Blackpool’s Tragic Air Display

A recent scavenge for information about Amy Johnson’s linkage with Blackpool threw up an unexpected challenge. On one informative Blog, mention was made of two ladies killed during a famous Blackpool Air Pageant. Amy’s Instructor/Manager and Agent, William Courtney, was a leading light in Cobham’s Air Show enterprises. 

During the Sir Allan Cobham Air Show, of 7 September 1935, two aircraft collided over the town Centre. On board were two sisters, flying with complimentary tickets, provided by admirer on the staff of the Air display. Thousands saw the crash and rushed to the sites to see the debris and looking for souvenirs, among them the joystick of the smaller plane which was never recovered. The two aircraft, an Avro three-seater collided with a larger Wessex passenger aircraft, its propeller cutting the Avro in two.

The display, one of three that day, was an additional morning promotional flight, advertising what was to follow later that day. The smaller aircraft was planned to join a formation of six, four of the aircraft were already formed up. Two, including the Avro, Piloted by Capt Hugh Stewart were to join them as they had done before many times. It was planned The Stewart aircraft with the sisters was a to join the formation from above and behind. For reasons known only to him, Stewart attempted to join from below and in front of the Wessex. He moved up and forward, directly underneath the Wessex. As he moved forward the propeller of the Wessex caught the Tailplane of the Avro, scattering debris ‘like torn newspaper fluttering down’.

The graphic news reports of the incident, the investigation and the Coroner’s report make interesting if harrowing reading.

The Leopold Grove Crash Site
(Postcard from Pintrest)

There were newspaper descriptions of bodies falling through the air and one hitting a tree. One sister, caught in the front section, fell on the street in Leopold Grove narrowly missing a group of onlookers. The other sister, in the tail end was described as somersaulting through the air, landing at the corner of Talbot Road and Swainson Street.  The Tail plane itself fell into Cedar Square, narrowly missing St John’s tower and a small group chatting in the square. The front portion of the plane fell on to a house roof and then onto the street in Leopold Grove. The pilot’s body was dragged from the cockpit shortly before the fuel tank ruptured and caught fire. His gold inscribed propelling pencil was retrieved later from the wreckage. The pilot, Capt Stewart, a former RCAF Pilot, died at the scene. One witness described how he thought the pilot had made a last-minute manoeuvre of the section to avoid hitting the busy Bus Station.

The Sisters, Doris Left, Lilian right

The sisters, Doris (30) and Lillian (33) Barnes. Both lived in Gloucester Ave, Blackpool, a brother Samuel lived in Manchester, and a younger sister Millicent. The elder sister was a hairdresser in Marton, the younger lived at the family home caring for her mother Millicent, who was blind. Millicent, a Receptionist at her sisters’ Hairdressers, had the job of telling her mother of the tragedy. Their bodies were identified by their brother, Samuel Clayton Barnes. The sisters were well known in the town, having appeared in a Blackpool Amateur Operatics production of ‘Rio Rita’ only a few months before.

Following a series of delays, the Inquest opened, with the full horror of events explained. There was also a contested version of events, with suspected breach of regulations registered by The Air Ministry accident investigators. However, the coroner chose to agree with National Aviation Displays Ltd., the Air Show company representations. The verdict recorded was ‘Death by misadventure’ on all three victims.

The funeral was held at St John’s Church. It was attended by huge crowds and amongst the wreaths there was one from Sir Alan and Lady Cobham. The sisters were buried at the Marton Burial Ground, Preston New Road. Planes flew over the graves in salute.

The Barnes Sisters Grave in Marton Burial Ground,
to left of the entrance on the back row
©MPC, 2024

MPC
Feb 2024

Sources

Via British Newspaper Archive, Online at: 
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
Search ‘Barnes Air Display Blackpool’

Reports of the crash at:
Leeds Mercury, 09/09/1935, Pg 7  & Liverpool Daily Post, 09/09/1935, Pg 11

Details of the Inquest at: 
Leeds Mercury, 11/09/1935, Pg 7

Results of the Inquest at: 
Leeds Mercury, 12/09/1935, Pg 3

The initial story, Linkage between Blackpool and Amy Johnson at:
Cmronline.co.uk

The full story at the Inquest at: 
Lancashire Evening Daily, 10 Sept 1935I

Crash site Image at:
pinterest.co.uk/SusanMBrownrigg/

Sisters Image at:
Lancashire Evening Post, 09/09/1935 via British Newspaper Archive

Gravestone Image by Author

Barnes Grave location from
Memorial Inscriptions, 2014, Marton Burial Ground, Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society

Mystery Bullet in Bispham Tragedy!

A bright, early August day in 1944, whilst walking in Norcliffe Road, approaching Red Bank Road, Bispham,a Preston man, his wife and daughter experienced what can only be described as a one in a million happening. A strange ‘thudding’ sound and a sudden cry from Mrs Hannah Haworth, ‘Something has hit me!’. The couple were visitors and enjoying an early walk. Mrs Haworth collapsed into the arms of her husband. A local man, Mr J Blackburn rushed to help, noticing she was bleeding profusely from her left shoulder. Two others came to help. They carried her into a house on Red Bank Road.  An ambulance was called, and she was taken immediately to Victoria Hospital, where she died later that night.

Initial Police enquiries revealed little of what happened. Mr Haworth and his daughter confirmed they had felt ‘Something flash by them’ but didn’t know what. Police were quickly on the scene with a suspicion that a firearm had been used in the neighbourhood. House to house enquiries and searches revealed nothing of a firearm. Two days later a Post-mortem was held and confirmed that Mrs Haworth (55) had died from a gun-shot wound, a bullet was recovered. Analysis of the ‘303’ bullet confirmed it as being fired by a Machine Gun.

With enquiries into the mystery continuing, the Inquest into Mrs Haworth’s death was adjourned.

When the Inquest resumed, witnesses recounted aircraft activity above Bispham. A 13-year-old boy told of hearing Machine gun fire, one plane was chasing another, which was towing a target. Both were flying towards the sea. Police recorded that a similar bullet had been found at a house in Bispham, another resident had reported a bullet hole in her Bathroom. A further bullet was found behind the Tower Circus, Bank Hey Street.

The Coroner concluded the bullet that killed Mrs Haworth was fired from one of the aircraft and declared a verdict of ‘Death by misadventure’. In doing so, he said that the bullet had not been fired deliberately and that the death was an ‘Appalling tragedy’, causing great grief and distress to the family. He went on to thank the Police and Staff at the hospital.

MPC
April 2023

Sources

‘Believed shot while walking: Mystery of Bispham Tragedy’, Blackpool Gazette, 10 Aug 1944

‘Woman hit by bullet: Blackpool inquest adjourned’, Blackpool Gazette, 11Aug 1944

‘Bullet from aeroplane killed Bispham woman visitor, Blackpool Gazette, 11 Aug 1944.

‘WOMAN SHOT DEAD ON HOLIDAY WALK AS PLANES FLEW OVERHEAD’ Daily Mirror, 11 Aug 1944 (British Newspaper Archive)

‘Bispham Bullet Mystery Solved: Obvious came from plane’ Blackpool Gazette, 26 Aug 1944.