Deleted:Kevin Winterbottom
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Template:Infobox aviator Kevin Roy Winterbottom (born 1955) was a South African pilot who chose to avoid crashing his stricken Impala jet aircraft in a suburban area of Pretoria (South Africa) by remaining with his aircraft to the end. He was posthumously awarded the Honoris Crux 2nd Type decoration for bravery. This was at the time South Africa's highest military decoration awarded in peacetime. He was awarded medal no 025.
On the morning of 9 June 1976, 2nd Lieutenant Winterbottom was flying his Impala aircraft making his approach to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria. An engine failure, 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 to away from populated areas. He chose the latter, located a small deserted recreation park and was killed instantly on impact.
Contents
Early life
Winterbottom was born in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
School
He attended Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS) from 1968, matriculating in 1972.
Service
Upon his graduation from school, Winterbottom directly joined the SA Air Force in 1973, entering Officer and Pilot training. He was serving with SA Air Force 4 Squadron at the time of his death.
References
Links
- Honoris Crux [1]
- Remembrance Day service held on 11 November 2008, address by rear-admiral (JG) Derek Christian,
SA Navy. [2]
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