On the 19th of September 1952 this aircraft had just taken off from Middleton St.George. Soon after take-off the aircraft struck pylons and crashed near Swainby, only two minutes into the flight. Wreckage was spread over a wide area, close to Mr Bill Cowley's house near Potto Hill Farm, Swainby. The pilot was sadly killed. The resulting explosion made a large crater in the field which was later back filled.
Meteor WH472 was built to contract 6/ACFT/5621 by the Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd. and delivered to the RAF in February 1952. After acceptance it was issued to 263 Squadron at Wattisham. The aircraft was destroyed in the incident detailed above with Cat. 5(s)/FA damage being sustained.
Pilot - P/O Alan Edward Aggett RAF (579702), aged 24. of Ipplepen, Newton Abbott, Devon. Buried St Andrews Churchyard, Newton Abbott, Devon.
Alan Aggett was born on 2nd November 1927, he was granted a short service commission in the RAF on 14th November 1951 as a Pilot Officer and put on the active service list for eight years and four years on the reserve.
After the accident much wreckage was to be seen in this field and in the field behind the hedge centre left.