§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest crash of a United States Air Force aircraft near Thetford; and if he will make a statement on the remedial action which has been taken to prevent further accidents.
§ Mr. WellbelovedThe accident occurred in the afternoon of Wednesday 29th March when two F-111 aircraft of the United States Air Force 48 Tactical Fighter Wing were returning to their base at Lakenheath after a routine training mission. The aircraft entered the airfield circuit when it appears that they were both struck by lightning at about 1,800 feet above ground level. One of the aircraft managed to land safely and was found to have been badly burned. The other, according to eye witnesses, went into a steep dive and crashed into woods belonging to the Forestry Commission near Brandon in Suffolk. The crew of the 133W aircraft—Captain Charles H. Ketchell, a pilot, and Captain Jeffrey T. Moore a weapons systems officer—did manage to eject, but I regret to say they did not survive. I should like to extend my deepest sympathy to the United States Air Force and to the families of the two officers. There were no other casualties either Service or civilian but there was some damage caused both to the forest and also to a nearby minor road. The aircraft was unarmed.
The United States Air Force had convened a board of inquiry, and I cannot prejudge its verdict. However, as on the face of it lightning would appear to be the main reason for the accident, immediate remedial measures to prevent a repetition would not be appropriate in this instance.