Parachute Regiment veteran Chris Waddington died when his plane crashed at Shobdon Airfield in Leominster, Herefordshire on Friday, August 26. The hero pilot, 59, was called upon to lead a platoon of 20 men in the first battle of the Falklands War when he was 19, shortly after training at Sandhurst. His energy and commitment to his role as an officer earned him the nickname ‘Boy Wonder’. Mr Waddington recently appeared in a BBC documentary marking the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. After the conflict, he remained a paratrooper for more than 20 years, serving in Bosnia and Iraq. In recent years, he followed his passion for recreational flying and owned a Pitts biplane. This aircraft has often been seen in the skies over his county and in 2020 performed aerobatics as part of the final Clap for Our Carers event. He had also taken part in air shows since 2015 and owned the plane for 22 years. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into the crash. West Mercia Police confirmed last week that no one else was on board, there were no other injuries and no other aircraft were involved. West Midlands Ambulance Service said they sent an ambulance, a paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance and found the pilot still in the plane. A spokesman added: “On arrival we discovered a light fixed wing aircraft that had crashed at the airport. “There was another male patient on board the aircraft. “Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.”
