1971 RAF Hercules crash: Difference between revisions

1971 RAF Hercules crash
	A Hercules aircraft dropping paratroopers, similar to the aircraft which crashed
Accident
Date	9 November 1971
Summary	Controlled flight into sea
Site	171⁄2; miles west-south-west of Pisa
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Lockheed Hercules C.1
Aircraft name	Chalk 4
Operator	No. 24 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Registration	XV216
Flight origin	Pisa Airport, Pisa, Italy
Destination	Villacidro, Sardinia, Italy
Occupants	52
Passengers	46
Crew	6
Fatalities	52
Survivors	0

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Latest revision as of 18:41, 17 July 2023

On 9 November 1971, a Royal Air Force Lockheed Hercules C.1 crashed into the sea off the coast of Livorno by Meloria shoal, Italy, killing all 46 passengers and 6 crew.^[1] At the time it was described by Italian officials as the worst military air disaster in Italy in peacetime.^[2]

Crash

The Hercules serial number XV216, from RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, was due to carry out an early morning parachute drop at Cagliari, Sardinia, as part of a large-scale joint training exercise called Coldstream. Ten aircraft were to be involved;^[I] nine Hercules and one Hawker Siddeley Andover. Their order of takeoff was marked by a serial number, chalked onto the fuselage of each aircraft.^[3] The Hercules known as Chalk 4 was the fourth of the 10 aircraft due to depart at fifteen-minute intervals from San Giusto military airport in Pisa, Italy.^[2]^[4] The aircraft crashed near the Meloria rocks, four miles west of Livorno.^[2] At Pisa, the stream take-off was cancelled, another four aircraft had followed XV216 into the air but the last two were prevented from departing.^[2]

All 52 on board were killed, they included five British aircrew from 24 Squadron, a British parachute jumping instructor from No. 1 Parachute Training School at RAF Abingdon and 46 Italian paratroopers from the Folgore Parachute Brigade.^[2]^[5]^[6]

Recovery

It was at first difficult to find the wreckage due to a persistent wind and low clouds.^[2] The wreckage was found lying in 200 feet (61 m) of water, although small fragments had already been recovered, the salvage operation, which was hindered by the bad weather, was led by the Italian Navy.^[7] The cause of the accident was not found.^[8]

Memorial

A memorial plaque was erected in Livorno in 2003 to commemorate the accident. On 21 November 2006, a memorial service was held in Pisa, attended by a delegation from No. 24 Squadron, current operators of the C-130J Hercules, and relatives of the lost crew members.^[6]

Notes

I^ : Five of the ten aircraft were from the Royal Air Force.

References

^ "Lockheed Hercules C.1 XV216 Pisa". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Peter Nichols (10 November 1971). "RAF Plane crashed in Italy, killing 52". The Times. No. 58321. London. p. 1.
^ Falciglia 2011, p. III.
^ "Memorial in Italy to Hercules tragedy". Bristol Post. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
^ Halley 2001, p. 89
^ ^a ^b "35th Anniversary of the Hercules crash in Pisa". LynehamVillage.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
^ "RAF aircraft lost". Flight International: 839. 18 November 1971.
^ Halley 1999, p. 225

Sources

Halley, James (1999). Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom: Air-Britain (Historians) Litd. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
Halley, James (2001). Royal Air Force Aircraft XA100 to XZ999. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-311-0.
Falciglia, Aldo (November/December 2011). "Gesso quattro non-risponde" – La sciagura alle secche della Meloria. Folgore (Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia) (Nos. 11–12)

43°32′52″N 10°13′07″E / 43.5478°N 10.2186°E / 43.5478; 10.2186

[asn-1] "Lockheed Hercules C.1 XV216 Pisa". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 16 January 2014.

[times58321-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Peter Nichols (10 November 1971). "RAF Plane crashed in Italy, killing 52". The Times. No. 58321. London. p. 1.

[3] Falciglia 2011, p. III.

[4] "Memorial in Italy to Hercules tragedy". Bristol Post. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.

[5] Halley 2001, p. 89

[lyneham-6] "35th Anniversary of the Hercules crash in Pisa". LynehamVillage.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2014.

[7] "RAF aircraft lost". Flight International: 839. 18 November 1971.

[8] Halley 1999, p. 225

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Aviation accident off the coast of Italy}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
+{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
 {{Infobox aircraft occurrence
 |name             = 1971 RAF Hercules crash
@@ Line 8: / Line 11: @@
 |date             = {{Start date|1971|11|9|df=yes}}
 |summary          = Controlled flight into sea
-|site             = 17&frac12; miles west-south-west of Pisa
+|site             = 17{{frac|1|2}}; miles west-south-west of Pisa
 |coordinates      = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LON|type:event|display=inline,title}} -->
 |aircraft_type    = [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed Hercules C.1]]
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
 |tail_number      = ''XV216''
 |origin           = [[Pisa Airport]], [[Pisa]], Italy
-|destination      =Pisa Airport, Pisa, Italy
+|destination      =[[Villacidro]], [[Sardinia]], Italy
+|occupants        = 52
 |passengers       = 46
 |crew             = 6
 |injuries         =
-|fatalities       = 52 (all)
+|fatalities       = 52
-|survivors        =
+|survivors        = 0
 }}
-On 9 November 1971, a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed Hercules C.1]] crashed into the sea off the coast of Italy, killing all 46 passengers and 6 crew.<ref name=asn>{{Cite web |url = http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19711109-0 | title = Lockheed Hercules C.1 XV216 Pisa| publisher = Aviation Safety Network | accessdate = 16 January 2014}}</ref>  At the time it was described by Italian officials as the worst military air disaster in Italy in peacetime.<ref name="times58321">{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=RAF Plane crashed in Italy, killing 52 |author=Peter Nichols |section= |day_of_week=Wednesday  |date=10 November 1971 |page_number=1 |issue=58321 |column= }}</ref>
+On 9 November 1971, a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed Hercules C.1]] crashed into the sea off the coast of [[Livorno]] by [[Meloria|Meloria shoal]], Italy, killing all 46 passengers and 6 crew.<ref name=asn>{{Cite web |url = http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19711109-0 | title = Lockheed Hercules C.1 XV216 Pisa| publisher = Aviation Safety Network | accessdate = 16 January 2014}}</ref> At the time it was described by Italian officials as the worst military air disaster in Italy in peacetime.<ref name="times58321">{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=RAF Plane crashed in Italy, killing 52 |author=Peter Nichols |date=10 November 1971 |page=1 |issue=58321 }}</ref>
-==Accident==
+==Crash==
+The Hercules [[United Kingdom military aircraft serial numbers|serial number]] ''XV216'', from [[RAF Lyneham]] in Wiltshire, was due to carry out an early morning parachute drop at [[Cagliari]], Sardinia, as part of a large-scale joint training exercise called ''Coldstream''. Ten aircraft were to be involved;{{ref label|aircraft|I|}} nine Hercules and one [[Hawker Siddeley Andover]]. Their order of takeoff was marked by a serial number, chalked onto the fuselage of each aircraft.<ref>Falciglia 2011, p. III.</ref> The Hercules known as ''Chalk 4'' was the fourth of the 10 aircraft due to depart at fifteen-minute intervals from [[Pisa International Airport|San Giusto military airport]] in Pisa, Italy.<ref name="times58321" /><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Memorial-Italy-Hercules-tragedy/story-11278142-detail/story.html | work = [[Bristol Post]] | title = Memorial in Italy to Hercules tragedy | date = 14 November 2008 | accessdate = 17 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140121043239/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Memorial-Italy-Hercules-tragedy/story-11278142-detail/story.html | archive-date = 21 January 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The aircraft crashed near the Meloria rocks, four miles west of Livorno.<ref name="times58321" /> At Pisa, the stream take-off was cancelled, another four aircraft had followed ''XV216'' into the air but the last two were prevented from departing.<ref name="times58321" />
+All 52 on board were killed, they included five British aircrew from [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|24 Squadron]], a British parachute jumping instructor from No. 1 Parachute Training School at [[RAF Abingdon]] and 46 Italian paratroopers from the [[Folgore Parachute Brigade]].<ref name="times58321" /><ref>Halley 2001, p. 89</ref><ref name=lyneham/>
-The Hercules [[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|serial number]] ''XV216'', from [[RAF Lyneham]] in Wiltshire, was due to carry out an early morning parachute drop at [[Cagliari]], Sardinia, as part of a large-scale joint training exercise called ''Coldstream''.  Ten aircraft were to be involved,{{ref label|aircraft|I|}} nine Hercules and one [[Hawker Siddeley Andover]].  Their order of take-off was marked by a serial number, chalked onto the fuselage of each aircraft.<ref>Falciglia 2011, p. III.</ref> The Hercules known as ''Chalk 4'' was the fourth of the ten aircraft due to depart at fifteen-minute intervals from [[Pisa International Airport|San Giusto military airport]] in Pisa, Italy.<ref name="times58321" /><ref>{{Cite web | url =  http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Memorial-Italy-Hercules-tragedy/story-11278142-detail/story.html | work = [[Bristol Post]] | title = Memorial in Italy to Hercules tragedy | date= 14 November 2008 | accessdate = 17 January 2014}}</ref> The aircraft crashed near the Meloria rocks, four miles west of Livorno.<ref name="times58321" /> At Pisa, the stream take-off was cancelled, another four aircraft had followed ''XV216'' into the air but the last two were prevented from departing.<ref name="times58321" />
-All 52 onboard were killed, they included five British aircrew from [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|24 Squadron]] including aircraft captain Flight Lieutenant Colin Harrison, a British parachute jumping instructor from No. 1 Parachute Training School at [[RAF Abingdon]], and 46 Italian paratroopers from the [[Folgore Parachute Brigade]].<ref name="times58321" /><ref>Halley 2001, p. 89</ref><ref name=lyneham/>
 ==Recovery==
-It was at first difficult to find the wreck due to a persistent wind and low clouds.<ref name="times58321" /> The wreckage was found lying in {{convert|200|ft}} of water, although small fragments had already been recovered, the salvage operation, which was hindered by the bad weather, was led by the [[Italian Navy]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Flight International]]|title=RAF aircraft lost|date=18 November 1971|page=839|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202507.html}}</ref> The cause of the accident was not found.<ref>Halley 1999, p. 225</ref>
+It was at first difficult to find the wreckage due to a persistent wind and low clouds.<ref name="times58321" /> The wreckage was found lying in {{convert|200|ft}} of water, although small fragments had already been recovered, the salvage operation, which was hindered by the bad weather, was led by the [[Italian Navy]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Flight International]]|title=RAF aircraft lost|date=18 November 1971|page=839|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202507.html}}</ref> The cause of the accident was not found.<ref>Halley 1999, p. 225</ref>
 ==Memorial==
 [[File:Livorno monumento Caduti della Meloria 03.JPG|right|thumb|upright|A memorial plaque in Livorno commemorates the accident.]]
-A memorial plaque was erected in Livorno in 2003 to commemorate the accident.  On 21 November 2006, a memorial service was held in Pisa, attended by a delegation from [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|No. 24 Squadron]], current operators of the C-130J Hercules, and relatives of the lost crew members.<ref name=lyneham>{{Cite web | url = http://www.lynehamvillage.com/news/lynehamraf/pisaanniv211106.html | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080907090639/http://www.lynehamvillage.com/news/lynehamraf/pisaanniv211106.html | archivedate= 7 September 2008 | accessdate = 17 January 2014 | title = 35th Anniversary of the Hercules crash in Pisa | publisher = LynehamVillage.com }}</ref>
+A memorial plaque was erected in Livorno in 2003 to commemorate the accident.  On 21 November 2006, a memorial service was held in Pisa, attended by a delegation from [[No. 24 Squadron RAF|No. 24 Squadron]], current operators of the C-130J Hercules, and relatives of the lost crew members.<ref name=lyneham>{{Cite web | url = http://www.lynehamvillage.com/news/lynehamraf/pisaanniv211106.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080907090639/http://www.lynehamvillage.com/news/lynehamraf/pisaanniv211106.html | archive-date= 7 September 2008 | accessdate = 17 January 2014 | title = 35th Anniversary of the Hercules crash in Pisa | publisher = LynehamVillage.com }}</ref>
 ==Notes==
+{{refbegin}}
-<div class="references-small">
 :'''I'''{{note|aircraft}}: Five of the ten aircraft were from the Royal Air Force.
+{{refend}}
-</div>
 ==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
+{{reflist}}
 ==Sources==
-*{{cite book |last= Halley|first= James |authorlink= |title= Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents.|year= 1999|publisher= [[Air-Britain]] (Historians) Litd |location=Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom|isbn=0-85130-290-4}}
+*{{cite book |last= Halley|first= James |title= Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents.|year= 1999|publisher= [[Air-Britain]] (Historians) Litd |location=Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom|isbn=0-85130-290-4}}
 *{{cite book | last = Halley | first = James | title = Royal Air Force Aircraft XA100 to XZ999 | publisher = Air-Britain | year = 2001 | isbn = 0-85130-311-0}}
-*Falciglia, Aldo (November/December 2011). "Gesso quattro non risponde" – La sciagura alle secche della Meloria. Folgore (Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia) (Nos. 11&ndash;12)
+*Falciglia, Aldo (November/December 2011). "Gesso quattro non-risponde" – La sciagura alle secche della Meloria. Folgore (Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia) (Nos. 11&ndash;12)
 {{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1971}}
+{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Italy}}
 {{coord|43.5478|N|10.2186|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:IT|display=title}}
@@ Line 59: / Line 62: @@
 [[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Italy]]
 [[Category:1971 in Italy]]
-[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving military aircraft]]
+[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules]]
 [[Category:Accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft]]
+[[Category:November 1971 events in Europe]]

v t e Aviation accidents and incidents in Italy
Before 1940	Francesco Zambeccari (September 1812) Jorge Chávez (September 1910) Verona Caproni Ca.48 crash (August 1919) Dixmude (December 1923)
1940s	Avro York crash (February 1945) Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster crash (September 1948) Superga air disaster (May 1949)
1950s	BOAC Flight 115 (October 1952) Mediterranean Sea mid-air collision (January 1953) BOAC Flight 781 (January 1954) South African Airways Flight 201 (April 1954) Sabena Flight 503 (February 1955) British European Airways Flight 142 (October 1958) TWA Flight 891 (June 1959)
1970s	RAF Hercules crash (November 1971) Alitalia Flight 112 (May 1972) Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 327 (October 1972) Argo 16 (November 1973) Rome airport attacks and hijacking (December 1973) Alitalia Flight 4128 (December 1978) Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 12 (September 1979)
1980s	Itavia Flight 870 (June 1980) Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 460 (October 1987) Uganda Airlines Flight 775 (October 1988)
1990s	Italian Air Force MB-326 crash (December 1990) Banat Air Flight 166 (December 1995) Air Littoral Flight 701A (July 1997) Cavalese cable car crash (February 1998)
2000s	Linate Airport disaster (October 2001) Pirelli Tower crash (April 2002) Tuninter Flight 1153 (August 2005) Air Algérie Flight 2208 (August 2006)
2010s	ASL Airlines Hungary Flight 7332 (August 2016)
2020s	National Aerobatic Team Aermacchi MB-339 crash (September 2023)