On 18th August 1953 this Central Gunnery School aircraft was flown on an air to fire firing exercise off the Yorkshire coast. During the exercise a tight turn had to be made to follow the drogue towing aircraft and during this turn a loud bang was heard. The starboard wing lost the leading edge of the centre section. This was a significant panel to lose off the aircraft. The pilot realised that the aircraft was then difficult to control, with it stalling at anything over 200 knots flying speed. He then made for the nearest airfield at Carnaby, clipped a fence and went on to make a belly landing at Carnaby airfield. The damage that was sustained saw the aircraft written off.
An investigation found that the leading edge had been replaced on 10th August 1953 and it had been flown fifteen times since being passed as servicable. It was felt that, with the evidence on the wing, that the replacement leading edge was not properly attached. Meteor WH347 had crashed near Skirlaugh earlier in the year with the same leading edge failure being the start of structural failure that cost the pilot his life. The pilot of WE879 was therefore very lucky to survive.
Pilot - F/O Frederick Arthur Trowern RAF (4058982).