Operation: Testing

Date: 19th October 1959 (Monday)

Unit: No. ETPS

Type: Vickers Varsity TI

Serial: WF381

Code: 540

Base: RAF Tangmere

Location: 4 miles north of airfield

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Norman Graham Emslie 2600310 RAF Age 31. Killed

Nav: Fl/Lt. Victor Albert Sawkins 195857 RAF Age 34. Killed

A memorial is currently being planned for losses in this area of aircrew, from WWII and since, both Allied and Axis forces. Contact us for further information as the organisers, led by Robert Godwin, are trying to raise funds to finance this.

REASON FOR LOSS:

The pilot, Sq/Ldr. Emslie was, at the time a student at the Empire Test Pilots School. Taking off from RAF Tangmere on a handling test, asymmetric safety speed assessment.

The aircraft was seen to be flying at 2000 ft in a landing configuration. Full power was applied to one engine and the aircraft assumed a steep climbing attitude prior to stalling and falling into a spin. Understood to have crashed some 4 mile north of the airfield killing both of the crew.

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Norman Graham Emslie. Slains Kirkyard, Collieston, Aberdeen, Scotland. No further details, are you able to assist?

Fl/Lt. Victor Albert Sawkins. Ship Lane Cemetery, Farnborough. No further details, are you able to assist?

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Robert Godwin and sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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