Grostenquin, France

Many a Sabre incident, from close call to Category A accident, was the result of weather. Though a flight may have launched into fair skies, on return to the station, or arrival elsewhere, weather was sometimes near or even below minimums. January 13, 1955, F/L GW Patterson of 416 Squadron found himself in this situation. He was an old hand on the Sabre, with over 540 hours on type at the time. Patterson described what happened:

"I took off at approximately 1605 local as number two of a four-aircraft section, Catfish Charley. The exercise was carried out as briefed, with #3 and #4 being sent home early. With 1300 pounds #1 and #2 returned to base at 43,000 feet and were required to orbit once to allow separation for another element ahead, before commencing descent. At this time #1’s radio failed, and I took control of the element for letdown and landing. In procedure turn I was instructed to contact GCA on "A" channel. My transmitter elicited no response, so I returned to approach frequency, visually signalling channel changes to #1. The letdown and approach were carried out under ADF control. No contact was made with the aerodrome or ground (this was my first indication that weather had deteriorated, and that it was below aerodrome limits) on the first passage at 2500 feet, so a circular pattern was set up, reducing altitude to minimum safe, still under ADF control and made a new approach, missing the aerodrome. On my third attempt GCA cut in and gave direction, and it was while under GCA direction that #1 left me. I continued my approach, informing GCA that #1 had broken away, and further reduced my altitude because I was instructed that I was south of the field, and consequently clear of obstacles. With GCA aid, I arrived over the aerodrome approach lights at 150-200 feet. Realizing a visual approach impossible I asked GCA for a square circuit, and it was while I was downwind at 175 IAS at 2000 feet indicated that GCA informed me that his precision scope had failed. I informed GCA I was climbing for bailout, and climbed as instructed on a heading of 140 degrees. I undid the seat harness and all other connections but the radio, and when the engine failed at 10,000 feet, at 210 IAS, from fuel starvation, I informed GCA that I was abandoning, and did so forthwith.

"After freeing myself from the seat, I pulled the ripcord, and the parachute streamed but did not open. The second attempt to billow the canopy was successful and I noted the time as 1706 local".

W/C WM Foster, then acting CO of 2 Wing, summarized what caused Patterson’s predicament: "The three other aircraft of Catfish Charley section and one other aircraft which was airborne at the same time managed to land at 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin, only by the narrowest of margins. The principal reason for the loss of this aircraft was an amazingly quick deterioration in the weather, which decreased from an indefinite ceiling at about 2600 feet, visibility 1 ½ miles, to a ceiling of 300 feet, visibility ¼ mile in heavy snow, in the space of about 7 minutes, after all aircraft were on the let-down or in the circuit and were committed to land."

Extracts from the 2 Wing Historical Report

13 Jan 55

A snow squall started about 1700 hours and caught seven aircraft from 416 Squadron in the air. Six of them landed but F/L GW Patterson was forced to bail out. He was picked up at 1900 hours in the village of Petit-Tenquin.

17 Jan 55

A three man board composed of S/Ls Fiander and Rabnett and F/L Laycock commenced investigating F/L Patterson's bail out.

Comments from Earl Snyder

We all went out on a search that evening. I and another pilot trudged through the snow in the woods calling out "PAT" until after 1:00 AM. We were absolutely frozen, exhausted, and were near needing rescue ourselves. Reluctantly we had to quit and feared the worst. When we got back to the station there was a big party going on in the Officer's Mess. We were told Pat had been found, and was, other than "sur la porte", in great shape. It would appear, if my memory is right, that he landed near the Squadron's barrack batmans home and was promptly, wined and dined, then taken, by that proud individual and admiring villagers to the local pub - enough said.