German Tornado crashes during exercise
While participating in the NATO exercise 'Mallet
Blow, a German Tornado IDS belonging to JbG-32 s/n 4445 crashed near
Stannersburn in Kielder, Northumberland killing both crew members -
Pilot - Hans Joachim Schmipf
Navigator - Holgar Zacharias
First to arrive at the crash scene was Sea King HAR.3 XZ587 callsign "Rescue31" from 202Sqn Boulmer. In connection with the accident a number of aircraft visited Newcastle Airport. Namely - Jetstar (1103) and C160D Transall (5064) on the 24th, Hansa Jets (1621 & 1627) on the 25th, C160D Transall (5057) on the 27th to take the bodies home and Hansa Jet (1601) on the 29th.
A memorial stone has since been erected at the Pheasant Inn public house at Dykemans place, Stannersburn dedicated to the crew. Its reads "In memory of our comrades Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Schimpf and Hauptmann Holger Zacharias who, not far away from this place, died in duty for the German Airforce. Fighter-Bomber-Wing 32"