Service to remember crew who gave lives to aircraft

The Blackburn Buccaneer XV168, re-dedicated to the former Blackburn Aircraft workers who died as part of development and testing of the aircraft.

FOUR test aircrew members who gave their lives to help create the famous Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft will be remembered at a special service this weekend.

The service, which will take place in the chapel at Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, near York, on Saturday, will see the Blackburn Buccaneer XV168, recently donated to the museum by aerospace firm BAE Systems, re-dedicated to the former Blackburn Aircraft workers who died as part of the development and testing of the aircraft.

The air crew - John G Joyce, Trevor D Dunn, ‘Sailor’ G R I Parker and Gordon R Copeman - died in three separate incidents while developing the aircraft between 1959 and 1963.

The family of Robert Blackburn, the firm’s founder, and representatives of the Blackburn Aircrew Association, have been invited to attend the service alongside relatives of the aircrew who gave their lives.

The service will begin at 2pm.