Kevin Winterbottom
Encyclopedia
Kevin Roy Winterbottom was a South African Air Force
(SAAF) pilot who chose to avoid crashing his stricken Impala
jet aircraft in the Monument Park
suburb of Pretoria
by remaining with his aircraft to the end. He was posthumously awarded the 25th Honoris Crux
decoration for bravery, the first such award for gallantry outside battle. The HC was at the time South Africa's highest military decoration that could be awarded in peacetime.
, Transvaal Province
, South Africa
. He attended Pretoria Boys High School
where he matriculated in 1972.
at the time of his death.
On the morning of 9 June 1976, Winterbottom was piloting Atlas MB326KM Impala Mk II #1022. While making his approach to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base an engine failure due to a bird strike
left him with no thrust and insufficient altitude to reach the airfield. His options were to eject and risk the aircraft crashing with possible casualties in the suburban areas of Waterkloof
or Monument Park
in Pretoria, or to remain with his aircraft and guide it away from populated areas. He chose the latter, steering his aircraft to crash in a small deserted recreation park where he was killed instantly on impact.
Winterbottom's ashes were scattered at the SAAF Memorial.
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
(SAAF) pilot who chose to avoid crashing his stricken Impala
Aermacchi MB-326
The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...
jet aircraft in the Monument Park
Monument Park, Gauteng
Monument Park is a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa. It is at the start of the R21 Highway....
suburb of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
by remaining with his aircraft to the end. He was posthumously awarded the 25th Honoris Crux
Honoris Crux
The Honoris Crux Decoration was a South African military decoration that was awarded from 1952 to 2003. There were two distinct versions.-First type:...
decoration for bravery, the first such award for gallantry outside battle. The HC was at the time South Africa's highest military decoration that could be awarded in peacetime.
Early life
Winterbottom was born in PretoriaPretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He attended Pretoria Boys High School
Pretoria Boys High School
Pretoria Boys High School, also known as Boys High or PBHS, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for boys located in Brooklyn, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa....
where he matriculated in 1972.
Service and fatal accident
Winterbottom joined the SAAF in 1973, entering Officer and Pilot training. He was serving with 4 Squadron4 Squadron SAAF
4 Squadron SAAF was a South African Air Force squadron which served during World War II. It was resurrected in 1951 and remained active until 1958. Its final period of active service was from 1961 to 1991...
at the time of his death.
On the morning of 9 June 1976, Winterbottom was piloting Atlas MB326KM Impala Mk II #1022. While making his approach to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base an engine failure due to a bird strike
Bird strike
A bird strike—sometimes called birdstrike, avian ingestion , bird hit, or BASH —is a collision between an airborne animal and a man-made vehicle, especially aircraft...
left him with no thrust and insufficient altitude to reach the airfield. His options were to eject and risk the aircraft crashing with possible casualties in the suburban areas of Waterkloof
Waterkloof
Waterkloof is a suburb of the city of Pretoria, South Africa. It is named after the original farm that stood there when Pretoria was founded in the 19th Century. Located to the east of the city centre, Waterkloof is a leafy, established area that is home to some of the city's most expensive real...
or Monument Park
Monument Park, Gauteng
Monument Park is a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa. It is at the start of the R21 Highway....
in Pretoria, or to remain with his aircraft and guide it away from populated areas. He chose the latter, steering his aircraft to crash in a small deserted recreation park where he was killed instantly on impact.
Winterbottom's ashes were scattered at the SAAF Memorial.