Kevin Roy Winterbottom (1955 – 9 June 1976) was a South African Air Force (SAAF) pilot who chose to avoid crashing his stricken Impala jet aircraft in the Monument Park suburb of Pretoria by remaining with his aircraft to the end. He was posthumously awarded the 25th Honoris Crux decoration for bravery, the first such award for gallantry outside battle.[1] The HC was at the time South Africa's highest military decoration that could be awarded in peacetime.[2]
Winterbottom joined the SAAF in 1973, entering Officer and Pilot training. He was serving with 4 Squadron at the time of his death.
On the morning of 9 June 1976, Winterbottom was piloting Atlas MB326 km Impala Mk II #1022.[3] While making his approach to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base an engine failure due to a bird strike left him with no thrust and insufficient altitude to reach the airfield.[4] His options were to eject and risk the aircraft crashing with possible casualties in the suburban areas of Waterkloof or Monument Park in Pretoria, or to remain with his aircraft and guide it away from populated areas.[5] He chose the latter, steering his aircraft to crash into a small deserted recreation park where he was killed instantly on impact.[1]
^ ab. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
^Steenkamp, Willem (30 March 2024). Borderstrike!: South Africa into Angola 1975-1980. Lulu.com. pp. 283–284. ISBN978-1-920169-00-8.
^ ab"KEVIN ROY WINTERBOTTOM". South Africa War Graves Project. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
^Du Toit, Graham C.L. (2005). (PDF) (4). South African Air Force Association: 100. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Uys, Ian (1993). Cross of honour. Uys Publishers. p. 45. ISBN0-9583173-2-1.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
kevin, winterbottom, kevin, winterbottom, 1955, june, 1976, south, african, force, saaf, pilot, chose, avoid, crashing, stricken, impala, aircraft, monument, park, suburb, pretoria, remaining, with, aircraft, posthumously, awarded, 25th, honoris, crux, decorat. Kevin Roy Winterbottom 1955 9 June 1976 was a South African Air Force SAAF pilot who chose to avoid crashing his stricken Impala jet aircraft in the Monument Park suburb of Pretoria by remaining with his aircraft to the end He was posthumously awarded the 25th Honoris Crux decoration for bravery the first such award for gallantry outside battle 1 The HC was at the time South Africa s highest military decoration that could be awarded in peacetime 2 Kevin Roy WinterbottomBorn1955 1955 Pretoria South AfricaDied9 June 1976 1976 06 09 aged 20 21 Pretoria South AfricaAllegianceSouth AfricaService wbr branchSouth African Air ForceRank2nd LieutenantService number70388129PEUnit4 Squadron SAAFAwards Contents 1 Early life 2 Service and fatal accident 2 1 Awards 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editWinterbottom was born in Pretoria Transvaal Province South Africa He attended Pretoria Boys High School where he matriculated in 1972 Service and fatal accident editWinterbottom joined the SAAF in 1973 entering Officer and Pilot training He was serving with 4 Squadron at the time of his death On the morning of 9 June 1976 Winterbottom was piloting Atlas MB326 km Impala Mk II 1022 3 While making his approach to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base an engine failure due to a bird strike left him with no thrust and insufficient altitude to reach the airfield 4 His options were to eject and risk the aircraft crashing with possible casualties in the suburban areas of Waterkloof or Monument Park in Pretoria or to remain with his aircraft and guide it away from populated areas 5 He chose the latter steering his aircraft to crash into a small deserted recreation park where he was killed instantly on impact 1 Winterbottom s ashes were scattered at the SAAF Memorial 3 Awards edit nbsp Honoris Crux 1975 HC References edit a b SA Roll of Honour Person Information Kevin Roy Winterbottom Archived from the original on 29 September 2011 Retrieved 9 July 2011 Steenkamp Willem 30 March 2024 Borderstrike South Africa into Angola 1975 1980 Lulu com pp 283 284 ISBN 978 1 920169 00 8 a b KEVIN ROY WINTERBOTTOM South Africa War Graves Project Retrieved 10 July 2011 Du Toit Graham C L 2005 Roll of Honour South African Air Force PDF 4 South African Air Force Association 100 Archived from the original PDF on 7 October 2011 Retrieved 10 July 2011 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Uys Ian 1993 Cross of honour Uys Publishers p 45 ISBN 0 9583173 2 1 External links editRemembrance Day service held on 11 November 2008 address by Rear Admiral JG Derek Christian SA Navy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kevin Winterbottom amp oldid 1216370093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
