Choloy, France

Details:

5 March 1958 - LAC Kenneth H Ingram

Comments by Don Norrie:

As I recall, 43 years later, it had been a long day for the Armourers on the 1000 foot range where the six **.50 calibre M3 machine guns of 430 Sqn's F-86 Sabres were being harmonized before the Sqn left for Decci and 3 weeks of air firing exercises. About mid afternoon the 2nd and last aircraft for the day was nearing the completion of it's weapon and gunsight harmonization when the accident occurred. But let me regress a minute and build a mental picture so you can visualize the scenario leading up to this fatality. From the day this range was built there was an "accident" waiting to happen. A series of errors in the range construction, and lack of adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures were the contributing factors to Ingrams death.

Military weapon ranges are always constructed with a great deal of thought towards the safety of those who use or are employed on them. For some reason 2 (F) Wing's 1000 foot range was an exception to this rule. The viewer should examine the attached photo of the "butts" (bullet impact area) where LAC "Gilles" Roberge is lowering the red flag. At the bottom right corner one can just see "something". This "something" is actually the entrance to an underground room (the "hole" as we called it) constructed of concrete where the Armourer at the butts would take shelter when the aircraft gun(s) were fired, then come out when given the "all clear" to mark and patch the target. In the "hole" was a field telephone where he could communicate up range to the Senior NCO who was at the F-86, and who was in charge of the harmonization operation. The NCO i/c was always a Munitions & Weapons Technician with the minimum rank of Sergeant. Assisting him would be another M & W Tech, and an Armament Systems Tech (AST) to harmonize the gunsight. The AST usually sat in the cockpit and pulled the trigger when so directed by the NCO i/c.

So "what is wrong with this butts area you might ask?" Well, the Armourer must come out of the "hole" and stand directly in front of the target to mark the "hits". Mind you the guns have been declared "all clear" by the NCO i/c, but the feeling of 6 x .50 calibre machine guns pointing at your back was always disturbing to most of us. A properly constructed range would have allowed for the Armourer to remain below the ground surface at all times, and pull the target down to him for marking, thus negating any reason to ever stand exposed to the line of gunfire. We complained; but nothing was done! Operating Procedures stipulated that there was to be only ONE MAN at the butts when firing was taking place. When the butt man was ready he would phone the NCO i/c and confirm he was safely in the "hole" with the steel door closed and that firing could now commence. When firing was finished the NCO would then phone and give the "all clear" so the butt man could then proceed above ground and mark the target. Rationale; if the phone was answered, the butt man was safe in the "hole".

Like any business or occupation people will cut corners to get the job done faster. Marking the hits, and patching the holes with masking tape was a slow and tedious process. So on 05 March 1958, LAC Ingram decided to assist the other Tech at the target end. A gun was fired; the phone rang giving the "all clear" to mark the target. LAC Ingram proceeded out of the hole when the phone rang again. The other tech took the call and was told there was a 5 round "hang up" and to stay put. By this time LAC Ingram was above ground and in line with the target when the guns were again fired. He died instantly. Because it was a cold and wet day, the crew were all wearing brown parkas which virtually camouflaged a person against the target background. So a glance 1000 feet down range from the aircraft would not detect any human movement. It seemed in those days someone always had to get hurt or even killed before a safety problem was rectified. In this case Ingrams death immediately closed down the range after 5 years of operation and a new range incorporating all the proper safety features was constructed.

As a footnote, LAC Ken Ingram also served in Korea with the Artillery and won a Mention in Dispatches for service "above and beyond the call of duty".

** The Browning M3 .50 calibre machine gun was capable of firing 1500-1600 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 2730-3450 feet per second.