A RESEARCHER with 'high-flying' ambitions is seeking information about any aviation incidents in and around the St Helens borough -- particularly during the 1939-45 world war.

Mark S. Gaskell of Lancashire Aircraft Investigation team, explains: "I am currently researching a number of aviation incidents in the St Helens area and wondered if any of your readers recalled the crash-landing of a US Airforce F-86 Sabre Jet fighter during March, 1956 on farmland close to Up Holland Road."

Unfortunately, the local eye-witness statements were ommitted from the official report he has to hand. "Therefore, I am trying to collect as much information as possible to reconstruct what I can," adds Mark.

Perhaps some old-timer from the Billinge outpost of the borough can recall that spectacular incident?

Meanwhile, Mark, who lives in Orrell, is also asking if anyone remembers the V-1 Flying Bomb attack on South Lancashire, on the morning of Christmas Eve,1943. About 20 bombs exploded in the area.

Any assistance, however small, concerning those two incidents would be greatly appreciated by Mark.

He explains that the investigation team (members of the British Aviation Archaeological Council) is a Lancashire-based group of enthusiasts aiming to research and record the aviation heritage of the region and, where appropriate, to recover and preserve associated artefacts.

While primary interest is in the air war over the North West during the second world war, their probing extends to the earliest days of aviation, during which our particular region played a prominent role.

Between 1939-45 it was largely associated with the training of aircrews and with aircraft building and maintenance. And so, most of the incidents researched by the group involved accidents during training or testing of aircraft. "Although," adds Mark, "it is true that Manchester and Liverpool suffered badly during the Blitz."

Wherever possible, the team puts its researches and any finds on public display locally; and they regularly organise temporary displays at local museums and libraries.

"All research is undertaken at our own expense," Mark points out, "and no recovered artefacts are to be sold for financial gain."

The hobby started in the United Kingdom in the late1960s and early 70s and was mainly concerned with the recovery of relics from crash sites of aircraft which took part in the Battle of Britain.

Interest expanded to take in enthusiasts from various parts of the country who began to explore their own areas, looking for sites to excavate.

Some of the early explorations, using crude metal detectors, failed to indicate wreckage which was, in fact, present, though the research has become more much more sophisticated in the years since.

Says Mark: "Our small group is primarily concerned with in-depth research, including the tracing of eye-witnesses while they are still available to be interviewed."

SO if any of the long-memoried customers of this column can help in any way, Mark can be contacted by writing to him at 6 Blackledge Close, Farriers Park, Orrell ,Wigan WN5 8TB; by phoning 01695 625344 or 07930 979275; or by e-mail on: mark.gaskell@ntlworld.com.