Date:	Monday 3 November 1958
Time:	day
Type:	Fairey Firefly U.8
Owner/operator:	RAE Llanbedr
Registration:	WM882
MSN:	F.8937
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAE Llanbedr, near Harlech, Gwynedd -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAE Llanbedr, Gwynedd (EGOD)
Destination airport:	RAE Llanbedr, Gwynedd (EGOD)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Fairey Firefly U.8 WM860: Ordered from Fairey Aircraft Ltd., Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheshire as a Firefly AS.7, but completed as a Firefly U.8 drone. First flown as such at Ringway Airport, Manchester 22/7/1954.

Retained by Fairey Aircraft and exhibited by them at the SBAC (Society of British Aircraft Constructors) Air Show at Farnborough from 31/8/1954 (see link #6). Returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway Airport, Manchester after completion of air show on 16/9/1954.

Delivered to HMS Nuthatch, RNAS Anthorn RDU, Cumberland 25/10/1954 for long term storage, until returned to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway Airport, Manchester 13/6/1956.

Issued for service 21/3/1957 to RAE Llanbedr. Sustained Cat.3(R) damage 24/4/1957 when ground looped on the runway at RAE Llanbedr on landing. Delivered to Fairey Aircraft at Ringway Airport, Manchester by road on 30/5/1957 for repairs. Upon completion of repairs, test flown 29/1/1958, and returned to RAE Llanbedr 3/2/1958.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 3/11/1958 when crashed on landing at RAE Llanbedr, near Harlech, Gwynedd. Written off after suffering damage to the engine and propeller at Llanbedr. Not repaired this time, and instead Struck Off Charge as Cat.5(c) on 19/12/1958

1. Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft Since 1946 (Ray Sturtivant, Lee Howard & Mick Burrows, Air Britain, 2004 p.299)
2. http://www.ukserials.com/results.php?serial=WM
3. http://www.rafmuseumphotos.com/royal-navy/fairey-firefly-u8-1881493.html?prodid=676
4. http://www.ukserials.com/losses_drones.htm
5. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/392672472314?chn=ps
6. Shackleton WR969, with Firefly U.8 WM882 behind it, SBAC Farnborough 1/9/1954: https://www.airteamimages.com/avro-shackleton_WR969_united-kingdom---royal-air-force_115033_large.html
7. https://www.hubertcance.com/large-multi-view/Aircraft-Side-Views-Post-1945/690531-142-191265/Painting/fairey-firefly-u.8-1.html

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
14-Sep-2020 19:09	Dr. John Smith	Added