A father and son duo from Sweden will travel to Northwood in May and visit the site where their great uncle Bruno (pictured) passed away.
On July 4, 1948, 39 people were killed in what is still the deadliest mid-air collision in British history. A Douglas DC-6 of Scandinavian Airlines and an Avro York C.1 of the Royal Air Force collided in mid-air over Northwood.
A week after the crash, it was announced that a public inquiry would be held; it was only the third such inquiry held in the UK for an air accident.
One of the victims was 31-year-old Bruno Kullgren, who had been captaining the Swedish plane on that fatal day.
According to an article by Philip Toms, Bruno “was one of the most experienced pilots on the London route and had made at least 40 landings at Northolt in the previous month”.
Bruno’s great-nephew Tomas Johansson and his son Fredrik Hultengren will travel more than 1,000 miles from Sweden to Northwood in May. They are hoping to find out more about Bruno and the tragic incident, and to lay flowers in his memory.
During his childhood, Tomas heard a lot about Bruno and the accident, and is still in contact with Bruno’s widow, Inger Kullgren, who is 106 years old. Tomas explained that the journey is also for her.
Over the years, Tomas has scoured the internet and researched his great uncle. Now, he is searching for answers in the hopes of finding out more about Bruno and that fatal day 77 years ago.
Speaking to NORTHWOOD&RUISLIPnews, Tomas said: “We are travelling in May to try and find the place where both planes crashed, and maybe put some flowers there. No one, who I know of, from our family has been there yet.
“Anyone who is able to show us or tell us anything, would be appreciated.”
If you have any information, you can contact Tomas via email at tomasjohansson9@gmail.com
Photo credit: Ben Brooksbank
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