Shortly after taking off on 17th July 1951 the ventral fuel drop tank of this 205 Advanced Flying School aircraft released itself from the aircraft. The pilot was undertaking a formation flying exercise at the time and did not realise it had gone until he landed, having only felt a bump and the rudder pedals oscillate at the time of release. The unit was based at Middleton St.George airfield but also had the use of Neasham airfield though the unit records do not state where the pilot took off from. The records also do not state where the drop tank landed though it must have either been in South Durham or just inside the northern Yorkshire boundary. It fell away because of a technical defect.
Pilot - Name unknown.