'(Hazy memory recalls a Hunter going into the water at Gib doing brake checks- in the 70s ??)'
Not quite right - he narrowly managed to avoid a dip in the harbour by selecting the undercarriage up on the emergency override system and remained on the runway edge - just.. He was indeed doing a brake check following a brake change. His first run was on the westerly runway followed by a return run on the easterly. He then decided to do one more run 'just to be sure' . Now those of you that know the Hunter will know that a) it did not have maxarets and b) it was notorious for brake fade. The outcome was thus no surprise! From memory this was in 1977 as the detachment finished after 12 years in 1978.