Cierva / Avro Rota HM580 autogyro at Thornaby airfield.
This gyrocopter still in existance at the RAF Museum (Photo - Mr Jim Rutland).
On 18th October 1943 the pilot of this 569 Squadron gyrocopter was returning early to Thornaby airfield after bad weather was encountered during a calibration flight, the aircraft was damaged in a crash landing at Thornaby airfield. It was being used for calibrating radar equipment in the area and using Thornaby as a base. It must have been quite badly damaged as it was deemed beyond repair at the time before being taken away by road.
Pilot - P/O Gillies RAF.
This Cierva C.30 was built by A.V. Rowe & Co Ltd and was first registered as G-ACUU on 26th June 1934. It was impressed into RAF service in 1942 and issued to 1448 (Calibration) Flight at Halton, this unit became 529 Squadron on 15th June 1943. After this accident at Thornaby it actually written off with Cat.E/FA damage and was struck off charge. The aircraft was later transported to Cunliffe-Owen at Eastleigh where the aircraft was Re.Cat.B/FA and rebuilt and returned to service on 24th January 1944. 529 Squadron moved to Crazies Farm, Henley on Thames on 16th August 1944 and was later disbanded on 20th October 1945. From this date the aircraft went into storage and was later sold back the civilan marker and registered as G-AIXE on 23rd May 1946. It was restored to its pre-war registration, G-ACUU, in November 1946 and was based at Elmdon until it was withdrawn from use in November 1960. It's registration was cancelled on 14th November 1988 and it is believed to have moved to Duxford for display purposes in July 1999 where it still remains.