XV 351 delivered RN 3/10/67 - crashed into the Wash 11/11/74 with 809 Sqn. In between with 12 (?) Sqn RAF, when it made an impression on Karup Airstation, Denmark.
On 12'th of May 1971 it was taking off for Bodø, Norway, when just before lift off the right main gear tire blew. With the rim on fire the Buccanneer continued past the end of the 10.000 foot runway, taking the first barrier, which was down, with the hook. Then the raised barrier in the overrun. Messing both up. The navigator ejected while the pilot stayed. Both were safe. The fire went out in the sandy ground. Until recently the scars in the overrun from the broken rim were still visible.
Then a night of recovery helped by RN Sea Vixen? ground crew, that happened to be there. (So no high spending RAF technicians needed!) (At first). XV 351 ended up with a wooden wheel to get it away from the runway!
I have many happy memories of squadron exchanges with many RAF types (pun intended).
