Thirty Years Since The Death Of The Black Knight
Ormond Haydon-Baillie (“Oh-Bee” to his pals) visited my father a few times in Barbados, and although I have photos of a very small me sitting between the two of them, I don’t really remember the man. Mostly I remember the stories my father told in later years as we looked through the photo albums together.
“Fast and Low”
According to Dad, those were the two words that described OHB the best. Dad also called Haydon-Baillie a“stick and rudder man” – which was about the highest praise Dad ever bestowed upon any pilot. It meant that a pilot was a natural. I only heard him say it about one other man.
Haydon-Baillie died in Germany in a P-51 Mustang on July 3, 1977. I have never been able to discover the real cause of the crash. Some say torque roll got him, but from what Dad said I have a hard time believing that OHB would have put himself in that position. Especially considering that the Sea Fury was a far worse beast for torque roll than the Mustang and OHB had oodles of Sea Fury time. Dad always said that it had to have been “a mechanical” (fault).
Whatever happened on that day, there are many who remember the man and his airplanes. For those who remember the man, and those who appreciate it, here from Dad’s collection is a never-before-seen photo of OHB’s Sea Fury pulling up after a low and over at Duxford around 1975 or so. Dad did NOT have a long lense for this photo and it has not been cropped … (!)
Barbados Free Press 
Gentlemen:
As I recall, Haydon-Baillie died in Germany in a Cavalier F-51 Mustang on July 3, 1977 as a result of a canopy failure during an aerobatic routine. The unit slide off of its track and decapitated the poor man. I hope that this helps.
John L. Dienst
Thanks Mr. Dienst
I had heard various stories about the canopy but had not been able to confirm anything. You are sure about this? Dad always said that OBH would not have made a mistake and that it had to have been some mechanical failure out of his control.
I left a message on AVSIG regarding the crash details of Ormond Haydon-Baillie, you probably have some or most of this stuff already:
http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/survivors/pages/44-74694.shtml
Ormond Haydon-Baillie, Duxford, UK, June 1977.
– Crashed near Mainz-Finthen, Germany, July 3, 1977
Crash details are available under ICAO Convention rules from:
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Bundeshaus Nord, CH – 3003 Bern
Telephone (+41) 031 810 41 51
Fax (+41) 031 810 41 50
e-mail: bfu@gs-uvek.admin.ch
Accident reporting1414 (REGA)
This post was on AVSIG this morning from Martin Ambrose, who is also looking for some pictures:
My name is Martin Ambrose and, back in the mid 70s, I was a part of Ormond’s Black Knight ground crew. I recall on numerous occasions standing proudly in front of his Sea Fury, T-33, CF-100 etc, sporting a crisp white set of overalls emblazzoned with the Black Knight embroidered logo patch.
I was at Duxford the day the CF-100 came in. I was also there on the day we and many others (Kev Smith, John Romain, Billy Kelly etc.) cowered in a corn field as Ormond skimmed above our heads whilst John Rigby took some pictures.
Does anyone have any pictures available of these and other occasions? I’d be grateful for whatever you have. Alternatively, if any of you are named above or who remember me from these days, please do not hesitate to drop me a line. My email address is: mart “at” zx-6rzone.co.uk
Gosh, isn’t the internet a powerful thing! Amazing where one gets quoted.
It was I that wrote the above post on AVSIG and I have just written something similar by way of an obituary to Ormond by way of some memories I have of the man himself.
I was just looking through some of the aircraft internet sites and came across this article. It took me “way back” to my days as an Aero Engine Technician in the RCAF at Canadian Forces Base, Gimli Manitoba. It was 1969 and Gimli was the home of 1FTS. There were 52 Tutor jets and 25 T-33 jets based there. Then Flight Lieutenant Haydon Baillie was a Tutor (CT114) instructor. As an LAC at the time, working on the Tutor flight service line, I did not usually speak to “the officers” in a personal manner however, for some reason you could speak to HB. He was very “proper and professional” but very genuine. He was a true “aircraft nut” in every sense of the word. A very good instructor I was told, the students liked him. He was smart and very well spoken. One of the funny experiences that stands out in my memory was that on one occasion I was on Duty Crew on the weekend, the World Series was on TV that Sunday and I was trying to watch the game. (Think it was the Baltimore Orioles) I was watching the time carefully so that I would not be late to the flight line. OHB was scheduled back at 15:00 and I waited patiently for his arrival. I finally contacted the tower at 15:30 and they advised that he had not left Portage la Prairie yet. I raced back to the junior ranks club to continue watching the ball game. About twenty minutes later, for some reason, I glanced out the window and noticed a Tutor do a high speed ( 🙂 pass by the tower…… had to be OHB! I ran back to the flight line and there I sat for the next half hour, watching him do touch and goes….I had missed the end of the ball game!!…. all I could think about was I wonder who won the ball game and having to do tire changes while Haydon-Baillie went to the mess for a pint. It was a well known fact to us “aircraft maintenance types” that normally his estimate for return was just a guide line. I am sure he didn’t realize that we had things to do to the aircraft when he went home and the longer he “played” the later we would have to stay at work. I left the Air force in 1971 and went to work for Pacific Western airlines in Vancouver. One morning in 1974 (I think), I was working in the hangar and I heard a very familiar sound from my Gimli days… the sound of the plenum doors vibrating during engine start on a T-33. I looked outside and there on the ramp by our hangar was a black T-bird. I took a walk over to the aircraft and there he was, OHB, in all his glory. We had a laugh about some of the Gilmi days, one of them “Bosses night” at the junior ranks club where I was coaxed by him into trying a Vodka and Coke which OHB was drinking. It was an awful mix! But hey, anyone that can drink warm beer has no taste for drink. I was saddened to hear that he had perished in a crash. Aircraft accidents are always tragic but I couldn’t help but think that if you have to go, and you are OHB, what better way to leave the world than in an aircraft. Only sad part was the fact that he had so much more flying to do. It’s now been 39 years since I met Mr. Haydon-Baillie and I still remember the Gimli day’s and him with a smile on my face.
Jim Harris did you happen to know another old codger from Pilot Mound, Manitoba who was an instructor of pilots going overseas to WW2 by the name of Murray Geddes who is now 84 and loves keeping in touch with the aviation past as you obviously do?
I am sorry but I don’t recall anyone by that name. Some that I do recall at that time were; Major Yamamoto, Lt. Col Litt, Lt. Parker, Col. Dunlop ( base commander ). Lt. Blake ( Hecla Island crash ). Capt. Don Handburg, Capt. Pete Presidente, Capt Tom Nevison. Lt Ed Backstad. Pte Pete Roy, Pte Al Lawson, Pte Rick Gatenby, Pte George Mitchell, Cpl Lou Wright, Sgt Harry Truax, Bill Bobbitt and finally Mike Crassy (sp) was our cook and was the reason that we ate well. It was a small family at CFB Gimli. During my time there, there were several memorable incidents. Some of the higlights: Armstrong walked on the moon, We lost 2 T-33 aircraft and 1 Tutor. One of the T-33’s was being flown solo by a Norwegian Cadet, had a “misting” hydraulic leak from the aileron boost valve. He thought it was smoke, ejected and because the aircraft was trimmed up for landing, continued to fly around the area for about 10 minutes until it came to rest with a thud in the back of the Irly bird lumber yard. No fire and no one hurt. Crash on Hecla island, killed 2. Tutor landed during night flying with the gear up. The airman at the end of the runway in the mobile trailer, did not fire the flare pistol because he stood up and banged his head on the pistol mounting. I saw the last 2 f-86 Sabre jets pass through as they were being withdrawn from service. They came in and during the over night stay, they painted the “Diamond G” Gimli of 1 FTS on the tail I saw Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Jean Chretien ( was minister of northern affairs then) In my subsequent 30 plus year civil aviation career, I have run into many of the pilots from those days. Many got out and flew for CP air. Most do not remember me but hey, I was just a 20 year old kid then fixing their airplanes 🙂 . I have kept in touch with a couple of my old Airforce friends and recently, as I was walking through Costco in Halifax, I saw a familiar face that I had not seen since 1970. I walked up to this person and said Hello Brian….. He said hello Jim and it was one of my old room mates from the house we rented in 1968 in Camp Morton just north of the base. He was holding his grand daughter…. there you go. Life goes on but the memories of the good old days are strong. In fact, I am wondering how I remember all those people almost 40 years later.
I told Murray about your post and what I had done but Murray was quite awhile behind your time. He was at Gimli in 1943.
He brought me over a book this evening that was more in keeping with his era “Behind the Glory” By Ted Barris,
I was never in the airforce but I knew many who were Captains with Air Canada most of whom were from the West. A couple of these guys were Jim and Glen Down. Glens father in law was Burt Lamb of Tisdale Saskatcehwan and was connected to the Lambs of Lamb Airways that serviced the North of Canada.
I enjoyed sitting in the jump seats of the DC-8 and 747 with these boys when landing in Barbados. All of whom eptimaized professionalism and skill!
Cheeeeers
Dear All
I am the sister of 17-year old boy who died together with OHB on their very latest flight in Germany, Mainz-Finthen, July 3rd, 1977. I was there, and I have watched it (at the age of 15 at that time).
Is there anybody out there whom I could discuss details about this flight, or OHB, or anything known related to this? I am especially interested in what happend in detail as I have heard and read many roumors, and I have applied for the official report recently, only.
I would be really happy to get in contact with you, to share memories, facts, reports of eye witnesses or photographs of OHB and/or his Mustang (or my brother, of course…)
Looking forward to your reply. Don´t be afraid; it is more than 30 years ago, and I am able to handle all details.
Kind regards
Anette
Dear Mr. Dienst,
How do you know what has happened during the air crash of OHB and what happened to the canopy?
Could you please contact me and give more details, please?
Thank you very much in advance.
Kind regards
Anette (sister of OHBs passenger July 3rd, 1977)
Hi there,
just came across your article on OHB and the commenst related
in 1977 I happened to be on that very airshow at the then U.S. Army Airfield Mainz-Finthen on July 3rd, 1977, celebrating the American Day of Independence the following day. Thus I became kind of eye-witness of the fatal crash, that is of take-off and final turn, respectively. To the spectators, “I-BILL” made a perfect take-off and went around a wooded area nearby, but never to appear again.
Crash and crash site were not visible from the flightline, no column of smoke either, there was only a slight gap in the airshow before flypast of some F-15s from Bitburg AB.
By chance I stood below the tower of the civil flying club, windows wide open due to the hot summer day, able to listen to ATC and security messages, got some idea of the true story. (NO public announcement was given, the programme continued to avoid a run to the crash site as well as due to the military status of the airfield.)
Together with my old man (born and raised in Finthen, WW-II-Luftwaffe NCO and r/t flyboy, thus very well-known to the local vicinity), we arrived at the crash site just after U.S. Military Police, them immediately cordoning off the area. (Mind you, Finthen was a regular U.S. Army Airfield those days, a heavily guarded NIKE launch site less than 1 mile away ….)
The P-51 seemed to have dived in engine running, wings disintegrating not before contact with the trees, no explosion, no fire. Several smaller trees (up to 20inch diameter) were clearly cut down to some 10ft above ground. (Well, 1450hp and four steel blades attached to do have some effect.) The “angle of attack” on the tree stumbs was clearly less than 45 degrees (10-20 degrees to my memory), indicating a near vertical dive. The impact crater was flat, less than 10ft wide, less than 5ft deep. The frame of the “bubble top” part of the conopy with some chunks of plexi sticking to it was found some 150ft nearby.
OHB’s passenger, a teenager of the local civil flying club who volunteered to give “I-BILL” a proud spit and shine all over and got a free ride in return (so much for OHB himself) hung in the trees just 3ft above ground, chute deployed, but not extended. As for OHB himself, he stayed in his ship, totally smashed on impact.
Very interested in prop-warbirds, I went to the crash site again early next morning. Clearing was in progress by local authorities (Technisches Hilfswerk) under supervision of German police, aircraft remains to be examined by the German air accident board later on.
(Rumors in the local press and communitity ranging from “suffocated by poisonous exhaust smokes” to “pilot error, disregarding the additional weigth of the passenger”, and the like.) In 1977 a student age 25, (later to become LtC of the German Air Force Reserve,) I never came across an official German accident report. Finally read about canopy failures on P-51s two or three years ago ….
(Sorry to mention another bad impression from that fateful day : back to the flightline, and again beneath the tower, word of the crash has just spread around the flying community via ATC, a call came in from the airfield OHB’s SeaFury was parked that very day: “OHB crashed ? Fatally ? So – who’s gonna pay his parking fees for the SeaFury here at xxx ?” Just disgraceful !!)
By the way, you could see the “tunnel” the props had drilled into the wood for years, nowadays nature is back and nothing left except in the memory of those present ….
amendment to Anette:
l would appreciate you getting in contact with me via the webmaster, if you want to
Hallo Anette,
Ich war damals 13 Jahre alt und sah den Unfall.
Wenn Du magst kannst Du mir mailen:
mark.a.mueller(at)gmail.com
Gruss
Markus
For the webmaster: Please forward this mail to Anette, Thanks
To Anette and others – I don’t know if anyone is still reading this – but like Anette I would be grateful of any personal memories of OHB as he is my natural uncle (I am in fact the only child of the 3 HB brothers). I only found out who my uncle was a couple of years ago, although I grew up near Duxford (well away from the HB family home) and could have seen my uncle performing when I was a child. So many missed relationships, but it’s good to have info. about your blood relations.
Jim Harris, as I read your posts of a few years back, I noticed an error. The T-33 in the lumber yard was not flown by a Norwegian student, but a Nav retread by the name of Whitson who I had the pleasure of sharing a conversation about it on a flt from Cgy to Ottawa a few years back. I remember the day well as I was heading to 1 Hgr for honour Gd practice and watched the a/c flying in circles and the FF crash crew going through thier Keystone Cops routine. I still have a pic of the wreckage.
I too remember all the names you mention plus KC Pettman, Maxted, Adams, etc,etc. Memories like this could bring a tear to a glass eye.
I came upon this blog by accident but was delighted that Ormand is still alive and well in the minds of so many people. I remember him well.
I met Ormand at RCAF Station Centralia, Ontario in November 1964 where we both attended Primary Flight School training on the DH-1 Chipmunk. At that time Hyphen, (his nickname when he served in the RCAF) was enrolled in the RCN “Venture Program” that trained navy pilots for deployment to our single aircraft carrier, the HMCS Bonaventure. When Ormand discovered that he would be relegated to flying either SeaKing helicopters or Anti-sub Trackers, he jumped ship and remustered to the RCAF.
Both Hyphen and I eventually became flight instructors at RCAF Station, Gimli. He was a memorable character who often stood apart from his peers. He joined the Base Theater group and became the toast of the town after brilliant performances in “A Visit to a Small Planet” and a 19th Century melodrama whose title I cannot remember. He produced a film for the Officer’s Mess that brought the house down and cemented his reputation as reconteur.
Ormand purchased his Sea Fury from the Australian Navy while still serving in the Canadian Forces. He took 30 days of annual leave from his new unit at Cold Lake, travelled to Australia, made his purchase and convinced an American Admiral to ship his aircraft back to San Diego aboard a US Aircraft Carrier. Hyphen told me that he used his connections with his uncle, a Royal Navy Admiral, to bend a few arms. Getting the Sea Fury airworthy in order to fly back to Cold Lake nearly caused an International incident when the USN discovered that Navy personnel were doing the work for him without authorization. He got off the ground from Navy North Island and headed to Cold Lake about 2,000 miles north. After a couple of unexpected forced landings during his flight, Hyphen arrived back in Cold Lake 10 days past his leave expiry. He faced severe disciplinary action that eventually led to his early retirement from the Canadian Forces.
Flight-Lieutenant Ormand Hayden-Baillie refused to conform. When offered the right to retain his old rank of F/L, he held fast. No one called Hyphen Captain without a quick reminder of his rank. We laughed at Hyphen because he was odd but he was always a good sport even when he took himself too seriously. He was an enormously talented individual who wanted nothing more than to make his mark on civilization. When we learned that he dubbed himself the Black Knight and toured with his T-33 and Sea Fury many were miffed because 414 (EW) Sqn. was known as the Black Knight Squadron and the “Black Knight” was a solo aerobatic demonstration team assigned to Training Command. After many “Black Knights” were killed during performances, the team was disbanded. It’s ironic that Hyphen too died using a name that had been burnished into the minds of many members of the RCAF.
Always a contoversial figure, Ormand will be sadly missed for his enormous talent and a brave heart. Per Ardua Ad Astra.
My young sons and I always called him “Ormond”
his visits to our home ,Portland, Oregon…always
co incided with trips involving “THE SEA FURY”.
I recall getting a phone call from HB saying that he was at the USAF side of the PDX airport.
I dutifully arrived at the main gate…was ushered into the Officers Club…and from the noise I knew HB was holding court.. I was immediatly accosted by an officious Major…with many demanding questions….a real major Fuzz…I asured him
HB was indeed the equivelent of a USAF
Colonel…..The Major suitably impressed
became HB’s lap dog…..at some point HB
told me we HAD TO LEAVE…so a hasty retreat
was put into effect… Upon arrival at our house
my sons immediately put HB through his paces
and stirred up the neighborhood.. The next
morning, back to PDX where his Fury was filled
with fuel and a new battery was installed…
after takeoff a real beatup was performed..and
HB, FURY AND ALL disappeared into the
northern hemisphere….I then inherited the
“lap dog” and ten thousand questions…..I managed
to beat a retreat by offering the excuse that
the Governor of Oregon was waiting to speak
about the RCAF “General”….such was the
turmoil srrounding HB….
I was priveleged to know HB…and think of him
often…it was with disbelief that I learned of
his passing….the result of the canopy rear lock
system…..(I did not have the heart to tell my
sons, until they were in their twenties.)
…in spite of the circumstances it seemed fitting,…
over Germany in a Mustang……
Marty: Nice to read your comment. That day I was driving from town to the base when I saw the T-Bird canopy go. I stopped by the old train station and watched the whole thing as well felt the thump as it landed in the early bird yard. Keystone Cops comes to mind for sure !! I do remember Tom Maxted. Tom and I went for a ride in a RCAF Albatros one winter day in Gimli ( I have a picture of young Tom standing in front of the big amphib. That was 1968 and those days will never fade from my mind. About 10 years ago I was in YWG on business so I went back to Gimli to have a look. ( The Viking Hotel was smaller than I remembered but still had a pub) It is hard to imagine that a place like that could have such an impression on a 20 year old kid from Vancouver. I wandered around the base, the barracks that I lived in was still standing although empty and in need of repair(think they use it for cadets). Under several coats of paint, there were my initials still carved in the locker door in my old room!! I couldn’t believe it!! I went to the ramp area at # 1 Hangar where I worked in Tutor servicing. The yellow parking lead lines were still faintly visible in the concrete ramp and I walker up the line and remembered the 06:00 mornings towing the aircraft out and hooking up the nosewheel scissor links, fuelling ( and the mosquitoes attracted by the fuel smell) and taking the pitot head cover off in readiness for the days flying. All in all it was like being in the Twilight Zone. I was alone, there was no sound, just my thought racing.
Biggest regret was not taking many pictures.
Marty Ryan
February 8, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Jim Harris, as I read your posts of a few years back, I noticed an error. The T-33 in the lumber yard was not flown by a Norwegian student, but a Nav retread by the name of Whitson who I had the pleasure of sharing a conversation about it on a flt from Cgy to Ottawa a few years back. I remember the day well as I was heading to 1 Hgr for honour Gd practice and watched the a/c flying in circles and the FF crash crew going through thier Keystone Cops routine. I still have a pic of the wreckage.
I too remember all the names you mention plus KC Pettman, Maxted, Adams, etc,etc. Memories like this could bring a tear to a glass eye.
Jim; Had a visit last week from another Gimli guy and we discussed this subject again with John, remember him, John Labatt.
Rick Gaudet , passing thru enroute to PEI and Halifax. Was surprised to learn you were in the East, will try and find you.
Do you remember Pete Presidente, Don Handberg, and Parker? I believe they all went to drive for CP Air then onto Canadian. I was with PWA for 16 years then onto Air BC to stay in YVR. Then Jazz happened and I was transferred to YHZ.
I too came across this web site quite by accident. I thought I could add a little about Ormond myself. He had graduated from pilot training a couple courses after me and arrived in Gimli as a flight instructor assigned to C flight. I was in D flight. Ormond did not have a car but quite often commandeered myself and my car to go to town to take care of dry cleaning and banking chores. He would never donate anything to my gas tank but that was alright with me. He was on the Officer’s Mess committee and taught all of us the proper placement and use of silverware and tooth picks.
On June 5th, 1968 he and I were assigned to fly to Halifax to participate in the airshow being held there. S/L Chuck Keating was the boss and arrived a day after us to lead the formation. Ormond and I had already decided we should fly under the bridge (didn’t look like a difficult task) during the show. Chuck quickly squashed this idea on his arrival. At least we had been able to beat up the Canadian Submarine ‘ONONDAGA’ as she powered into port the previous day. The airshow went well but I believe the F86’s from Chatham stole the show.
Ormond went to Cold Lake just prior to my transfer to Texas. At that time, we allowed motivational beat ups at Gimli for the students to watch. Ormond came by one day in an F-5. For those who were there, it was the best base beat up any of us had ever seen. At one point he came by between the tower and the T-bird line no higher than 20 feet. He was doing 500kt plus – WOW!! It was a sad day for me and many others when we heard about the crash that took Ormond that day in Germany.
We were all very young and fearless in those days and one day after a few beers and my recent retirement from the Airlines I wrote down the names of the pilots I could easily remember who were killed flying Airplanes. Ormond is one of the 46 names on that list.
Peter.
Good to see the comments continuing.
I had contact from another of Ormond’s nieces by the name of Tessa. I gave her everything I knew about the man. I understand she was putting together a collection of memories for her mother, OHB’s sister.
My name is Erik, and I was the neighbours son of the passenger. His parents invited me to see the air show together with his sister Anette. Even after 33 years, I will never forget these pictures. So it is nice to see that I am not alone.
Some years ago after a business flight, I had a drink in the tower bar at Finthen Air Field. There was still hanging a picture of the event.
For the reason I was only 13 years old, I shot some blurry pictures with my Kodak Instamatic. After all these years I only have a printout, the negatives are gone. If anybody has some fotos from I-Bill, OHB and the passenger that day, I would be thankful to get an electronic copy to the following address: ejo1964@splab.de
I met Ormond Haydon-Baillie in the northern British Columbia town of Terrace, where he was a participant in an Air Show early the summer of 1971. We then went to Prince George for a second air show. My father was one of the organizers, and we got to know Ormond well. He was a guest in our home, and we went to dinner with him a few times during while we were in Prince George. We also met up with him at the Abbotsford International Air Show in August, 1972. He was as a test pilot, stationed at the RCAF base in Cold Lake, Alberta at the time. Ormond was a dashing, charismatic and fun-loving person. He had a great sense of humour and enjoyed life to the fullest. He was an amazing pilot, and in Terrace and Prince George he flew the Hawker Sea Fury, resplendent with OHB displayed as his letters.
One thing that impressed us was how much time he spent with people, explaining about his aircraft, flying and what his plane (the Sea Fury) could do. He made little kids want to be pilots, people want to be his friend, and one couldn’t help but think back to the flying aces of WWI and WW II. Simply, he was meant to be a pilot, the epitome of a legendary flying ace … impressive to both men and women, and a charmer through and through. Ormond had a stable of planes, including a Mustang and a Spitfire, which he owned with his brother, Wensley. He would show us photos of his planes (and a car or two…) like others would their children.
One of my favourite stories is from my father, Art Bates, who was visiting a US Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. He heard from the Colonel in charge about a prank OH-B played on them … “Stiffed us good,” said the Colonel, who was laughing about it, thankfully! Ormond landed the his plane, hopped out and, dressed in his air force flying suit, trademark leather jacket, silk scarf around his neck. His leather boots were highly-polished, and he walked ram-rod straight … just a slight swagger. He chatted away with everyone. Then, referring to the plane, said, “Give ‘er what she needs.” He went into the officer’s mess, chatted more people up, and had a drink/meal. After a while, Ormond sauntered out, ‘B.S.’d everyone some more’ (according to my Dad), then posed for photos, invited those interested to look inside the plane, thanked everyone profusely, climbed back in the plane and was off … before any of them checked whether he’d actually paid for the petrol. He hadn’t.
Over the years, I received a few post cards from Ormond, and an occasional phone call, just to say hello. He always began correspondence and calls with ‘What ho!’
I received a card just a couple of months before his death.
OH-B invited me to contact him in the early autumn of 1977, when I travelled to Europe. I rang his home number from Holland, where I’d been visiting before heading to London, and his [half] brother Denzil answered the telephone. It was he who told me that Ormond had died in a crash at an air show in Germany.
We were understandably shocked, and saddened by the death of such a vibrant person, and larger-than-life personality, and belatedly send our thoughts and condolences to the family of the young man who was the passenger in the aircraft.
My father and I fondly remember the one, the only, Ormond Haydon-Baillie.
For Anette,
I was a soldier stationed at Finthen Army Airfield and remember it well. I love airplanes, especially old war birds. I remember when the P-51 landed. It was beautiful! Newly overhauled and newly painted. The pilot was very proud of it. All the access panels were opened and “airport bums” like me scrambled to get a good look at this piece of aviation history. I noticed that space had been made behind the pilot’s seat for a passenger seat. I asked the pilot if it were possible for me to go up with him. He said, “Sorry, but that young man has already asked.” That young man was your brother. This young man was all smiles and I was envious of him. When it was time for them to go up the engine didn’t want to start. When it finally started and they left the runway the pilot made a right turn. The plane went inverted and went straight into the woods on the backside of the airfield. I didn’t see anything that looked like a structural failure on the outside. I do recall someone who was in the control tower saying that the pilot relayed that he couldn’t control the aircraft. I went to the crashsite after the bodies had been removed. The only part of the plane that was above ground was from the rear of the pilot’s seat to the tail. I took pictures the next day of the wreckage when it was hauled away on a flatbed semi. I cried. I know your brother was doing something that he loved and I will always remember.
Found this site tonight. I was ‘googling’ when I found it, just after speaking to my son at RAF Cranwell who graduates next week. I graduated from Cranwell as a pilot 36 years and 1 month ago. I was on No 14 Graduate Entry and with me on my course was Fg Off Simon Deacon-Elliott. His relation was Ormond. Deac’s asked Ormond to kindly come to our graduation parade in the Sea Fury. Ormond did, and ‘beat up’ the Cranwell church during our service – many times. The Commandant sent OC Ops to see what the hell was going on (although we all knew). Ormond taxied in and was thrown off the station. He went to Waddington where his beat-ups were more welcome. We picked him up from Waddo with the club’s Tiger Moth. However, as Deac’s dad was an air marshal, and present, Ormond was allowed back to Cranwell! So the Tiger delivered him to Waddo to pick up the beast. On his way back, another beat up of Cranwell..with a tight-lipped OC Ops watching, powerless. We all had our photograph taken in front of it. Great day. A year later, we graduated from Valley as Gnat pilots before attending the Hunter OCU at Chivenor. Ormond came to that graduation as well, again courtesy of Deac’s invitation. This time he brought the T-33 ‘Black Knight’. Valley, being a bit punchier, applauded the beat-ups. Fond memories. A great chap. Still remember him.
I got to know Ormond during my days at RCAF Portage La Prairie. He was with Ferry Flight at Trenton then, and used to do his refueling at Portage rather than Winnipeg because it was always a faster turnaround . . . and he loved to show off to the students sputtering around the circuit in their Chipmunks (and then Musketeers).
Somehow or other, he discovered I still had my Student Study Manuals for the Hawker Sea Fury from my old Navy days (I too, switched over from RCN to RCAF). He borrowed them and had them copied so that he finally had something written down about the Sea Fury systems. From that, it was one thing then another, to a point that (a) at his request, I produced a 1/72nd scale model of a Sea Fury in RAF Tactical colours & markings for him (he refused to have it in NAVY markings – the model was eventually presented to the CEO of Canadian Pacfic Airlines in exchange for the final paint job on the Sea Fury), (b) drove all the way up to Cold Lake, Alberta, to spend a week helping him strip 600 lbs of armour plate out of it (amoung other things), and finally (c) driving all the way south to East Alton, Illinois, to act as his crewman for the big airshow they had down there.
Ormond was (in)famous for his scrounging of parts, and whenever he flew through Portage. I would invariably get a phone call informing me that he’d been “rabbitting” Air Force parts again and using my name to do it. The O2 system in the Sea Fury was made entirely of Tutor parts.
I have a number of personal photos of Ormond and the Sea Fury as well as some shots taken the day of his final departure from Canadian shores with his T33 “Black Knight”.
And his continued use of his old RCAF rank long after Integration resulted in more than one senior officer reading him the riot act. (I believe some were quite jealous he was able to get away with it)
I was at Prep school with the Haydon-Baillie brothers. We all lost contact with each other and I was searching for information on long-lost school pals when I stumbled across this site. To say I am devastated to read of the tragic loss of a great fun guy, is an understatement. I fondly remember the day he could have killed me (or each other), we used to have gun fights at our farm and at his suggestion we eventually used real .22 lead pellets – to make it more interesting! So I guess he hadn’t changed much since I last saw him. Any photos will be greatfully received by me, e-mail john@walker-plant.co.uk
Als 13 jähriger Junge war ich damals, am 3 Juli 1977, gemeinsam mit meinem Vater und Bruder auf dem Flugtag in Finthen. Ich sehe es noch so als ob es gestern war wie die Mustang mit den beiden Insassen abhob, mein Vater sagte, dass der Pilot den Zuschauern noch zugewunken hätte. Die Maschine flog Richtung Lerchenberg, wo sie dann über dem Wald mit einem dumpfen Geräusch unvermittelt abstürzte .
Im ersten Moment dachten viele, die Maschine muss doch gleich wieder hinter den Bäumen auftauchen.
Die bedrückte Stimmung der Zuschauer nach diesem schlimmen Ereigniss ist mir noch in guter Erinnerung.
Viele gingen zur Unfallstelle im Wald, auch mein Vater und ich…
Noch immer begeistere ich mich für alles was fliegt, wenn ich aber eine Mustang sehe denke ich an diesen Tag.
Gruß, Günter S.
I work with a fellow Larry Smith of CA who was at the crash he was working with Ormond that day I feel like I was there myself Larry has told me many details of that day. Feel free to contact me if you wish Larry has photos ect from his time spent with Ormond
Mick, I would be very interested to hear from Larry. I have a few photos of Ormond, but I would still like to see some of him in action, especially his T33 Black Knight. my email address is: john@walker-plant.co.uk
I was stationed at the Finthen Army Airfield from 1976-1978 in the 91st Ord Det., 708th Maintenance. Was at the airshow the day this accident happened, it was long time ago and don’t remember many of the details. I do remember wanting to go for a ride in it, they were charging the equivalent of $50 for a ride in it and it was more then I wanted to spend. I remember seeing it go straight down and disappear behind the trees. I also remember going over to the crash sight. The only thing I remember about that was that it was not burning and it looked as though a parachute was partially deployed.
While I was station at Fithen, I met Ormond while he was flying the Seafury. He had a fuel problem and I assisted him to get it fixed. Later on that year we rode a train together to work on the F-86 Sabre. I returned to the states to see my family when I recieved a call from his Family informing me of his death and of the child. I was to return and help him restore the F-86 Sabre. After his death, there was no reason to return. He was a great friend to me, a mentor and what a great pilot he was. I do have pictures of him flying at Fithen coming straight at me with the SeaFury down the runway. He is greatly missed, I really wanted to come back and work on his aircraft.
Does anyone know what happened to the F-86 Sabre Jet Ormand was working on?
TommyWatson -> My F86 Sabre Paint Scheme (1/12/2006 11:48 AM)
I am about to paint my BVM F86. I have had it in my head for some time to do it in the “Last Chase” colours. For those that dont know there was as movie in the early 80’s that featured a Black F86 chasing a Porsche racing car across the US. I have several photos that I got from a video capture but the quality was poor. I got onto a site all about F86’s and asked the guy if he had any photos of the real aircraft.
It seem that the particular F86 had a really interesting career. This is what Duncan sent me:-
“The aircraft was indeed loaned from Flight Systems – it was a Canadair Sabre 6, c/n 1600, built for the Luftwaffe. It first flew on 17Jun57, and served first with WaffenSchule 10 at Oldenburg, then as a civilian target tug as D9538 with Condor Flugdienst at Westerland on Sylt Island. After its flying career was finished it moved to technical school TSLw 3 at Fassberg. It was one of a number bought by Ormond Haydon Baillie in 1978, and after dismantling was stored briefly at Wroughton, UK. Haydon-Baillie was killed in a P-51 crash that year and the whole lot were sold to Flight Systems Inc., of Mojave CA. C/n 1600 was registered to them as N1039C in Apr79, and its appearance in film ‘The Last Chase’ came around November that year.
The aircraft was re-registered N82FS in Oct81, and served FSI as a target tug for a while. It was then registered to Gerald A Smith & Connie L Smith/Smith & Sons Aircraft, Paso Robles, CA and was re-registered again, this time as N186JC in Jun93, and painted in Skyblazers c/s as ‘31186’. It was then sold to Steve Snyder, Lumberton NJ, who flew it at many airshows. Sadly Snyder was killed in the aircraft on 19 June 1999 at South Jersey Regional Airport during a low-level pass.
Thanks for the update, glad to hear it was restored. Sorry to hear about Mr. Snyder’s death.
Scott
I was in the area and saw the crash at about mile away. I saw a P-51 (Or a later version of the plane) in a loop. I love watching the old war birds! At the bottom of the loop the plane disappeared behind some trees and then a huge fireball. I read later that it was a pilot and a mechanic in the plane. This is what I remember. Finthen Arey Airfield. (1977?) I was at Lee Barracks in Mainz at the time.
I was a young Soldier (27) at the time of the crash. As a Military Police I was there to keep the crowd away from any type of danger at the airfield, the day was very hot and everybody was having a good time, when this airplane took off and not even a five minutes later the plane went down, as military police we went down the woods to the scene to protect the area, I remember pieces of the body in the ground, is been a long long time, and I still can remember……I was assigned to the 60th MP Det at the time outside Lee Barracks
Sorry I did not place my name on the above comment…
I was a Meteorologist at Gimli when Ormond was there. Yes, I remember the names listed above such as Pete Presidente, etc. I was there when the T-33 went into the lumber yard after watching it for several minutes doing dives. I seem to remember a pilot pushing the limit and running out of fuel at Comox after crossing the Rockies
I helped Ormond replace a wing on his beloved “Fury” – in Calgary – can’t remember the year. I also assisted him in repairing the pitch control of the prop on the Fury when he first acquired the aircraft. ( this was also in Calgary at Field Aviation Co.Ltd. )
Ormand was in the military with my eldest brother ( also a pilot )on the CT- 114 Tutors at CFB Gimli MB.
I’m glad I tripped upon your website !
All the very best:
J.M. (Jim) Bristowe
Came across this site quite by accident and was surprised to see the name Jim Harris and Marty Ryan. Was stationed in Gimli from 1967 til it closed in 71. Knew OHB well, both by reputation and personally. I was transferred from the big G to Ottawa in 71 and again ran into OHB at 414 Sqn. He had most of half a hangar for his Hawker Sea Fury and had the engine torn apart and laid out on the hangar floor. It had a seized piston and what a job to get it out. I believe it was a Centaurus engine and used a sliding sleeve and port rather than conventional valves. When he finally got the engine back together those of us who had lent a hand were invited to watch him do the test flight. It took place in the evening and when that engine finally caught I remember the flames shooting out of the exhaust and the magnificent sound of that big radial. Have some very fond memories of Gimli and Ottawa and would like to touch base with both Jim and Marty. I retired from the military in 1988 and moved to Kelowna BC where I still am.
I flew in the backseat of the Mustang from Duxford to Stanstead where Larry Smith got in and flew to Germany. After Ormonds death the collection was sold, and the Blenheims [ Canadian Bollinbrokes ] where bought by Graham Warner. The original ground crew moved over to work for Graham Warner.Today the most of the Team work for John Romain who now runs “The Aircraft Restoration Company” at Duxford
I got to know Ormond as a 14 year old boy .
I lived in Ricmond BC under the path of main runway to vancouver int
When i saw that sleek seafury pass over I had to go out there
I went out there on my bike and asked Ormond if i could wash his plane for him
He gave me walk around of the plane /then put me in cockpit what a thrill
He was quite the gentleman/ pilot made big imppression on me
I met him a year latter at a British Air Show
He said to me when he saw me My little Canadian Friend how are you
I tried to get in airforce latter but due eye sight didnt make the grade
I have my private pilots lisense now
Ormond was great man/ gentleman
Best regards
Graeme Peters
I had just finished my private pilot training at Mount Hope airport just south of Hamilton Ontario and had the priveledge of watching the maintenance being done to OHB’s Sea Fury. I remember the day Orman was leaving in the Black Knight T-33 for somewhere east. He made a longer takeoff roll than I thought was normal but I swear he raised the gear while the wheels were within inches of the runway,stayed at that altitude, accelerating to enough speed to pull the Jet straight up through a cloud deck which was probably around 2000 feet and we thought that he had departed,not so, because a few minutes later he descended below the cloud deck a did a low and over before departing the area. Quite a sight for a young guy who was flying around in a two or four seat Cessna from Condor Aviation.I didn’t realize he had been killed until I saw a picture of his P-51 on the cover of some British publication in variety store. What a shock,I will never forget that day.
Tom Maxted: I read your post and passed it on to Al Lawson who also lives in Vancouver. He is retired now but next time I am out west we will see if we can meet up and if we can, remember the old days. I was just looking at a website that had photos of the base and yes the old 3 hangar etc are still there. although not in great shape….kind of like us 🙂
Jim Harris
I was stationed with the 205th ASH Company and was on the tarmac to witness this crash. The rumor through the crowd was that the young boy on board was the pilot’s son. I was happy to read he was not on board, but saddened as everyone was to see such a tragedy unfold before our eyes.
Scott Laugel
205th ASH Company
FAAF, Germany
I met Ormond when I was a young man (about 15) at Mount Hope. My father owned and flew a Harvard Mk IV. He hung around the group that formed Canadian Warplane Heritage. So we had some Warbirds flying around. I have many fond memories getting into a dog fights when he had his Sea Fury in Hamilton. He took me up in his T33, the Black Knight once, back seat was almost the same as a Harvard. If I recall he also had a silver T33. I recall he use to get me to pull the prop thru on his Sea Fury. I use to charge him a plate of french fries and a Coke. He was trying to get me to join the RAF like my father and he did. He was a great guy to me, and I have often thought of him.
I met Ormond Haydon-Baillie in 1976 or 1977, when working at MTU Muenchen. He visited the firm to hunt for engines (MTU had some licence-built Orendas which might have been suitable for one of his aircraft) and was passed to me – I think perhaps because my German colleagues were at a loss about how to deal with him! He was certainly larger than life, came across as a very cultured personality, very easy to talk to, but very forceful. Gave me some publicity material for his collection which I still have somewhere in store. As a young-minded 26 year old I didn’t have the aggression or the position in the firm to help him with his wishes, though I would have liked to. I did try to research the situation for him, and spoke with Ed Whittering who had been involved with Orenda for MTU at one time. My day with Ormond ended with me driving him to a posh restaurant near Odeonsplatz in Munich where he had an assignation with a German lady of noble descent, I forget her exact name. I think he must have used me to interpret for him. I heard later that he had been killed, but never knew the details until now.
I think the name of the lady you mention might have been Gabrielle Vogler ( not sure about the spelling). I have just stumbled across this site, and have many fond memories of assisting OHB both in the UK and in Germany, but thankfully I did not see the crash, being away overseas at the time. It was a great shock to hear of the accident some time well after the event. A true Gentleman, aviator and engineer I feel honoured to have known.
There was a lady called Gabrielle who was with Ormond for a while until his death in germany, Her father owned a car dealership in Germany. I met her when she came to Duxford, I was a member of his ground crew and talked to Gabrielle as i had spent several years in Germany.
There was a german boy who helped clean the Mustang, He was the one who was killed in the crash. German TV filmed the crash
In early January 1969 I and my two children Evan and Amelia had just flown into Seattle Airport (Seatac) where we had been diverted as the only fog free airport, on our way to Vancouver B.C.
Some airlines had commendeered a bus, still wet and gasless from the ski slopes, to send it to Vancouver.
I was the only person on the packed bus who knew where Vancouver International Airport was as everyone else were from some other place.
I was asked by the driver to sit in the first seat behind him and direct him and directly behind me was a good looking man in Airforce uniform. During the close to 4 hour trip to Vancouver we talked and I learned his name Ormond Haydon-Baillie and he was going to Jericho Forces Base on English Bay in Kitsilano.
A few weeks or months later I saw a picture of him flying a WW11 fighter plane among the hi-rise towers in Vancouver and of course I cut it out and saved it.
I have always remembered him because he was such a nice man and with such an unusual name.
Last night I dreamt about him and in my dream he introduced himself to me and reminded me that we knew each other from our bus trip. But I couldn’t remember his first name so as soon as I got up this morning I googled him up and was shocked to see that he had been killed only a few years after I had met him. I believe that even dreams are meant to be so I wonder why I just dreamt about him when I hadn’t heard about him for years.
Pat Henson, Vancouver B.C.
Hi
I was stationed at finthen airfield may 1977 to may 1980 with the 205th aviation company. I was at the airshow on saturday and sunday. I remember they were working on the P-51 and it did not fly on saturday while i was there. On sunday it cranked up, taxied out and tookoff, it then flew down wind close to a piper aztec aircraft, went up, fliped over and dove into the ground behind the treeline. years later I heared thet it was the elavator control tube that failed from a previous repair.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE
Mr. Gagliani, thanks for the update on Ormond’s accident. I was station with D-TRP 3/8 CAV. I worked with him At Finthen back in 1976 . I was working on the F-86 he owned and had worked an electrical issue on the Sea Fury. I left in September to see my family and was going to return when I heard the news of his death. He was a true gentlemen and great pilot. Thanks again for the update.
Scott Wardle
Hi Scott
Just by chance i decided to search the web and see if there was anything on the web about the crash and found this site. I was a avionics tech in the 205th avn co at the time. Ran into another guy at fort gordon years later who saidit was the elavator control tube that failed. Dont know how factual this is. I was looking over thecaircraft saturday while they worked on it. Anf was there sunday near the aircraft when he cranked up and taxied out.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE
I saw this site about 5 years ago, commented on it but never heard what was the root cause of the accident. Thanks for responding to me.
I accidently came across this site today. In the summer/fall of 1973 I spent two months assisting Ormond dismantle and crate his two Bolingbroke aircraft and 19 Mercury engines for shipment to Engdland. RCAF pilots Bart Bourne and Bill Allan visited Ormond one day at CFB Winnipeg. Ormond left behind a set of wings for them to have. During the retrieval and crating process I managed to document on film the daily activities. Slowly, I’m compiling a story for Warbirds International documenting Ormond’s Bolinbgroke retrieval project and the post-war RCAF surplus aircraft sale of Bolingbrokes and Fairey Battles in Manitoba. Orrmond offered me a ride in his T-33 for assisting him, but I declined his offer.
The story of Ormond beating up Gimili in a CF-5 callsign “Schooner” is identical to that told by F/L George Sangster who worked in the Gimli control tower at the time. Ormond landed the jet in Winnipeg and successfully taxied to the parking apron when the fuel tanks went dry.
Sangster also termed the cine film made at Gimli by Ormond as a Hollywood success story. It was so highly valued for its entertainment content, a high ranking officer kept the film for personal safekeeping. I suspect it still exists in a private collection somewhere in Canada.
Ormond was a “super” scrounger. I plan encouraging an acquaitance who knew him at Cold Lake to provide recollections of Ormond’s dealings that conflicted with air force policy. Stay tuned.
Norman Malayney, Winnipeg, MB
Norm –
If you still have my e-mail address, drop a line and let’s compare notes of O*HB.
Bill
If anyone has any information on the crash of a Tutor on Hecla Island March 1969 that killed Lt Richard W. Blake please contact lynneirwin@hotmail.com.
Klaus Thiessen After watching a TV-documentation about P-51 Mustang-oldtimer-activities my thoughts and memories returned to summer 1977 and Mainz-Finthen Airfield, where I witnessed a P-51 crash. Since I still recalled the pilots name I decided to have a look into the internet and was quite astonished to find so many contributions concerning Ormond Haydon and his last flight. I am a glider pilot and very much interested in aviation, specially in glider- and oldtimer aerobatics. I was 40 years old and being hardly arrived on the airfield, accompanied by 2 of my sons, we saw the yellow Mustang moving ahead right in front of us, ready for takeoff. And all what followed was minutely observed by me and my sons and it still remained conserved in photographic intensity in my memory since that time. The P-51 took off in westerly direction, and soon, at low altitude, turned left for almost 180 degrees, crossed the southern airfield area ineastward direction,still remaining in low altitude (about 100 feet),apparently in order to gain speed. Then abruptly rose up at a pretty steep angle, estimated 40 to 45 degrees. Shortly after the begin of the climb the pilot rolled the plane into a 360° spin and then continued the climb upside down. And then, evidently before he had gained enough height for doing this voluntarily, the plane, still flying upside down,came imto a loop downward. I stared to what was develloping ,just for a short instant expecting a surprising aerobatic trick, but an instant later it was clear: The downward loop could’nt possibly be completed before hitting the ground. And so the Mustang, far by having regained horizontal flying position ran into the forest about a mile away,at an angle of estimated 30 degrees. No fire, no smoke was seen. For me, in this moment it was completely clear, that there had been no chance of survival, whereas a lot of people around us had’nt quite comprehended what had happened until a public anouncement came over,saying that “the worst had to be expected”. Instantly reflecting what I had seen, Iwas quite sure, the plane had suffered a stall due to this steep and not sufficiently fast climb in this inverted flight position. (Only later on, when I heard of the tragedy of the young boy, I wondered whether there might have been possible other additional problems as, for instance, the boy dropping out of his seatbelts in the inverted flight phase, or, an uncontrolled grip to the throttle, or whatsoever technical problem. Anyway, it was quite clear, that the downward loop out of this height could hardly have beena result of an experienced pilots voluntary action. A stall was quite evident.
Dear All, if anyone is intrested of the newspaper articals about this accident, including fotos before and after the crash you can contact me via webmaster…rgds Michael
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE
Michael, please send me photo’s and information. I was working on the F-86 and had to return to the states, heard the news about Ormond and never heard anything from anyone about coming back over, so I stayed stateside. Appreciate what you can send me.
Again thanks,
Scott Wardle
Dear Scott,
would do that, but need your e-mail address.
brgds
Michael
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE
Michael, thanks for the quick response. Here are both of my e-mails
Thanks again
rand.s.wardle.ctr@mail.mil
wardler@cox.net
Dear Michael.
I am an old school friend of Ormond and after losing contact with him, was devastated to hear of his accident (some 30 years later). I would love to be included in the information that you have, as I have heard so many conflicting reports. I have posted on this blog previously for information and now have considerable material on his life within the Royal Canadian Air Force, which I really appreciate. It would mean a lot to me to get the correct version of his remaining hours on this planet.
Regards, John Walker
Dear John,
give me you e-mail…..
brgds
Michael
Sorry Michael, I forgot. It is: john@walker-plant.co.uk
Michael, I have not heard from you,
Regards John
I recently found some old photographs, and amongst them was a picture I took of CF-OHB (Sea Fury), taxiing on the ramp at CFB Moose Jaw, probably in 1970. As I recall, Bill Ewing and I wound up doing some work on the bird (replaced a wing actuator?), for the ever-affable OHB. Some may view it as him shamelessly cadging free work from a couple of enlisted grunts, but, I was at the time and am now especially grateful for the experience to contribute (even insignificantly) to such a magnificent flying machine.
On a subsequent nostalgia trip on my computer, I came upon this site, recognized a number of old names and thought I’d share some memories.
My memory of OHB himself is that he seemed larger than life, more a celebrity than an officer. To a green LAC, he had the air of supreme self-confidence that inspired awe independent of his rank. Such was his charisma, I would’ve probably worked on his plane for him if it was a Cessna 140.
I was on TD from CFBMJ to Chilliwack in 1970, and I wheedled some time off to attend the Abbotsford airshow. I dabbled with cartooning and art in those days and I was allowed to attend the airshow as an “illustrator”, which I did. In addition to a sketch of CF-OHB, I also still have the rest of the sketches I did that weekend; Neil Rose’s immaculate Harvard (in “Hurricane” Camo), Bob Hoover’s Shrike and “Miss America”, Art Schol’s Super Chippy, RAF Vulcan, Thunderbird Phantom, etc. The intent at the time was to eventually turn the sketches into paintings, but that never happened.
Thanks to Bill Ewing and his impressive contacts, I got to spend an extended informal evening with a number of the show pilots, including OHB, Rose and others, trading tall tales. One I distinctly remember was listening to Frank Geelan describe “discovering” a lomcevak in his Harvard. Good times, indeed.
Cheers
John Parsons
Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in many an eon!! John. How goes the battle? Please contact me direct at westwing@mymts.net and we can recall old times together.
I was enrolled in an cinematography class in 1971 and wanted to film an air race for my final project. I managed to make friends with Frank Sanders (another grand guy) who was going to race his Sea Fury at the Mojave 1000 race (in Southern California, near Edwards AFB) that fall. This was a 1000 km race, with the aircraft taking off two at a time. The aircraft were towed down the taxiway before the crowd and staged two by two along the runway. OHB staged his Sea Fury and then went on down to the end of the line of aircraft to where (if I remember correctly) he had a vehicle parked. He rummaged around in the rear of the vehicle, pulled out a long belt of 20mm rounds, flipped it over his shoulder, and calmly walked down the line of other aircraft. When he got to his Sea Fury, he climbed up on the wing, opened a magazine door, and proceeded to load the belt into the wing. I heard a number of comments like “Where do I file a protest with the race officials?” and “Better be careful passing him.” I think it was OHB who was wearing an Aussie hat, brim turned up on one side, with a large button on the upturned brim that said “American engines turn backwards”.
OHB, to 22 year old kid, really did seem bigger than life. It’s been great to read the preceding comments and learn much more about one of the great air show pilots.
Thanks everyone.
Tom Curlee
In the 1970’s as a full member of the Essex Aviation Group, we had Museum premises on Duxford airfield……Ormond was based here and between the two hangers had a small caravan painted black with the white Knights head adorning its side…..sometimes he would arrive in an Aston Martin….sometimes a Rolls Royce which we were told was his Fathers…on occasions he would stop outside our building on a Sunday lunch time, bodies would pile in and pile out again when we got to the pub in Duxford village…..Ormond in the chair, would have a tee towel over his arm…deliver everyone their drink personally saying……..to think I was born to be served,,,and Im doing the serving, with the broadest smile across his face. He would talk of times in Canada and when he made his last flight along the coast….picking up others as he went and making low level beat-ups of the airfields as they went. One of our members wore a red base ball cap, Steve Barrett… and out on the airfield was a 4.5 or bofers Anti Aircraft Gun complete with Spider sight fitted….one day after a brief conversation in the tea room Ormond took off in the Sea Fury and our Group photographer Jeff Ball went out to take some photographs of the sortie……our red base ball hatted colleague accompanied him, whilst Jeff started to shoot his pictures……after this occasion it was always said Steve Barrett was very wary of wearing his red cap…….as Ormond was thought to have used it as a focal point for his fast run……my memories of this man, was and always will be, a man who loved life, a phenomenal pilot of exemplary skill one of the pioneer warbird collectors in this country who bought something totally new to the aircraft preservation scene….and had not death robbed him from us I wonder what he would have bought to us today ?……at sixty one today I have so very many happy memories of some of the greatest names in British Aviation…another great name associated with Duxford is the late Neil Williams……but I doubt very much whether anyone who was around in the 1970;s will forget the Black Knight be it in his Hawker Sea Fury WG589 or his Black painted T33 Shooting Star….it was a sad day in June 1977 for a young fifteen year old boy and his family left to mourn him. It was also a very sad day for the Hayden Ballie family and the entire British Aviation movement at the loss of Ormond. I have kept an album with photographs, and I am very proud of a photograph he signed to me standing on the wing of the Sea Fury in his RCAF uniform and leather flying helmet….the Sea Fury FB11 to me was the ultimate Piston engined fighter developed from the stable that was developed by the late Sir Sydney Camm, the same genius that gave us the classic biplanes of the 30,s, the Hawker Hurricane the real saviour of the Battle of Britain….the rest of the ‘Storm’ Fighters until we get to the Sea Fury…which was the absolute best of all his piston built aircraft and which Ormond had painted in his own livery incorporating the Maple leaf spinner for his time in Canada. I think Ormond lived the life for real…of which we aviation anoraks will always dream we’d like to. God look after you Ormond….may all your flights be in clear blue skies, and rest assure you will never be forgotten. Truly the Best of British………………….
Trevor, I was at school with Ormond and have posted on this forum earlier. We lost touch and I was devastated to hear of his tragic death, when I accidently came across this forum. If you have your precious photos of Ormond and his flying friends in electronic format, I would appreciate if you could email me some copies to; john@walker-plant.co.uk
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Martin Ambrose here again. Glad to see this tale lives on.
I spoke to ormand in 1975 at black bush airfield along with Ray Hanna. They were going to do a practice dog fight between sea fury and mh434 spitfire. They stopped traffic along the A30 for 3/4 hr with low level chase. They were then going to do it over Windsor park Ray said they got to keep it to 500 ft impossible Rays comment. What a magical moment that was to watch, later in1977 I Spoke to Pete Shepherd RNHF and he told me Ormand had crashed and that he was flying his sea fury at his memorial. Keith Bailes
I first visited Duxford in 1975 at the ripe old age of 13! I recall to this day having a look in the hangars and looking in awe at what turned out to be OHBs black T33. Someone approached me and I thought I was in trouble!! It was OHB, who, rather than tell me off for being there, engaged me in conversation and sat me in the magnificent machine. I was hooked 🙂 from that day on I never looked back, joined the DAS and spent many happy years restoring various projects.
I became a qualified aeronautical design technician and still have the same passion almost 40 years on. OHB inspired me and I recall to this day the sadness I felt when we were told he had died. Happy memories of him…
Hi Anette ! I was also at Mainz-Finthen that day and I can confirm what several posters have written: “To the spectators, “I-BILL” made a perfect take-off and went around a wooded area nearby, but never to appear again.
Crash and crash site were not visible from the flightline, no column of smoke either, there was only a slight gap in the airshow before flypast of some F-15s from Bitburg AB.”
Although it is 38 years ago and a lot has happened in my life, I recollect that very little was said over the loudspeakers and that the show continued. However, somehow (maybe it was announced before we left) I did know that OHB had died together with his passenger. It all seemed very strange: no smoke, no fire, no sirens. The result of this tragic incident was I resolved never to attend another airshow, and never have although strangely I have attended much more dangerous exhibitions…..
Robin A. Flood, ehmalig Darmstadt Einwohner
I met Ormonds girlfriend in UK with His brother and also visited her in Switzerland. She was devastated by his death