On 21 May 1956 Valentin was at a Whit Monday air show in Liverpool before 100,000 spectators (including Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison,as well as three-year-old Clive Barker, who would later reference Valentin in his work), using wings similar to the wooden ones that had brought him success in the past, but longer and more aerodynamic. However, the stunt immediately went wrong.[8][10] When exiting the plane, one of Valentin’s wings made contact and a piece broke away. He attempted to land safely using a parachute, but that also failed, and he died immediately upon hitting the ground.
