Broken Wings - Meteor Mk7 WL368 Traditional Cache
Broken Wings - Meteor Mk7 WL368
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The plaque you see commemorates the loss of life of the occupants of Glouster Meteor WL368 which crashed nearby.
The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Michael J. Withey, of Malvern, Worcestershire, and Senior Aircraftman D. McLoughlin, of Glasgow, died on October 18, 1957, when their plane, based at West Raynham, Norfolk, came down after engine trouble. They had been on their way to Leuchars after being diverted from RAF Turnhouse - now Edinburgh airport - because of bad weather when the jet crashed only 100 yards or so short of what is now Dunnikier House Hotel.
The pilot had informed Leuchars flying control that he was in difficulty just after 3pm but no more was heard before the crash at 3.15.
The crash site was apparently just a big hole in the ground with smoke coming out of it, such was the force of the impact. It was later learned that the 'copilot' was actually an aircraftsman who was hitching a lift and had a bag or suitcase upon their knee. Whether that had a bearing on the accident or not is not known.
The nearby Kirkcaldy High School was in its construction phase and far from open for occupancy by pupils. The headteacher of the nearby Templehall Secondary School (now demolished and redeveloped into housing) on Templehall Avenue praised the actions of the pilot in avoiding a more serious catastrophe had the plane landed upon the school.
On Monday 8th September 2008 at 10.30am Mrs Maureen O’Mara, the sister of the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mike Withey, unveiled the plaque and RAF Group Captain Andrew Dipper read the text. Mr John Clement O’Mara spoke of the life and character of his brave brother-in-law.
Sadly, the family of Senior Aircraftman D. McLoughlin (of Glasgow) could not be traced.
The plaque reads...
This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Flt. Lt. Mike Withey and SAC D. McLoughlin who courageously gave their lives, when their aircraft, a Gloster Meteor MK VII, crashed near this site on 18th October 1957. A tribute received at that time from the head of Templehall School reads: "To the gratetful memory of Flt. Lt. Michael John Withey whose actions as a pilot immediately before his death saved a school and its pupils from a major disaster".
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