Plaque will be unveiled to Malvern pilot (From Malvern Gazette)

Plaque will be unveiled to Malvern pilot

10:02am Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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RELATIVES of an RAF pilot from Malvern who died in a plane crash 50 years ago will be present at the unveiling of a memorial plaque next month.

Flight-Lieutenant Michael Withey was killed when his Gloster Meteor jet crashed at Kirkcaldy, Fife, on October 18, 1957. Eyewitnesses said the pilot stayed with his plane to prevent it crashing into a built-up area, which included a school.

Kirkcaldy Civic Societ will unveil a memorial to Flt Lt Withey on Monday, September 8, at the town's Dunnikier Park, not far from the crash site.

Present will be Flt Lt Withey's sister Maureen O'Mara, her husband John, their daughter Tracy and her husband, RAF officer Group Captain Andy Dipper, and their son Simon O'Mara.

A piper and padre from nearby RAF Leuchars will attend, along with representatives of the civic society.

"Maureen and I think this is absolutely marvellous," said John O'Mara. "You can imagine how Maureen is feeling, there has been happiness and tears but she is excited nevertheless that her brother Mike is being recognised."

Flt-Lt Withey, who had celebrated his 26th birthday just two days before the crash, was the only son of Mr and Mrs Frank Withey, of Pickersleigh Road. His funeral was at the Church of Our Lady and St Edmund, College Road, and he is buried in Great Malvern Cemetery.

A wreath at the funeral carried a card reading: "To the grateful memory of Flt-Lt Michael John Withey, whose actions as a pilot immediately before his death saved a school and its pupils from a major disaster."

Flt-Lt Withey was based in Norfolk at the time of the crash. He was flying the twin-engined Meteor to an airfield in Edinburgh that day but had to divert to RAF Leuchars in Fife because of bad weather. The crash was caused by engine trouble.

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