Dicky Wright and Sean Casabayo
Memorial Appeal

Sean Casabayo (left) and Dicky Wright (right)

On the morning of 14th October 1999, Flight Lieutenants Dicky Wright and Sean Casabayo were attempting to enter Spadeadam Air Weapons Range (near Carlisle) in their Tornado GR1, as part of the Qualified Weapons Instructor work up on XV (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth.

Sadly, after a few attempts to get through very poor weather, they attempted a Low Level Abort. This resulted in Tornado ZD809 impacting the ground at 1057 near the village of Kirkheaton, approximately 20 miles NW of Newcastle.

The accident killed Sean and Dicky leaving many family and friends grieving for their loved ones. This was a tragic accident in which two young aviators died, doing what they loved doing, and in the service of their country. They are both sadly missed, but fondly remembered, by the many family and friends who knew and loved them.

Whilst they both have individual gravestones, there is no memorial near the crash site to mark their passing, although every year a villager places two poppy crosses near the field.

This will be put right this year. A memorial has been commissioned, with a local stonemason, to these two much loved individuals to give an additional location to commemorate their lives but also to ensure that they will be remembered near the location where they died. This will enable their story to be remembered, and also told, to visitors of this lovely location for years to come.

It will be a very simple stone memorial, in an accessible location very near the site and aligned to it, and a tree will be planted as close to the actual site as possible.

There is quite some momentum behind this; with Air Marshall Windy Gale, former Tornado pilot, and Air Marshal The Ven Dr (AVM) Giles Legood, Chaplain in Chief, RAF agreeing to be in attendance and RAF Lossiemouth, Boulmer, Leeming and Waddington Station Commanders agreeing to help make this a special event. Additionally the local dignitaries; MP, Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff have all been invited. The memorial will be self-funded and any excess funds will be dispersed according to the wishes of the families.

The dedication of this memorial will be held on Monday 14th October 2024 at 1057, exactly 25 years after their loss. This is a wonderful way to help mark the passing of two of our very brave, much loved and missed, airmen and it feels appropriate to do so.

The families are aware of the work behind this and have given the project their blessing.

If you wish to make a contribution to this memorial we would be very grateful and assure you that, aside from admin fees to GoFundMe, every penny will go towards this memorial. If there is any surplus it will be disposed of appropriately in accordance with the wishes of Sean and Dicky’s families. We will pay a deposit for the stone on finalising the order on 14 Apr 24. So please donate as soon as is practicable, if you are able to do so…

If you would like to donate another way, or require further information, please contact Niedermeyer through this site.

The order of events will be posted when they are firmed up but in the meantime please put the date in your diary and complete this form. The information you provide will be used solely to inform you of the details of the event. https://forms.office.com/e/aUZrMsPYqL

Please go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556635486374 for further updates