Avro 504 aircraft
October 2024 marked the 102nd anniversary of the air accident at Blackpill.
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| Avro 504 |
The Avro 504, a single engine biplane was an ex-RAF, was first registered in 1921, to Welsh Aviation Co. Ltd. Re-registered and sold in 1922, to Evan Williams, of Neath. The Welsh Aviation Co. Ltd. had only been trading for over a year, he sale of its assets were conducted at the Garage, Norton Road, West Cross. It was where, Evan Williams a turf accountant of Neath, purchased very cheaply three 120-hp Le Rhone engine planes for £50, £40 and £30 respectively and a further 80-hp Renault engine plane for a knock down price of £12 10.
On the 22nd of October, the Avro after taking off
at Blackpill, the flight was to give an air experience fight “joyride”, the
plane crashed in the sea killing all three people on board.
The Gloucester Citizen published on the 7th
the inquest of the accident.
"Swansea Aeroplane Tragedy.
WITNESS WHO REFUSED A TRIP.
A verdict that death was due to asphyxiation through drowning was recorded at
the inquest at Swansea on Evan Williams, aged 43, commission agent, of
Blackpill, Neath; Frederick Percival Bush, aged 23, air pilot of Swansea; and
Sergeant-Major John Stanley Hudson Biggins, aged 36, of the R.A.S.C. also,
Swansea, the three victims of the aeroplane accident over Swansea Bay. After
being up for a trip, the machine was preparing to alight when it nose-dived
into the bay, all three men being drowned.
Jack Thomas, of Neath, said he was in charge of the motor-car that brought Evan
Williams to Swansea. Williams asked Bush to take him and friend for a flight.
Witness was asked to go up but declined. There were no straps on the machine.
Consequently no one was strapped in. On returning from the flight after half
hour, said witness, the machine was too high to effect a landing at the
ordinary spot, and it returned to a lower altitude. He believed that when
banking the machine nose-dived into the water two hundred yards from shore. The
machine might have side-slipped. John Marshall, the Cabin Aeroplane Depot.
Swansea, said that the machine had been thoroughly overhauled and was in proper
order. Witness said he could only guess the pilot lost control of the machine.
The Coroner said the cause would more or less always remain a mystery."
Following the inquest, the victims were removed to their
respective homes. Evan Williams was buried at Ynismaerdy Cemetery. Frederick Bush was buried at Llantiwit-Major,
whilst John Stanley Hudson Biggins was buried at Bethel Cemetery, Tycoch.
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| South Wales Daily Post |
The 1921 Census, records that the Biggins family were residing
at 27 Brunswick Street.
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| 1921 Census |
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