§ 26. Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the accident on 28th February at the Royal Air Force Station, Greenham Common, Newbury, in which B.47 bomber aircraft were involved.
Mr. WardI understand that a U.S.A.F. B.47 bomber developed engine trouble after taking off from Greenham Common at about 4.30 last Friday afternoon. The pilot was obliged to jettison the wing tip fuel tanks, which fell into an emergency "dropping zone" where they would not normally have caused any harm. In this case, however, they unfortunately bounced into another B.47 aircraft on the ground and against a hangar and burst into flames. Two American airmen have since died from burns; eight others are injured. The bomber on the ground was destroyed, and the hangar severely damaged.
The U.S.A.F. authorities have asked me to express their appreciation of the prompt assistance given by the local fire brigades who, with the R.A.F. and U.S.A.F. station fire services, brought the fire under control in about an hour.
The U.S.A.F. take every practicable precaution to avoid risk from incidents 134W of this kind and the fire at no time presented any danger to the local population. Civilian interests will be give full consideration during the Service Inquiry.