An emotional group trip saw an RAF Vulcan bomber pilot return to Malta 50 years after a devastating crash in Zabbar that killed five crew members and one civilian. Captain Bob Alcock, who had suffered from survivors’ guilt, was warmly welcomed by the local community at an emotional commemoration.
Group travel organiser Mike Herring, from the Kings Cliffe Old Blokes Club in Northampton, reports back from the emotive and memorable visit to Malta…
The club made its second visit to Malta in March this year, but this time it was with a purpose. We were heading to Zabbar, a town a few kilometres south of the capital Valletta and just a short bus ride away.
If for no other reason to visit Zabbar; the magnificent parish church is an essential sight. However our focus was on the Zabbar Sanctuary Museum located at the rear of the church. This excellent museum has many fascinating exhibits including two complete sedan chairs previously owned by Grand Masters of the Knights of St John.
Memorial to RAF Vulcan tragedy
We were especially interested on the area dedicated to an aircraft crash which devastated the town. On 14th October 1975 an RAF Vulcan bomber was coming in to land at Luqa airfield under the control of the co-pilot. A sudden down draft forced the aircraft down some 46 feet short of the runway. As the wheels hit the concrete ledge of the runway the impact forced the left-hand undercarriage up into the wing and started a fire.
The captain, Bob Alcock, took control and decided to take off and come round again. He had little idea of the damage the aircraft had incurred. At about 1,000 feet the left hand wing separated from the fuselage.
“It was probably the most emotive and memorable visit I have ever made.”
The normal crew for a Vulcan is two pilots up front who are equipped with ejector seats. In the rear cabin there would be three crew but on this occasion there were five. Getting out of the rear cabin is through an escape hatch which would not open due to the damage to the aircraft. The two pilots had no choice but to eject knowing that their companions were doomed.
The detached wing fell on Sanctuary Street in Zabbar where the burning fuel instantly killed 47-year-old Vincenza Zammit, the only civilian death from this accident.
Bob Alcock had not returned to Malta in the 50 years since the accident, but was persuaded by one of his previous crew, and a member of our club, to join our trip.
A moving visit and a warm welcome from the Maltese community
He had suffered from ‘survivors guilt’ since the accident and felt that he would not be welcomed by the people of Zabbar. Nothing could have been further from the truth. A reception was held for Bob and our party in the museum which included the mayor, Jorge Crech, the local archpriest, Father Roderick Camilleri, the son of Vincenza Zammit, Mario Zammit together with the author of the book which recounts this tragedy, David Grech.
After the reception in the museum and an inspection of the crash memorabilia, a short service was held in the church. We then took a short walk down Sanctuary Street to the new memorial at the spot where Vincenza had died.
It was probably the most emotive and memorable visit I have ever made.
David Grech’s book Forty-Six Feet Short, which recounts the tragedy, is a must for all aircraft and military buffs. So far it has only been published in Malta but it is hoped that a UK publisher will be found.
Malta is a firm favourite for GTO Mike Herring and his group
Mike has been five or six times himself, and twice with the group. He said: “It’s just wonderful, sunny, warm and so much history.”
He told us about other places that some of the group visited during the trip, including the capital Valletta where they went to St John’s Co-Cathedral, Mosta in the north and Marsaxlokk, a small traditional fishing village in the south.
He said: “There is more history per square metre in Malta than anywhere else in the world. There’s history there that makes the pyramids look quite modern. During World War Two, more bombs were dropped on Malta than London, and it’s half the size of the Isle of Wight, but they stayed strong.”
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