Film / Downend
Telling the tale of the Downend air crash
An video by a father and son duo investigates the site of the Downend air crash, which took place on November 6, 1957.
On that day, a Bristol Britannia plane crashed near Ovendale Road in east Bristol while on its route to land in Filton Airport. Everyone on board – 11 technicians and four crew – lost their lives. Despite the aircraft crashing in a residential area, no one on the ground died.
In the six-minute-long video, Lucas Morgan-Stroud, going by the alias Jim, and his father Adam J Morgan, visit Downend and the key historical sites of the disaster.
is needed now More than ever
The 11-year-old presenter takes viewers to the memorial plaque, unveiled on November 3, 2007 by Beryl Statham, the pilot’s widow and through Britannia Wood, named after the plane crash.
Adam and Lucas explore Britannia Woods. Photo: Adam Morgan
The plane crashed into the wooded area, narrowly missing the high street, nearby houses and the local school. The pair created the video after watching a local documentary and then researching the crash online.
“Lucas and myself absolutely love history,” says Adam, who lives in nearby Staple Hill. “We love anything to do with local history so will definitely be making more.”
The video gained more than 1,000 views in less than 48 hours, with comments from people who saw the crash that day adding their stories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aobmewEeNw&feature=youtu.be
“The response has been amazing. Beautiful comments on Facebook and messages from people who witnessed the plane crashing In 1957,” says Adam. “Lucas would love to thank everyone for the support and loved reading about people’s personal memories of that fateful day.
“I myself am so proud at how well he did.”
Main photo: Adam Morgan
Read more: 15 historical photos of Downend
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
