Vampire FB.5 VV691 at Thornaby airfield.

On 28th February 1954 the pilot of this 608 Squadron aircraft belly-landed at Thornaby airfield after the starboard undercarriage leg jammed.

Pilot - P/O McKenzie RAF.

The history of Vampire VV691 was kindly researched by Graham Sharpe from various documents and typed by me. Another website plagiarised what was displayed here. Do your own research, failing that, don't simply "cut and paste" my text, including the errors. I have since re-written it and they're now left with my old errors.

Vampire VV691 was built to contract 6/ACFT/1387 by English Electric Co. at Samlesbury and was delivered to the RAF in June 1949. It was initially issued to 249 Squadron at Habbaniya, Egypt in February 1950, it then passed to 213 Squadron at Deversoir, Egypt. 213 Squadron ceased operating Vampire FB.5's in April 1952 so the aircraft probably then passed to 32 Squadron, who were also based at Deversoir, around that time. It was later either flown or shipped back to the UK and then issued to 608 Squadron but the date is not known. As a result of the incident at Thornaby on 28th February 1954 the damage was assessed as being Cat.5 and this saw the aircraft struck off charge.

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