Stolen military aircraft

[NutherA2]

By way of contrast, in the early 1950s the 602, City of Glasgow, RAuxAF Squadron (Vampires) returned to base from a Tangmere exercise, taking with them a treasured souvenir (a London hotel commissionaire’s top hat) “belonging” to 1 Sqn (Meteors). To redress the situation a 1 Sqn Fg Off was dropped off at Glasgow in the T7 and bluffed his way through the 602 line office and stole one of their Vampire 5s, which he flew to Tangmere, where it was hidden at the back of the 1 Sqn hangar; this was the first time he had flown a Vampire. It was a little while before 602 noticed they were one short and a little longer to discover what had happened to it, but eventually aircraft and hat were exchanged and honour declared to be satisfied.

The Fg Off escaped either punishment or a spell in a funny farm for the unauthorised flight and in due course retired in the rank of Air Chief Marshal.