The pilot of the upper Anson found that he was able to control the interlocked aircraft with his ailerons and flaps, and made an emergency landing in a nearby paddock.

[1][5] On 29 September 1940, two of the school's Avro Ansons took off from Forest Hill for a cross-country training exercise over southern New South Wales.

[14] Both of the upper aircraft's engines had been knocked out in the collision but those of the one below continued to turn at full power as the interlocked Ansons began to slowly circle.

[12][16] The two navigators, Sinclair and Fraser, bailed out, followed soon after by the lower Anson's pilot, Hewson, whose back had been injured when the spinning blades of the other aircraft sliced through his fuselage.

[6][12] As far as Fuller was concerned, the touchdown was better than any he had made when practising circuits and bumps at Forest Hill airfield the previous day.

His acting commanding officer, Squadron Leader Cooper, declared the choice of improvised runway "perfect", and the landing itself as a "wonderful effort".

She was pretty heavy on the controls, though!The freak accident garnered news coverage around the world, and cast a spotlight on the small town of Brocklesby.

2 SFTS in October 1940, and received a commendation from the Australian Air Board for his "presence of mind, courage and determination in landing the locked Ansons without serious damage to the aircraft under difficult conditions".

[16][21] According to the Greater Hume Shire Council, the 1940 mid-air collision remains Brocklesby's "main claim to fame".

[22][23] Local residents commemorated the 50th anniversary of the event by erecting a marker near the site of the crash landing; it was unveiled by Tim Fischer, the Federal Member for Farrer and Leader of the National Party, on 29 September 1990.

[24][25] On 26 January 2007, a memorial featuring an Avro Anson engine was opened during Brocklesby's Australia Day celebrations.