Vernon Brown Ch. Insp. Accidents on Balloon Collision Accidents 1941

[Observer1940]

To Sir Henry Tizzard, K.C.B. A.F.C. F.R.S.
(through D.G.A.S.)

"When I saw you the other day we discussed the question of accidents resulting from collision with balloon cables and I told you how serious I thought this was. You may, therefore, care to see the figures from January to October this year which I have just obtained from S.4(Stats)."

... "but I feel that I should not be doing my job if I did not draw attention to this matter."

13.11.41. Vernon Brown
C.I. (Accidents)

72 aircraft had been recorded as impacting balloon cables January to October 1941!

Tizzard's reply shows how complacent the RAF had been and Tizzard in a way excuses the balloon collision figures, by saying that there are no more accidents caused by balloon collisions, than other types of flying accident causes.

Mark