Leeds United & LBA

[Robert E]

Hello everyone, I was here 4 years ago seeking help for a novel about John Charles. The novel 'The Gigante' came out last year and some of you were very helpful with my research. It's doing well, thank you all!

I'm currently finishing a history book on Leeds United FC and there are two events I wonder if any of you could help clarify, the bottom one is very vague.

The first is a rare photo we have of a private chartered from Budapest (I think) to Leeds after LU played Ujpest Dozsa of Hungary on 9th March 1966. The photographer's notes say the Aer Lingus BAC 1-11 was the first short range jet airline to visit Leeds Bradford Airport. Could anyone help a 'simple layman' like me please with any more simple detail to go in the book?

Could anyone advise how to look for a 'near miss' which was kept confidential from the media? It was another Leeds United flight to LBA (but uncompleted) as it had to emergency land in Norwich (I believe) on 21st March 1973 after the 'plane encountered some emergency. I'm told by an ex Leeds player that it was from Bucharest to Leeds and was a near disaster but kept from the media for reasons I'm unaware of. His memories aren't strong but I do know that it happened, unfortunately the club's secretary who told me about it is no longer with us.

Any help would be much appreciated and like last time I would be honoured/ delighted to credit any individuals and this website.
Thank you very much for your time.

 

[oldendays]

White Heather, perhaps you can shed some light on these queries, in view of the LUFC connection.

 

[lbaspotter]

Sorry I can't be of any help. If I could have I would have.
But its way before my time as I wasn't even born.

 

[Robert E]

Any idea how or who even to ask in Norwich about the 1973 incident? I know it's a long shot.

 

[White Heather]

I have heard nothing at all about the Norwich incident but if they kept it quiet, that probably explains it. The only near disaster involving LUFC team I am aware of is the one during David O'Leary's reign as manager when their Emerald Airways HS748 aborted its take off (after actually leaving the ground) due to engine failure. This took place at Stansted after a match at West Ham.
As for the Aer Lingus BAC1-11, I do recall that LUFC used this airline and type on several occasions and I certainly saw one landing at LBA on runway 32, carrying LUFC, during the 60s or early 70s. What year it was, and who they had played, I couldn't say. All I know it was after 1965 and before 1973. Of course, Aer Lingus operated from LBA to Dublin even then, and once they updated the route from their previous Viscount 800 to a jet operation (flown in conjunction with BKS, then Northeast who continued with Viscounts), the route was always operated by either a 1-11, or a 737 200, although mainly the latter type, as they used to carry freight too, and often used a 737 with a cargo hold in the front of the fuselage and passengers towards the rear.

I have attached a photo of an Aer Lingus BAC1-11 which is NOT my photo and was taken at MAN by a gentleman named Ken Fielding. It cannot be re-produced therefore without his consent. View attachment 13374

 

[Aviador]

There maybe one or two other members who might be able to assist possibly @Seasider

 

[twevsmiff]

As far as I recall the aircraft in question was BAC-1-11-200 EI-ANH which brought Leeds United home from a European Cup tie. This was the first pure jet airliner ever to land at LBA. At the time Aer Lingus were using Fokker Friendships on the Dublin route.

As for the Norwich incident, nothing comes to mind/

 

[blotbuc1]

I can recall going up to the airport to see both the team and especially the first jet airliner to land at LBA, an Aer Lingus BAC 1-11 200. The team were returning from Budapest having drawn 1-1 with Ujpest Doza in the 4th round 2nd leg of Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. I believe they had flown out to Budapest from MAN and only made the return journey to LBA.

 

[Aviador]

Surely any "incident" would have been filed with the CAA or equivalent even back in the 1960s and 70s?

 

[Seasider]

Having been a season ticket holder up to the time I transfered to the East Coast in 1984, I can't recall any such incidents. I thought the first time they used LBA was an Aer Lingus B737 to the European Cup Final in 1975. (I had to fly from EMA on an Invicta Vanguard).

 

[paully]

If this was a near miss then likely would have involved a military aircraft. Timewise it was during the Cold War and would almost certainly have been dealt with by the MoD rather than the Board of Trade (at that time).East Anglia was alive with operational air bases from Binbrook through to Honington including Mildenhall and Lakenheath and many others. Primary radar and ATC was nowhere near advanced as today, so the potential for such misses were high.

May well have been involving an American aircraft, after which the Pentagon would have been consulted.. In which case it was more than likely to have been `buried` by someone.. Just my opinion of course, may well be wrong.

 

[Robert E]

If this was a near miss then likely would have involved a military aircraft. Timewise it was during the Cold War and would almost certainly have been dealt with by the MoD rather than the Board of Trade (at that time).East Anglia was alive with operational air bases from Binbrook through to Honington including Mildenhall and Lakenheath and many others. Primary radar and ATC was nowhere near advanced as today, so the potential for such misses were high.

May well have been involving an American aircraft, after which the Pentagon would have been consulted.. In which case it was more than likely to have been `buried` by someone.. Just my opinion of course, may well be wrong.

Forgive my clumsiness with the wording, when I said 'near miss' I meant as in near disaster rather than other aircraft being involved. I think it was engine trouble and perhaps was kept quiet by the club due to inadequate insurance or something of the players which is possibly what the LU official was trying to tell me at the time.

Thanks everyone. The incident in more recent years is well-covered.

 

[leedslad]

My advice would be to use twitter and ask the question there.

Copying the following accounts will likely aid success

lufcstats
thesquareball
rh0desy
lufctrust
lufcdata
apopey
philhayyep

 

[Robert E]

I am close to most of those in that list and no one knows about the incident. I try to avoid the hell-hole of Twitter and don't want to post research questions on there anyway 🙂

 

[Robert E]

I've emailed Norwich Airport as well as the CAA, thanks all. The item is included in the book but I'd love a bit more official info. Thanks for all your interest and advice, much appreciated.

 

[oldendays]

Long shot, but you could try contacting the likes of Eddie Gray or Peter Lorimer.