Great stuff,
Lukeafb1. As I said, there seemed to be some doubt about the date, and your recollection would seem to favour an alternative of 3 Jun 59. This would have put 663 on 51 Sqn for the best part of a year. As jet transports were an expensive rarity at that time, I am quite sure it would have remained a
hot topic for ages, if not indeed a legend.
I note from the front page of one of the
Comet websites, that one of your possible contemporaries was present at the time and posted a correction to the
location of the mishap. I wish he'd mentioned the date! There's another page
here which might interest you and which also shows the above date. Although this page is not entirely accurate, I reckon you must be right.
I would imagine that, in view of 51's rôle, the incident would have been kept fairly low-key at the time. It is strange that there should be almost a 2-year discrepancy, however. Such is the nature of PPRuNe, no doubt someone who was on the scene will pop-up with positive confirmation before long
It's certainly revived
my historical interest in the aircraft and the last survivor.
Shame they don't have F540s on line yet!