PLANS for a memorial to two airmen who died in a plane crash 59 years ago has been given approval by Salisbury City Council.

Squadron Leader Frank Cooke and Flight Lieutenant Phillip Hyden died in an unexplained crash in Churchill Gardens on November 27, 1955.

The aircraft had been on a routine test flight from Boscombe Down when it came down narrowly missing the city centre.

Now permission has been granted to build a memorial in Churchill Gardens close to the area where the plane crashed.

Yet doubts were raised by decision makers — who did not guarantee funding for the project — over the actions of the pilots who are were described as "gallant" in avoiding a "major disaster" by the newspaper report following the crash.

Cllr John Collier claimed that the Journal's report from the day was inaccurate believing that the airmen had no control over the aircraft when it crashed.

It was something rejected by 88-year-old Gordon Usher who witnessed the plane's final descent before it crashed but added he was willing to compromise on the wording of the memorial.

He said: "The eyewitness accounts in the Journal, without doubt, described it perfectly.

"They could have bailed out of the aircraft but they stayed and flew it away from the city. If it had landed on the roofs of the houses God knows how many people would have been killed."

As part of the proposal Mr Usher was requesting a £1,000 grant to go towards funding the memorial but the city council deferred making a decision. Instead they will explore the costs of the memorial before making a decision.

Cllr Brian Dalton said: "I think that it is a fitting tribute to the airmen who lost their lives and it should be completed before the 60th anniversary on November 27."

Mr Usher said he has now set-up a fund for people to donate towards the construction of a memorial and is in the process of opening a PayPal account.

Anybody who wishes to donate can write a cheque to the Salisbury Airmen's Memorial Fund and post it to 19 Bishopdown Road, Salisbury.