This aircraft was supplied new to the Squadron, they were sprayed in green and brown instead of the usual grey paint. Each pilot was allocated an aircraft and his name and rank was sprayed along the side of the cockpit.
On the 22nd July 1954 the pilot of this aircraft was taking part in Operation Dividend when he got into difficulties. He made a rapid descent after feeling unwell. Both fire warning lights came on so the pilot ejected safely. It was thought that he suffered a lack of oxygen at 40,000 feet, after the rapid descent his mask slipped and he suffered anoxia. He baled out at 10,000 feet. I underdatnd that with Sabre's there was little time to bale out if a serious fire occured so the pilot was not inclined to see whether the warning light was true or not and baled out whilst he had the chance. The aircraft came down on Skiplam Moor setting fire to a large area. The pilot landed near Fadmoor and had tea with the postmaster and his family. The local press reported that after half an hour and a cup of tea, an RAF helicopter picked him up and took him back to base. The pilot was married two days after his mishap over the Moors.
The aircraft was built by Canadair in Montreal, Canada for the RCAF as 19760 but acquired by the MoD under the MDAP scheme, (Ministry of Defence Aircraft Precurements). It was delivered to the UK in August 1953 and after acceptance was issued to 66 Sqdn at Linton on Ouse in December 1953 when they converted from Meteor F.8's. It was destroyed with Cat. 5(s)/FA Burnt in the incident detailed above and SOC the same day.
Pilot - F/O Glyn Meredith Owen RAF (4078922), of Bebington, Cheshire.
The Sabre came down near to the end of the Rigg, to the right of the photograph.
I visited the area of the crash with Caroline, now my wife, in September 2002. We found no trace of anything aircraft related but I am told that the crater in this field is where it crashed.
On the same day, 66 Squadron, based at Linton on Ouse lost another two Sabre's, these two pilots were not so lucky, they were both killed. They were also taking part in the same exercise as F/O Owen when their planes crashed on Kinder Scout in the Peak District. Alan Clark's website gives an account of the crashes.
Sadly, F/O Owen was killed on 28th August 1964 whilst flying Lightning XP704/H during a practice for an airshow at RAF Leuchers in Scotland. He tried to eject but the aircraft struck the ground before the seat operated. Aged 31 he is buried in St Michael's Cemetery, Leuchars, Fife (Sect Q, row Middle, grave 34).