on 6th March 1966 to the rank of Acting P/O for one year only. He relinquished this commission on 6th March 1967. He was appointed to a commission (permanent) in the RAF on 20th August 1967 (with seniority back dated to 20th November 1965) to the rank of P/O. He was promoted to F/O on 20th February 1968 (with seniority 20th May 1966) and to F/Lt on 20th November 1968. He later rose to S/Ldr on 1st January 1983. He was awarded the Air Force Cross on The Queen's birthday list of 15th June 1985. He retired from the RAF on 20th August 1989 having become one of the countries finest display pilots in the early 1980's where he flew 111 Squadron Phantoms in 1983. He took up a position as an A & A.E.E. project test pilot who test-flew the Tucano before its issue to the RAF.
Paul Spear received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on 19th June 1970 and then a grading to the rank of P/O on 19th June 1971. He received a promotion to the rank of F/O on 19th June 1972 and to F/Lt on 19th December 1975. He received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air on 31st December 1985 and after a promotion to S/Ldr on an unknown date he received the Air Force Cross in The Queen's birthday list on 16th June 1990.