6th August 1970
Pilot killed in private plane crash
Pilot Kenneth Desmond was killed when the Beagle 206 Series 2 he was flying from Jersey to Guernsey lost power in both engines, stalled, span and crashed into an outbuilding shortly after take-off. When the engines were examined by investigators picking through the wreckage, they could find no reason for the malfunction and loss of power.
The officer in control of the aerodrome had been watching the aircraft through binoculars as the first of its propellers put out a couple of puffs of smoke and stopped turning. The officer gave Desmond clearance to return to the runway and put down but, as the pilot turned, his other engine stopped and he radioed “I’ve got the other engine going, I’m going down”.
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Other events that occured in August
Parliament debates Jersey’s treatment of prisoners of war
- A Conservative MP in London was concerned that Jersey might have been treating German PoWs too leniently during the First World War.
- Read more…
Pioneering human rights advocate John Lilburne dies
- John Lilburne was one of the most famous political prisoners of his day and inspired part of the American Constitution.
- Read more…
Soldier kills colleague with a scrubbing brush
- When a fight broke out at a Jersey barracks, one of the two men involved ended up being killed, in part by a scrubbing brush.
- Read more…
Artist Edmund Blampied dies
- Artist Edmund Blampied is remembered for designing a subversive banknote for use in Jersey during the occupation.
- Read more…
