Gloster Meteor NF1/14

Accident Date: 24 Mar 1954
Accident Site: Knock Fell (710m) (Dufton Fell, W Pennines)
Region: Cumbria

Gloster Meteor WD778 took off from RAF Leeming at 19.00hrs on a training flight over northern England.

Toward the end of the exercise the pilot headed back to Leeming. During the return flight, ground control instructed the pilot to change to Ground- Controlled Approach (GCA) frequency. However, from this point, contact with the aircraft was lost.

Without guidance from ground control, the crew decided not to continue their landing approach. Instead, they climbed away from the area.

Eventually, when their fuel began to run low, they began descending to try and locate their present position, probably thinking that they were close to RAF Leeming. However, the aircraft was still some distance from Leeming; and, during the descent, it struck the high ground at Knock Fell, a few miles from Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria.

Almost a week passed before the wreckage was discovered and reported to the authorities.

Those who died in this accident were:
P/O John David Briggs (21), Pilot, RAF
F/O Derek Walker (21), Navigator / Radar Operator, RAF.

Two more brave men.