AN air crash near Pershore was reported by the Journal this week 50 years ago.

An RAF Harvard training aircraft from RAF Ternhill in Shropshire got into trouble 1,000ft above Naunton Beauchamp, and Flying Officer Douglas Bennett (28) gave the order to his pupil, Officer Cadet Ian Donaldson (21) to bale out.

The Journal explained: Mr Randolph Clarke, of Naunton Court, Farm, near Pershore, was feeding his poultry later than usual on Monday night. Had he followed his normal routine he would never have heard the aircraft crash, and the injured pilot might have lain unnoticed.

Mr Clarke saw the plane skimming over the treetops. The plane's lights were on but there was no noise from the engine. A few seconds later there was the sound of a crash.

''Mr Clarke ran across fields and found the plane crashed into ploughed field with an airman lying about 30 yards away with a parachute.

Mr Clarke's brother Cyril stayed with Flying Officer Bennett while he ran to the farm for help. An ambulance took the injured pilot to Worcester Royal Infirmary with back injuries.

Police and firemen joined the Clarke brothers in the search for the other occupant... What they did not discover until a little later was that the pupil-pilot, who parachuted into an elm tree, freed himself unhurt and gone to Grafton Flyford police station.