Vampire VT863 in the centre of the photograph (photo via Jim Rutland).
On 9th September 1951 the pilot of this 608 Squadron aircraft took off from Thornaby at 15.35hrs to practice for the Battle of Britain air display due to be held at Thornaby on 15th September 1951. Whilst flying at a high speed the aircraft was seen to turn steeply before flicking to one side and diving into the ground near Hutton Rudby at 15.42hrs from between 1,000 and 1,500 feet. The pilot was unable to get clear of the crashing aircraft and was sadly killed. The crash investigation found that the probable cause was probably down to the inexperienced auxilliary pilot in flying fast and making tight turns at high speed, a stall occurred during one of the turns from which the pilot was inable to recover, possibly because he passed out because of the G-force in the turn. Since creating this initial webpage I have received a number of emails from people who recall this incident with all stating the aircraft crashed about a mile west of the village of Hutton Rudby and it being near to "Meggison House".
Pilot - Sgt Harry Darragh Mincher RAF (2686168), aged 28. Buried Darlington West Cemetery, Durham (V6Z376).
Harry Mincher was born on 16th October 1922 and had 44 hours flying time on the Vampire at the time of his death. He flew Beaufighters during the War.
Vampire VT863 was built to contract 6/ACFT/936 by English Electric Co. at Samlesbury and was believed delivered to the RAF in February 1948. It was issued to 54 Squadron at Odiham in April 1948 and on an unknown date moved to the Station Flight at Odiham. It was transferred to 601 Squadron at North Weald in November 1949 and then to 608 Squadron on an unknown date.As a result of the crash on 9th September 1951 Cat.E2/FA(burnt) damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge.