On 6th September 1954 the pilot of this Fleet Air Arm aircraft became lost whilst flying in poor weather over the North East, when the aircraft's radio also failed he opted to make a forced landing on Redcar racecourse but had first jettisoned two fuel drop-tanks into the sea. No damage to the aircraft was sustained. The fuel tanks were later recovered from the sea by fishermen. The incident was mentioned in local newspaper reports in which they recorded the pilot stated that he was flying from Sussex to Lossiemouth. The aircraft was on charge with 771 Squadron at the time and they were based at Ford airfield, in Sussex. Why it was heading to Lossiemouth is not stated or known. It was a target towing aircraft, generally used for towing banner or drogue targets used on air firing exercises. The following day the weather had improved so a different pilot, Lt P Wheatley RN, flew it off the racecourse, reportedly in 2.5 furlongs. He then flew it to Dishforth airfield where it was refuelled and then flown back to Ford.
Pilot - "Acting Lt G N Peter RN."
This pilot had previously served in the RAF with the service number 204872. Newspapers gave his age as being thirty years old. Searching both the AIR78 files in the National Archives and the birth index for England and Wales I have not been able to properly identify him.
Firefly TW722 was built to contract 103375/40 by Fairely at Hayes originally as a FR.IV and was completed on 31st December 1946. After spending a short time with the RAE at Farnborough it was eventually taken on charge by 787 Squadron at West Raynham on 30th April 1947. It never spent long anywhere in the 1940s and had time with the A&AEE later in 1947. It was at the RNARY facility at Fleetlands from 22nd February 1949 and then was moved to Gosport and tested on 21st October 1949. It later went 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. It then went to RDU Anthorn on 3rd October 1952. It was transferred to 771 Squadron at Ford on 31st January 1952 and passed to 700 Squadron at Ford on 18th August 1955. Over the next few years it was passed between various other units. It was sold for scrap on 5th August 1959 with total flying time of 780.15 hours.
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