Dutch F104 Starfighter crashes during exercise
Dutch Starfighter s/n D-8337 from 312Sqn was participating in exercise 'Mallet Blow' along with wing man D-8061 when it crashed 3 miles West of Alwinton, Northumberland while attacking targets within the Otterburn range complex. The pilot Lt M Sasbrink-Harkema was killed.
Both aircraft were operating out of RAF Coningsby for the duration of the exercise. Later that evening Fokker F27 s/n C-4 arrived at Newcastle Airport in connection with the accident. The same aircraft returned on the 20th to repatriate the body.
Photo: D-8337 at the 1974 Finningley Airshow in 312Sqn colours