During the afternoon of 3rd May 1956 this 219 Squadron took off from Driffield airfield at 15.05hrs with one other to undertake a formation flying exercise at 30,000 feet. With the exercise complete the aircraft returned to the landing circuit of Driffield. The pilot made a banked turn to line up with the runway that would have seen it line up with the runway to land on, however while the turn was being made the aircraft stalled. It then rolled over to become inverted and dived into ground between Driffield and the airfield at 16.07hrs. The aircraft was completely destroyed and both crew were killed.

The AIB conducted an investigation and concluded the loss of control resulted because a piece of locking wire had become jammed in the aileron control sprocket and chain mechanism, and that the obstruction had not got there as a result of the crash. The AIB though that this may have caused the alieron controls to become jammed while turning to port, resulting in control being lost. They also stated that several other Vampire investigations had found similar obstructions of this aileron control. In the case of WA104 there was a type of guard fitted but it noted the design was dangerous and could mean that any loose article could drop in and jam the chain and sprocket. De Havilland subsequently developed a modification to protect the sections of flying controls in the cockpit.

Pilot - F/O John Murray Wells Galloway RAF (2608057), aged 24. Cremated Hounslow Road Crematorium, Feltham, Middlesex.

Navigator - Sgt Colin Vere Reice RAF (4041425), aged 24. Buried Bushbury Churchyard, Wolverhampton.