Franz Reichelt’s Eiffel Tower Jump in 1912
Franz Reichelt was an Austrian-born French tailor, inventor and parachuting pioneer, also referred to as the Flying Tailor. He is unfortunately best remembered for jumping to his death from the Eiffel Tower while testing a wearable parachute of his own design.
Emily Davison Killed at the Derby in 1913
She was a militant activist who fought for women’s suffrage in Britain. Emily Davison is best known for stepping in front of King George V’s horse Anmer at the Epsom Derby on June 4, 1913, suffering fatal injuries. Her funeral on June 14, 1913 was organised by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). Thousands of suffragettes accompanied the coffin and tens of thousands of people lined the streets of London.
Frank Lockhart Killed in New Land Speed Record Attempt in 1928
54American race ace Frank Lockhart died while trying to break the land speed record in the smallest-engined car ever to attempt the feat on this day in 1928. He was an American automobile racing driver active in the 1920s, considered by many historians to be a legend.
The Hindenburg Disaster – 35 Fatalities in 1937
The Hindenburg disaster took place on May 6, 1937. The German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, in New Jersey, United States.
Of the 97 people on board (36 passengers and 61 crewmen), there were 35 fatalities (13 passengers and 21 crewmen). One worker on the ground was also killed, making a total of 35 dead.
HMS Barham – 863 Men Killed in 1941
The HMS Barham was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship of Britain’s Royal Navy named after Admiral Charles Middleton, 1st Baron of Barham, built at the John Brown shipyards in Clydebank, Scotland, and launched in 1914.
She was sunk during the Second World War on November 25, 1941 by the German submarine U-331.
The Farnborough Tragedy – 29 Spectators Killed in 1952
The 1952 Farnborough Airshow had an accident involving a de Havilland DH. 110 that killed 29 spectators, the pilot John Derry and the onboard flight test observer Anthony Richards.
Le Mans Disaster – 83 Spectators Killed in 1955
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred on June 12 during the ‘24 Hours of Le Mans motor race’, when a crash caused large fragments of racing car debris to fly into the crowd.
83 spectators and driver Pierre Levegh perished at the scene with 120 more injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history.
Naval Pilot Commander JD Russell Drowns in Sinking Cockpit in 1958
On September 25, 1958 Commander J D Russell drowned in his Supermarine Scimitar after a failed attempt to land on HMS Victorious for the first time after her refit.
Although the landing hook engaged the arrestor wire, the wire itself snapped due to improper rigging and the aircraft then rolled slowly over the side.
It sank very slowly, but the plane-guard helicopter crew couldn’t release the pilot, and it was seen that Commander Russell had opened his canopy and then closed it again, possibly as an effect of gravity on the heavy frame.
Gerard Masselin – The Bird Man’s Fatal Jump in 1963
French daredevil Gerard Masselin plunged to his death on this day in 1963 – after his parachute failed to open properly when he leaped off a plane above Paris.
Masselin, who was 27 years old at the time had an older brother, Guy, who also lost his life in a similar accident two years before.
Donald Campbell Killed in Water Speed Record Attempt in 1967
On January 4, 1967, Donald Campbell died in a 310mph crash in the Lake District while trying to break his own water speed record.
A collision with a duck during test runs caused damage to the aerodynamic shape of Bluebird K7 boat leaving its driver fighting to control it as it reached speeds in excess of 300mph, according to experts who have been studying the crash – reported The Telegraph.
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