In July 1965 the Royal Air Force sadly recorded its worst loss of life in a single accident in the RAF's history within the
UK. [There was another incident off the coast of Italy with a Hercules C130 aircraft carrying more paratroops than at Abingdon
but I am talking here, on this page, in the UK and involving UK forces] This aircraft was Hastings TG577 that was based at
Colerne and was on a paradrop exercise out of RAF Abingdon.
I have a lot of information on this tragic accident already, I have always avoided writing about this story in as much as
I did not want to offend anyone, especially, family, friends, colleagues and neighbours left behind in the event.
Over the years I have had much correspondence from some next of kin who openly criticise the Ministry of Defence, it is not
for me to place such messages here
Over the coming weeks/months/years I hope to piece together a webpage where some eye witnesses and relatives come together
to talk about their experiences. I am, and have been in touch with relatives, regarding TG577 for a number of years.
If you have read some of my pages you will understand my involvement here as 50 years ago on March 1st 1960 I was put in a
very similar incident with TG579 at RAF Gan in the Maldives, all the passengers on that accident escaped by the skin of their
teeth fortunately. However the memories and many sleepless nights continue to this day...........
