Photo: B. Chandler

Acknowledgments to S.C. Knox.

Simon Glancey has provided the following:

The pilot of Hurricane II Z2893 FT-L was testing out a new ‘anti-g’ suit when he crashed near Belford in a low level high speed stall. Tests on the suit were afterwards suspended. The pilot, R/67277 F/Sgt Harley (Hank) Joseph Helbock RCAF, aged 22, was a blond giant of a man from New York, USA.

(Source: NAD, Walton, page 107)

From No 43 ‘Fighting Cocks’ Squadron by Andy Saunders. Osprey Publishing.

The month of April was marred by the death of American Flt Sgt H J Helbock on the 5th, who was killed in Hurricane Z2983 while testing the Franks Suit. Performing a high speed stall too near to the ground, the Hurricane crashed at South Side Farm, Belford. The subsequent enquiry found that Helbock had disobeyed orders, which were to avoid all violent manoeuvres below 10,000 feet. Whether the Franks Suit had been a contributory factor in the accident, or whether it had served in giving Helbock undue confidence is not clear. However, the ORB for the end of April noted that No 43 Sqn’s tests on the Franks Suit were still ongoing.

(Source: http://www.rafcommands.com/dcforum/DCForumID6/Data/5232.txt)

Northumberland Aviation Diary: Aviation Incidents from 1790-1999 ; Derek Walton; Norav Publications; 1999; ISBN 0 9536189 0 0

"In This Quiet Lane" Chevington and Broomhill in World War Two ; J.H. Hardy; 200; Glen Graphics; ISBN 1 900038 75 7

Their Corner of a Foreign Field A Guide and Tribute to the Commonwealth and Exiled Airmen who are buried in the Scottish Border; Peter Clark; 2002; Glen Graphic, ISBN 190003850 1

Harley Joseph Helbock is remembered in Chevington on C27.03 which carries no names but the list was included on the Unveiling Programme.

The CWGC entry for Flight Sergeant Helbock