Milt
The event you are thinking of was when the then new Odiham Hunter wing put up 16 from the Farnborough to celebrate the RAE Jubilee in July 1955 in front of Princess Margaret.
The Hunter had only recently entered service so it was far too early for form aeros. Four sections streamed off for a flyby of four boxes. Number 2 in the third section took off with a false lock and wing-rocked right out of the formation, I don't think he made it but I am not sure about that. The aircraft hit a barn. The missing man type fly-by was fairly poignant given the smoke going up a mile or two away.
JF