This Day in History: 1953-05-17

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VX762 operated by 850 Sqn RAN collided in mid-air with a DH-82A Tiger Moth at Forest Hill Airport, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales on 17 May 1953. VX762 was one of a formation of six RAN Sea Furies which had taken off from Forest Hill aerodrome, Wagga, for local flying and to return to their base at Nowra. Soon afterwards, at about 10:20 hours, they returned over the aerodrome at low altitude where the leader collided with a civil DH.82A Tiger Moth which had just taken off on local flying practice. The DH.82A Tiger Moth crashed on the aerodrome, the pilot escaping serious injury. The Sea Fury crashed two miles away and the pilot, Lieutenant Commander Reginald Albert Wild DFC, RAN – was killed. He was, at the time, the commanding officer of 850 Squadron, Royal Australian Navy. Sources: ADF-Serials; aviation-safety.net website