R.A.A.F. Bomber Jettisons Missile

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29909, 24 August 1962, Page 11

R.A.A.F. Bomber Jettisons Missile

(W-Z. Press Association—Copyright) ADELAIDE, August 23. A Mark II Victor bomber jettisoned a Blue Steel flying-bomb missile loaded with high test peroxide fuel after plunging earthward in an out-of-control spin over the South Australian coast last Friday.

The rocket came down on the beach at Wakefield proof range, 40 miles from Adelaide and did no damage. It was still on the beach under guard.

A party of fishermen in a small boat sufficiently close to the beach had been sworn to secrecy. No Warhead

The missile was not carrying a warhead although in some Woomera trials, high explosive had been used. The Wakefield range is normally used for testing small arms including army weapons, small rocket* and short-range missiles which are fired out to sea. It is surrounded by a 10ft high wire fence and patrolled by Alsatian guard dogs. The bomber, which had been at Edinburgh, near Adelaide, for more than a year carrying out Blue Steel trials at Woomera rocket range, was on a routine flight

when the flying controls failed and it began to spin from 40.000 feet The pilot, Mr John D. Baker, formerly of Manchester and for the last four years, chief test pilot in Australia for A. V. Roe and Company, Ltd., released the tail parachute.

The four jet 90 ton plane steadied and levelled out at 15.000 ft.

With the landing likely to be tricky without the tail parachute, the missile was dropped and the plane flew back to Edinburgh and came down safely. Reuter was told it was believed that it was the first time in aviation history a parachute brake had been released in mid-air to correct the spin of a four-jet bomber. The air correspondent of the “Advertiser” said it was understood it was the first time an aircraft of this size (90 tons) had spun in flight and subsequently been brought back under control.