RSA Liverpool

A Plane Crash

By Steve Bond

I have been trying to get information about this from many areas,
but have drawn a blank. Have you any ideas on how I could get info?

email: stevebond@hemscott.net


I was in the Royal Signals from 1957 to 1963. I was transferred to Chester to await my posting. After a week or so, I found that I was going to Washington DC. As I read the orders, the chap next to me, asked my posting and I told him, 'I wish I was going there, I'm of to Hong Kong, do you want to change postings' he asked? To cut it short, we changed and of he went to Washington and I waited to fly to Hong Kong.

On the morning I was due to fly, I think it was 1958/9, the RSM detailed me to shovel coal some 6 miles away and would not listen to the fact that I was flying that day. 'Hong Kong flights are at night' he said, so of I went. At about 4 in the afternoon, I asked the Corporal in charge, when the transport was coming for us and told him of my flight. He telephoned the camp and was told that the 3 toner had broken down and another vehicle was on it's way. We arrived back at Chester some time later to be met by the RSM, who told me I was on a charge as I had missed my flight. As you would expect, I spent that night in the NAFFI getting quite a few pints down and very angry for being charged. At 0100 hrs, I was woken by the RSM and told to follow him. We went into the C.O's office, and there stood the C.O. in his pyjamas and me in mine. 'Sit down soldier, how are you feeling' he asked. Fine sir I replied. Your mother will be ringing back in ten minutes, she is rather worried. He then told me that the plane I should have flown in had crashed in Rome, and all Officers, family and soldiers on board had been killed

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