North American Sabre 2 19234 of No.137 (Transport) Flight, RCAF, crashed on Black Hill, Holme Moss 14th December 1954
Patrick Vernon Robinson | Flying Officer | Pilot | Killed |
During the mid-1950s a large number of RCAF Sabres were re-conditioned at Ringway before they were transferred to other NATO air forces. At the time of this crash the larger customers were Greece and Turkey. Once the work was completed on the aircraft they were handed back to the RCAF for a series of flight tests prior to delivery to their new owners. One such flight was being undertaken by F/O Patrick Robinson in December 1954. He had taken off from Ringway and headed eastwards before turning back to Manchester. The snow covered Pennines were obscured by low cloud when the aircraft was heard passing over the town of Holmfirth at low level, this was followed by the sound of it crashing. A search was soon mounted and within hours the wreckage was found strewn across the moorland on the eastern side of Black Hill, amongst it was the body of F/O Robinson who had been killed instantly in the crash.
Flying Officer Robinson was buried at North Luffenham in Leicestershire, at the time an RCAF air station.