Round-The-World Vulcan crashes

In September 1956, the RAF received its first Vulcan B 1, XA897, which immediately went on a fly-the-flag mission to New Zealand. On 1 October, while approaching Heathrow to complete the tour, XA897 crashed short of the runway in bad weather conditions, the two pilots ejecting successfully although the rear crew was killed. The aircraft Captain was Squadron Leader "Podge" Howard and the co-pilot was Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst. It appears that due to time delays in the rather primitive Ground-Controlled Approach (GCA) system of the time, the aircraft became too low on the approach without being warned by the GCA system and damaged its undercarriage in an inadvertent touchdown short of the runway threshold. Control was then lost during the subsequent overshoot (go-around).
Although the Vulcan had a normal crew of five (two pilots, two navigators and an Air Electronics Operator (AEO)), only the pilot and co-pilot were provided with ejection seats. This feature of the Vulcan has been the basis of significant criticism; there were several instances of the pilot and co-pilot ejecting in an emergency and the "rear crew" being killed because there was not time for them to bail out.

The navigator plotter, navigator radar and AEO bailed out through the crew entrance door in the cockpit floor immediately ahead of the nosewheel, their parachutes opening automatically by static line. As the crew door was immediately forward of the front undercarriage, it was very important that the pilots retracted the gear before bail-out. The method of escape was practised regularly in ground rigs, and successfully used on more than one occasion, with all crew members surviving.

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[MrWhelts]

@tackN2Wind Having worked on them and flown around the world with them let me tell you that they have as much power as they need. Ever seen one do an 'Arse Ender'? Very short take off and then straight up. Looks slow because of it's size.

[Kcon83]

@Utubegizmo007

Cool, what did he have to do, co pilot?,,

[UTubeGizmo007]

The crewman coming down the ladder at 0.40 is my father who was the Electronic Warfare Officer on this Vulcan (XH558)

[fabriziocrazy]

look my video up

[VegardMinde]

Beavis ?

[TheLordMilton]

@macbrack04 ....Pity your alleged bravery stop at civility. How disgraceful it is to read such language scrawled by an old fart.

[888yomismo]

Qué manera más absurda de despilfarrar petróleo, metales, energía y tiempo!

[Factnotfictionpeople]

@macbrack04 Want to try again - but make sense this time? You contradict yourself on point 1. And closeness to someone elses death doesn't count, does it. Or were you close to death yourself? As for Dhofar, what makes that special?

[macbrack04]

@Factnotfictionpeople 1. How the fuck do you know death has no 'after memory' ? death is final !! 2. When you have been machine gunned at close quarters and barely survived but your companions did not I think I have a reasonable right to say I survived and understand closeness to death......OMAN ..Dhofar War 1979 Daily Mail June.. newshaedlines...and my 32 year memory.......grow up, experience life or SHUT the FUCK UP you DICKHEAD !!!!

[Factnotfictionpeople]

@macbrack04 See, you're wrong! I've had racing accidents, so know all about time slowing down. BUT - and its a big 'but', when death occurs within seconds there is no after-memory. So how can you know much about it? And as for you 'knowing' its horrific, how did you manage that? :-)