article_snippet: Astonishingly, of the 145 Sea Vixens built, 54 were lost in accidents and 55 crew members killed during the 13 years of frontline service with the Fleet Air Arm from 1959 to 1972.
article_snippet: This was a worse rate of attrition than the notorious F-104 Starfighter, which became known as the ‘Widowmaker’ in Cold War West Germany because 30 per cent were lost to accidents.
article_snippet: With classic military understatement the report states that they faced ‘unpleasant conditions’, which included poor visibility, fog patches and a pitch black night.
article_snippet: However, the training mission was dogged with bad luck from the outset, with one of Sea Vixens Sea Vixens failing to make it off the runway.
article_snippet: and we didn’t really understand why.
article_snippet: Indeed, her has been doubly unfortunate.
article_snippet: It was a recipe for disorientation and disaster.
article_snippet: The conclusion to the MoD report offers little solace, indirectly blaming HMS Zulu and the exercise.
article_snippet: Life can be so cruel, especially to Deborah.