UK Catalina Crash, 1998 - a Tabloid Twist in the Tale
Robin Allen
Here's an interesting change from the usual a.d.a. fare. Some
of you may remember the saga of a flying boat which crashed
here in Southampton in July of last year. Two passengers
were killed, one of whom was the City's Mayor. For a while,
the fate of the aircraft (a Catalina) was uncertain.
In response to a query on the ng a while back, I posted that
the plane was due to be restored and should soon be flying
again (I have nothing to do with the aircraft - I'd just been
keeping an eye on various news outlets). It transpires that
this fact has not pleased everyone. The local evening newspaper
here (the Echo), ever quick on the uptake, has just discovered
the plans to get the Catalina in the air, and has run a classic
outraged-tabloid piece on it, denouncing restoration moves as
an insult to the memory of those who died.
Below is the story. The paper also devoted its entire editorial
to the issue; that follows.
Amidst all the snotty rhetoric and dreadful English there
is a serious issue: should the feelings of the bereaved override
the wishes of the aviation enthusiasts?
********************************************
FINAL INSULT TO THEIR MEMORY
Death Crash Catalina is to Fly Again
-------------
Grieving relatives today condemned plans to rebuild and
fly the Catalina seaplane which claimed the life of
Southampton Mayor Mike Andrews.
His former partner, Elizabeth Longman, branded the decision
by a consortium of aviation enthusiasts as "insensitive" and
"selfish".
Speaking publicly for the first time since last July's tragedy,
she attacked the move after it emerged that the flying boat left
Alton yesterday on a low loader bound for an airfield in Lasham,
Hampshire and could be flying again within six months.
Ms Longman said: "I'm surprised and upset that anyone could be
so insensitive, and I know his aunt, Joan Andrews, will be
very distressed by this.
"We have both been so quiet about the whole thing out of respect
to those who died, but the time has come to say that we are angry
about it.
"I had absolutely no idea that this was happening. So many
things have been kept from us about this."
The crash also claimed the life of Eastleigh airport worker
Peter Shave.
The Catalina craft - which was Britain's only operational
flying boat - was on a VIP flight over Southampton Water, with
18 passengers and crew, when a demonstration of its abilities
went tragically wrong.
The flying boat sank beneath the waves after one of its floats
exploded on touch down. An investigation showed that tubes
operating the nose landing-gear bay doors were rusty and this
probably caused the crash.
But the plane's owners were not found liable because normal
safety check procedures did not include the doors.
It is understood a consortium of followers devoted to preserving
Catalina aircraft have come up with the money to restore it
to a condition where it can fly again.
Current Southampton Mayor Derek Burke - who became the city's
first citizen last week - said the Catalina flying boat should
be left as a memorial to Mr Andrews, and to Eastleigh man Mr
Shave, who also died in the tragedy.
Mr Burke - himself a survivor of the crash - added: "I must
say I am shocked and do think it should be left as a memorial
to a person who served Southampton so well, and to Mr Shave,
who also died.
"This has also come at an especially poignant time - round
the time of mayor-making. I am very surprised."
Mr Andrews, 51, - a non-swimmer - helped to save the lives
of other passengers on board the stricken craft but was
unable to escape himself. He had been elected Mayor of
Southampton just two months before the crash.
Mr Shave, 43, had taken a seat on the doomed flying boat as
he had a life-long ambition to fly in a Catalina.
The consortium behind the controversial plan was unavailable
for comment today.
**************
Editorial: Flying in the Face of Common Decency
----------------
The announcement that the Catalina seaplane in which the
late Mayor of Southampton Mike Andrews and Eastleigh
airworker Peter Shave died is to fly again was bound to cause
shock and concern.
Such a high-profile accident which focussed the attention of
the city on the plane and its safety, means the machine was
not likely to be allowed to quietly get on with further
flying roles.
Given the fact the inquiry into the crash found the cause to
be rotted door equipment, there will be many who feel the
plane has had its day and should be grounded for good.
Of course this is not how the experts see it. In the eyes of
the law, once the plane has proved it is airworthy again then
it can take flight.
The real question of whether the plane should ever fly
again is one of sentiment and concern for the feelings of
the families who lost their lives or who went through the
horror of that day on Southampton Water.
The City's new Mayor, councillor Derek Burke, who survived the
crash is outraged that the plane will fly again.
The same sentiments are expressed by the former Mayoress and
partner of Councillor Andrews Liz Longman. She has remained
dignified in her silence over circumstance's surrounding last
summer's crash but has found this latest piece of news almost
too much to bear.
You don't have to be an expert in human psychology to
understand why.
This paper also questions why the plane should fly again.
The Catalina crash was a dark day in the history of the City
of Southampton. It robbed us of our mayor and a family of
their father.
Although the company flying the plane did not break any laws
the fact they had not shown passengers how to use their life
jackets and something as simple as rotten tubes was blamed for
the crash hardly creates an impression of a confidence.
It would have been better for all concerned if the plane had
now been pensioned off and quietly broken up.
There is still time for the company to do just that.
******************
That's it. Note that there is no comment attributed to the
wife of Peter Shave. Mr Shave worked at the airport here, and
no doubt loved aviation. If you'll pardon me playing the
ECHO at its own rhetorical game, would *he* have wanted this
venerable aircraft to be trashed? What does *his* family
think?
Phil Blinkhorn
lives, one thing is very clear - that no-one demands that a
car/lorry/locomotive is destroyed if it survives a fatal accident and the
insurers deem it repairable. Why so different for an historic aircraft?...
If, God forbid, the newly rebuilt Flying Scotsman were to ever be involved
in a fatal accident, I hope those qouted would be as ready to scrap this
undoubted national historic treasure just as quickly. Somehow, I doubt it.
Phil Blinkhorn.
Robin Allen wrote in message <7ijj13$3...@wapping.ecs.soton.ac.uk>...
Rod Hibberd
: Amongst the very many issues here and the grieving for those who lost their
: lives, one thing is very clear - that no-one demands that a
: car/lorry/locomotive is destroyed if it survives a fatal accident and the
: insurers deem it repairable. Why so different for an historic aircraft?...
It is all part of a new collective 'cult of the dead' that seems to
be taking over in a world driven by the fake sentimental crap in the
tabloid press and in tv newsmagazines.
After the totally nausiating 'year of the florist' anything is possible.
:
: Phil Blinkhorn.
:
: Robin Allen wrote in message <7ijj13$3...@wapping.ecs.soton.ac.uk>...
: >
: >Here's an interesting change from the usual a.d.a. fare. Some
: >of you may remember the saga of a flying boat which crashed
: >here in Southampton in July of last year. Two passengers
: >were killed, one of whom was the City's Mayor. For a while,
: >the fate of the aircraft (a Catalina) ..
-snip-
: >********************************************
: >FINAL INSULT TO THEIR MEMORY
: >
: >Death Crash Catalina is to Fly Again
-chop-
: >**************
: >
: >Editorial: Flying in the Face of Common Decency
: >
-chop-
--
-RodH-
ro...@zip.com.au vox +61-2-955-00-395 fax +61-2-956-00-356
Rod Hibberd at Leichhardt Australia
Steve Kropla
>Phil Blinkhorn (ph...@esatclear.com) wrote:
>: Amongst the very many issues here and the grieving for those who lost their
>: lives, one thing is very clear - that no-one demands that a
>: car/lorry/locomotive is destroyed if it survives a fatal accident and the
>: insurers deem it repairable. Why so different for an historic aircraft?...
>
>It is all part of a new collective 'cult of the dead' that seems to
>be taking over in a world driven by the fake sentimental crap in the
>tabloid press and in tv newsmagazines.
>
>After the totally nausiating 'year of the florist' anything is possible.
How bizarre. Five people were killed in the World Trade Center
bombing, yet no one has suggested it be torn down. A pilot in a hurry
flew into the Empire State Building 50+ years ago, but they allowed it
to stand. If this is just a U.K. thing, y'all can have it....
>: Phil Blinkhorn.
>:
>: Robin Allen wrote in message <7ijj13$3...@wapping.ecs.soton.ac.uk>...
>: >
>: >Here's an interesting change from the usual a.d.a. fare. Some
>: >of you may remember the saga of a flying boat which crashed
>: >here in Southampton in July of last year. Two passengers
>: >were killed, one of whom was the City's Mayor. For a while,
>: >the fate of the aircraft (a Catalina) ..
>
>-snip-
>
>: >********************************************
>: >FINAL INSULT TO THEIR MEMORY
>: >
>: >Death Crash Catalina is to Fly Again
>
>-chop-
>
>: >**************
>: >
>: >Editorial: Flying in the Face of Common Decency
>: >
>
>-chop-
_____________________________________
Steve Kropla
Kingwood, Texas USA
To e-mail, replace "firstname" and "lastname" with real names
Help for World Travelers: http://kropla.com
John Gilmer
Steve Kropla <firs...@lastname.com> wrote in message
news:3751552f...@enews.newsguy.com...
> On 28 May 1999 21:09:38 GMT, ro...@zip.com.au (Rod Hibberd) wrote:
>
> >Phil Blinkhorn (ph...@esatclear.com) wrote:
their
> >: lives, one thing is very clear - that no-one demands that a
> >: car/lorry/locomotive is destroyed if it survives a fatal accident and
the
> >: insurers deem it repairable. Why so different for an historic
aircraft?...
> >
> >be taking over in a world driven by the fake sentimental crap in the
> >tabloid press and in tv newsmagazines.
> >
> >After the totally nausiating 'year of the florist' anything is possible.
>
> How bizarre. Five people were killed in the World Trade Center
> bombing, yet no one has suggested it be torn down. A pilot in a hurry
> flew into the Empire State Building 50+ years ago, but they allowed it
> to stand. If this is just a U.K. thing, y'all can have it....
I wish it were just a UK thing. About 15 years ago, a fellow shot up a
McDonalds someplace in Calif. The local ethnic community insisted that
the restaurant not re-open. It didn't and the building was torn down; the
lot turned into a park.
Likewise, in the OK city bombing the politicians decided not to even
consider the option of repairing the building. It was completely destroyed
and the lot has become a "memorial" to the people who died there.
Around this area there is a sudden and stupid interest in preventing any
construction of any land which at one time or another was a battlefield
during the War of the Northern Aggression. (This area is Fredericksburg,
VA.)
JLG
>
> >: Phil Blinkhorn.
> >:
> >: Robin Allen wrote in message <7ijj13$3...@wapping.ecs.soton.ac.uk>...
> >: >
> >: >Here's an interesting change from the usual a.d.a. fare. Some
> >: >of you may remember the saga of a flying boat which crashed
> >: >here in Southampton in July of last year. Two passengers
> >: >were killed, one of whom was the City's Mayor. For a while,
> >: >the fate of the aircraft (a Catalina) ..
> >
> >-snip-
> >
> >: >********************************************
> >: >FINAL INSULT TO THEIR MEMORY
> >: >
> >: >Death Crash Catalina is to Fly Again
> >
> >-chop-
> >
> >: >**************
> >: >
> >: >Editorial: Flying in the Face of Common Decency
Bertie the Bunyip
John Gilmer wrote
>Around this area there is a sudden and stupid interest in preventing any
>construction of any land which at one time or another was a battlefield
>during the War of the Northern Aggression. (This area is Fredericksburg,
>VA.)
War of the northern agression?
I just love revisionists!
Nothing to do with the "peculiar institution" in your version, eh?
Bertie
InfoHub Ed Anderson
>Around this area there is a sudden and stupid interest in preventing any
>construction of any land which at one time or another was a battlefield
>during the War of the Northern Aggression. (This area is Fredericksburg,
>VA.)
"War of the Northern Aggression"? Would that be that 19th C. altercation in
which your boys took Second Place? :-)
hannah...@gmail.com
Hanna shave Peter shave daughter