On 6th September 1954 the pilot of this aircraft became lost whilst flying in poor weather over the North East, when the aircraft ran
out of fuel and having suffered radio communications failure he made a forced landing on Redcar Racecourse. No damage to the aircraft was sustained; in FAA terms it was recorded as Cat.SS. The next day the weather improved, the aircraft took off again from the Racecourse, reportedly in 2.5 furlongs! It then flew to Dishforth where it was refuelled and then continued on it's way back to Ford piloted by a fresh pilot one Lt P Wheatley RN.
Pilot - Acting Lt G N Peter RN.
Firefly TW722 had a long service history, it was built to contract 103375/40 by Fairely at Hayes originally as a FR.IV and was
completed on 31st December 1946. It was sent to CS(A) charge at Fairey, Heston, then to RAE Farnborough 25th February 1947 before passing to
Fairey at Hamble 28th March 1947. The aircraft was returned to Heston on 23rd April 1947 and issued to 787 Squadron at West Raynham on 30th April 1947. It later went to Fairey's at White Waltham and was then transferred to A&AEE 25th August 1947. It was put back on
CS(A) charge on 29th December 1948. It was at the RNARY facility at Fleetlands from 22nd February 1949 and then was moved to
Gosport and tested on 21st October 1949 and then issued to 737 Squadron at Eglington in January 1950. It moved to the Fairey
factory at Hamble in July 1951 and was confirmed as converted to a TT.4 on 14th September 1952 and issued to RDU Anthorn on 3rd October 1952.
It was transferred to 771 Squadron at Ford on 31st January 1952. It was transferred to 700 Squadron at Ford on 18th August 1955 then to AHU at
Ford on 16th December 1955. It moved to the RNAY facility at Belfast on 3rd February 1956, to RDU Anthorn on 4th December 1956, AHU
Lossiemouth on 18th June 1957, to the Airwork FRU facility at Hurn on 5th September 1957 before finally moving to AHU at
Lossiemouth on 9th December 1958. It was sold for scrap on 5th August 1959 with total flying time of 780.15 hours.