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The Air Force Museum of Alberta, located at The Military Museums in Calgary, hosted a plaque presentation on June 23, 2017, in the Cold War Exhibition area. The plaque honours the life of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Golden Hawk pilot, Flight Lieutenant Jeb Kerr, who died in a mid-air collision near the Calgary International Airport during the Golden Hawks aerobatic performance in Calgary on Aug. 9, 1959. His aircraft collided with a civilian aircraft when he was on final approach to land.
Ken McTavish who witnessed the crash recalled, “That the team had lined up in single file for landing when F/L Kerr, not happy with his landing, overshot to attempt another landing. On the latter part of his circuit, an American grey Piper Tri-Pacer entered the control zone also intending to land on Runway 07. Kerr did not see the Piper and collided with the small aircraft.
“The Tri-Pacer spun down hitting the ground in a gravel pit creating a large plume of grey dust. The Sabre rolled onto its back and dove straight down creating a fire ball and a large column of black smoke.”
Tragically, all three pilots were instantly killed. Later reports stated that the Tri-Pacer had been warned repeatedly to stay out of the Calgary Airport control zone as there was an airshow in progress.
“The Golden Hawks aerobatic team formed in 1959 and toured Canada to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the RCAF and the 50th anniversary of the first powered flight in Canada. The team consisted of six F-86 Sabre jets with a spare aircraft and pilot. The Golden Hawks’ popularity grew as the team toured Canada and large crowds attended every show.”
The plaque, designed by Daniel Goguen of New Brunswick, was presented to the Air Force Museum of Alberta by Kevin Anderson, the executive director of the New Brunswick museum of aviation. The F-86 Sabre was in RCAF service from 1951 to 1963 during which 107 pilots lost their lives.
A fitting tribute to F/L Kerr and the whole Golden Hawk team. Congratulations to the Air Force Museum of Alberta.
Credit should be given to Corporal George Hardy who took the pictures from the rear seat of a T33 flying alongside during all the maneuvers. George was an RCAF photographer who took many aircraft photos. He took many of the Golden Hawks photos.
What a beautiful plaque in honour of my father.Thank you to the Air Force Museum of Alberta,Kevin Anderson and all involved in this tribute.
Hi Kim.
I just happened onto this website and recognizing the subject thought I should add to a reply.
I was one of the two ATC Tower controllers on that day at Calgary International Airport.
When the Golden Hawks made their initial call for landing I was the controller on the Air-Mic.
I gave them landing information and approved their procedure from an enroute formation to separate to a landing formation as they passed over the airport.
Prior to the Hawks landing my Ground Controller took over the Air-Mic and I took over Ground Control position, which are located side by side.
All the maneuvers that the Hawks made while under our control were all approved by the two of us in the tower and they followed the procedures precisely.
During landing and due to turbulence (wingtip vortexes) created from the lead formation which was only a few feet ahead and only a few feet from touchdown the F86 at the back of the formation had no other alternative other than to overshoot and return to the circuit for landing. Which is nothing unusual.
This information is only the introduction to a disastrous outcome with much more information to follow.
As there is much more information to this story prior to the midair it is to lengthly for me to type out for you now.
I and the other controller were called to the many accident investigations related to this accident as key-witnesses.
As a key witness I would like to inform you that your Father, the pilot of this F86, complied with all instructions from the tower given to him.
It was unfortunate that two aircraft had to be in the same place at the same time. The Piper PA22 Tri-Pacer did not abide by instructions given to and received by him. In that era it was prior to radar in Towers so the only visual information the tower had was using binoculars.
I would like to add that the pilots that flew the F86 Golden Hawks were selected as the top qualified pilots in the RCAF. They were the envy of other RCAF pilots and an inspiration to all future pilots to follow.
I met many Golden Hawk pilots and they were very much gentleman and outstanding representatives of Canada.
In closing I would like to say that all blame for the accident went directly to the crew of the PA22.
If you would like more in-depth detail, email me.
Jim Hall
Hi Jim sorry for taking so long to reply..Thank u for the info.It meant a lot to me to know what really happened.Stay safe Kim Kerr
I was there, remember it like yesterday.