Thunder & Lightnings

Test Flying Memorial

"...and everywhere the
blue sky belongs to them
and is their appointed rest
and their native country"
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge



Date16/03/1945
CasualtiesSqn Ldr J.R. Tobin AFC, RAE Farnborough TP on loan to Blackburn
AircraftBlackburn Firebrand TF Mk III DK386
Took off fromBrough, Yorkshire
Purpose of flightFirst production aircraft flight to test behaviour of elevator and spring tabs in high-speed flight
Incident locationBrough, Yorkshire
Incident detailsDived from 11,500ft, at 4,000ft complete structural break-up occurred starting at rear fuselage joints


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