Helicopter Accidents

Year 1964 accidents

Westland Wasp Accidents

Year	Version	C/N
1964	Wasp	f.9550	81 : w/o 16 Jun 1964.
1964	Wasp	f.9555	86 : Off the SA south-west coast;;Lt. Andy Kapp and I were the 2 SAAF pilots aboard the naval destroyer 'Simon vd Stel'. On the day before the accident, we had been doing 'Vectac' operations with the ship near Cape Columbine, when Andy's Wasp broke an oil cooler shaft. Andy volunteered to take 'my' Wasp 86 to Ysterplaat at 6 a.m. the next morning to get a replacement. Kees van Wolbeek was the photographer who took a lift the back of the Wasp, also to fetch some part. When the Wasp ditched, I don't think Kees wore a 'May West' or any flotation gear and he must have drowned, as the Wasp would have turned upside down upon hitting the water. We flew 'front doors' off, for the pilot and flight engineer's safety. Ysterplaat found and picked up the 2 crew members in their dinghy at around 10 a.m. Lt. Robert Schimmel (Bob)