Cause of Death: |
Died in Aircraft Accident, Junkers #647, took off in a Ju86 and climbed over to the Pakhuis Mountains near Clanwilliam in dreadful weather, on a flight to transfer urgent spares to the Swartkops Air Station. The court of inquiry heard - Whilst flying in a valley bad visibility, low cloud, rain and with a strong westerly wind the pilot tried to climb over the mountains. When near the summit and in a steep climb a cloud suddenly blew over the top and curled down. The aircraft disappeared into this and crashed into the mountain, burst into flames and was destroyed. Blinkhorn and his three passengers were all killed, with the wreck only being discovered and recovered some time later. The aircraft (in sections) is on display at the S.A.A.F. Museum, Pretoria |
Additional
Information: |
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Blinkhorn, of Cape Town. Born October 1900 at London, England. Enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company, Reserve Battalion (No. 12401) on 5 November 1918, seeing no active service overseas (no Medal entitlement). A mechanical engineer, he emigrated to South Africa with his wife and child, settling in Wynberg, Cape Town. During the 1930s he learn to fly at Young's Field under Captain Duk and purchased a Spartan, also owning a Puss Moth and Leopard Moth. By the time of the Second World War was a Company Director upon his enlistent in the South African Air Force on 24 September 1940. Posted to the Reserve Communication Squadron as 2nd Lieutenant, he thence joined No. 61 Squadron and was advanced Captain. During the next five years, he racked up nearly 3000 hours flying and had carried 5083 passengers on his flights, including politicians, military officials and fellow pilots. |
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