Llandow Air Disaster 75 years ago, STILL Remembered. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

LLANDOW AIR DISASTER

12th March 1950

“THE WORLD’S WORST AIR DISASTER”

80 persons killed

The 75th Commemorative memorial for the Air Disaster was held at the site of the Memorial St

one, Sigingstone, on Sunday, 9th March 2025

On Sunday 12th March 1950, a plane carrying 83 passengers and crew crashed just short of the runway when, returning from Dublin, after a great weekend supporting Wales to win the Triple Crown by beating the Ireland XV.

Only three persons survived the crash.

At the time, this was the worst loss in an aeroplane crash that the World had seen.

Amongst those attending the memorial service, just metres away from where the ‘plane crashed, were members of Abercarn RFC, Risca RFC and Llanharan RFC, all of whom suffered considerable loss of life.

Also, amongst the large number paying their respects, were relatives of those who lost their lives that day and a strong contingent from the RAF, who had been based at RAF LLandow and had rapidly responded to the crash, in a vain attempt to save lives.

Llanharan RFC lost seven souls that day with just one of the party surviving serious injury to, miraculously, recover sufficiently to once again play rugby for Llanharan RFC.

Those lost to our club were David and Mrs Kathleen Hawkins, Erskine Thomas, Lloyd Richards, Henry Pascoe, William Brooks and William Coles, with Mel Thomas miraculously surviving the crash, albeit with life threatening injuries.

Following a moving service and the laying of wreaths and rugby tributes from the three clubs named above, the memorial concluded with a very poignant and moving tribute when, during the playing of the “Last Post” by a lone bugler and with perfect timing, three aeroplanes, in formation, flew directly over the assembled congregation standing at the Memorial Stone.

A Memorial Plaque, in honour of the above club members, still sits in the clubhouse bar today and, will hopefully, continue to do so for very many years to come.

To remind our members, and others, of the utter devastation that occurred that day:

FROM CHEERS………

A HAPPY CROWD LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT WEEKEND SUPPORTING WALES TO WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN

TO TEARS……..

SO CLOSE, WITH THE RUNWAY SHOWN AT THE TOP OF THE PHOTO!