On the 19th of June 1951 the pilot of this aircraft was undertaking a training flight, he had taken off from base at 12.30hrs to undertake a "long range exercise". He was briefed to fly at 30,000 feet before descending to carry out aerobatics. The aircraft was seen flying at between 2 and 3,000 feet before it dived into the ground almost vertically at 13,00hrs. The pilot stood no chance, although probably passed out at the time he was killed in the resulting crash. The reported location is somewhere in the Ribblehead Viaduct area. It was thought that the pilot had passed out through lack of oxygen and the aircraft dived into the ground when he lost control.

Pilot - P/O Gerald L Reeve RAF (3119556), aged 20, Born Weedon, Northants. Buried Darlington Western Cemetery (V,7A,373).

The pilots headstone in Darlington Western Cemetery.