ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 140029
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| Date: | Monday 1 February 1960 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Hunting Jet Provost T51 |
| Owner/operator: | Royal Ceylon Air Force |
| Registration: | CJ704 |
| MSN: | Set Number 2 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Negombo Lagoon, Western Province, Ceylon -
 Sri Lanka
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Colombo/Katunayake Air Base, Sri Lanka (VCBI) |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
The Royal Ceylon Air Force bought 12 Jet Provost Mk 3 Aircraft in late 1959/60. They were the armed version and they called them the T51. The first six (Royal Ceylon AF serials CJ701-CJ706) were delivered by 28.1.1960
Whilst rehearsing for the Independence Day Fly Past, the aircraft experienced a flame out shortly after take-off. Crashed into the Negombo Lagoon, Western Province, Ceylon [at approximate Coordinates 7°09′N, 79°51′E]. Pilot Officer Noel H. Lokuge ejected safely at 350 feet at 115 knots, landed in the lagoon, and made history as the first-ever Royal Ceylon Air Force pilot to eject from his aircraft. According to Pilot Officer Lokuge himself:
"I was Number three, in a formation of 6 Jet Provosts, practising for the independence day fly past, which was on the 4th of February [1960] Soon after take off and at about 1,000 feet up, I noticed that my aircraft was falling out of the formation. I realized my engine had flamed out; I tried two relights, but unfortunately the engine did not respond. By that time I had to turn the aircraft away from Negombo Town, a highly populated area, and glided the aircraft to a safe area over the Negombo lagoon.
I lost a lot of height at the same time. When I was clear and at 350 feet, I used the face blind handle and ejected. At first I waited until the canopy got released, (this was the longest second of my life!) Then, I was shot out of the Aircraft
I felt a tumbling sensation, and then I think I blacked out. next I found myself hanging on my parachute, but only for a few seconds because I hit the water and went under, My next nightmare was to release the Clip on my parachute buckle, which I did under water. The rest was a routine which we had practiced many times and maybe my subconcious mind took over, for I went for my life jacket CO2 bottle, and as I surfaced I pulled the cord of my Dinghy inflated it and got on board.
As I was floating on my Dinghy I noticed a few aircraft overhead. I was towed to shore by some fishermen. Later I ended up in The RAF hospital at Negombo. As I did not have any injuries I was out of hospital in the evening. The next day I had to fly again in a Jet Provost with our chief Flying instructor. (I believe this is normal procedure after an accident)"
Pilot officer Noel H. Lokuge retired from the air force a Squadron leader in 1976
Note; there is a Jet Provost T51 on display at the Sri Lanka AF Museum, Ratmalano, Colombo painted up as "CJ704", this is not the true identity of this aircraft!
Sources:
1. http://web.archive.org/web/20120420030853/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/Biographies/SRI_LANKA/lokuge_noel/lokuge_noel_r.htm
2. http://www.jetprovostfile.org/overseas-jet-provost-strikemaster-histories/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandaranaike_International_Airport#SLAF_Katunayake
4. http://www.airforce.lk/60thanniversary/pages.php?pages=the_first_jets_arrive
5. http://web.archive.org/web/20120420030853/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/Biographies/SRI_LANKA/lokuge_noel/lokuge_noel_r.htm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Nov-2011 21:36 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 23-Nov-2011 21:40 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, Narrative] |
| 30-Jan-2015 20:28 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Registration, Cn, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Jan-2015 20:36 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Jan-2015 20:51 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Jan-2015 21:56 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 26-Dec-2021 09:51 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator] |
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