50 years on, a moving tribute to RAF crash hero who saved a town

Spiralling out of control, the Vampire jet, which was capable of speeds of over 530 miles per hour, was heading for a row of cottages, and the young man at the controls had to think quickly.

He could have ejected and let the aeroplane come to rest, but that would have led to it crashing through the houses, probably killing several families and scarring the face of the town forever.

Instead, Ian Ferguson Wilson wrestled the machine onto a different course, which saw it plunge into a nearby field. He did not have time to escape and his body was found in the wreckage.

The scene the 19-year-old would have looked down on before he crashed has changed little in half a century, but the residents have never forgotten their debt of gratitude to the teenage pilot.

Shortly after the tragedy in 1959, the midshipman's family had a special memorial placed in the field just off Occupation Road in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, on the spot where his plane came down.

But in recent years, that monument had begun to show its age, sparking a project which not only remembers his heroics, but those of all the area's soldiers who have fought to defend their country.

A new tribute to the young pilot, made up of stone in the shape of an aircraft wing, was yesterday unveiled and takes pride of place in Rawmarsh's newly restored Second World War garden.

The garden is also home to the town's war memorial, and the ceremony of dedication was attended by members of the Royal Air Force Association and officers from the modern day RAF.

Mr Ferguson Wilson's brother Jim, 68, struggled to hold back tears as he carried a floral tribute along the town's High Street towards the memorial garden and said it was a "proud moment."

After the stone memorial was dedicated he added: "The main feeling I have is of overwhelming pride. My mother and father would have seen is as a fitting tribute to my brother and what he did.

"The way it looks is beyond my wildest dreams. It is difficult to find words to describe how proud I feel. Things could have been very different if it weren't for Ian's bravery and we'll never forget it."

Ian Ferguson Wilson attended Rotherham Grammar School and joined the 218 Squadron (Rotherham) Air Training Corps as a teenager, and later applied to join both the RAF and Fleet Air Arm.

He eventually joined the naval service and attended the Royal Naval College in Plymouth later moving to RAF Linton on Ouse, near York, from where he took for his final flight.

Nobody is certain how he came to be flying over Rawmarsh on March 9, 1959, but it is thought that he wanted to see the town and countryside he knew so well from his vantage point in the air.

The Queen was informed of yesterday's ceremony for the memorial and Second World War Garden and a letter sent from her office expressed her "good wishes to all concerned for a memorable event".

Prayers from the original dedication service of 1959 were used and Frank Wells from the Royal Air Force Association and Flt Lt Doug Ross from RAF Linton on Ouse gave readings from the bible.

The Last Post was played and British Legion standards were lowered before Mr Ferguson Wilson placed a floral tribute on his brother's memorial and a poppy wreath was laid.

Around 50 people attended the emotional service, which ended with the National Anthem and a prayer from Rawmarsh's Methodist minister the Rev Alistair Sharp.

Rawmarsh councillor Shaun Wright, said: "Having completed the renovation of the First World War memorial last year we wanted to ensure that the Second World War garden was also restored.

"The introduction of the Midshipman Ian Ferguson Wilson memorial is very fitting given his local connections and the story of his bravery. We are all very proud of these two memorials and what they represent."