HC Deb 28 November 1945 vol 416 cc1486-7W
Wing-Commander Hulbert

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the unauthorised flight of a Meteor aircraft from a Home Counties airfield on 20th November.

Mr. Strachey

A Meteor aircraft took off from R.A.F. Station, Molesworth, at about 1.0 a.m. on 20th November, 1945.

No flying had been authorised, because of bad weather. The aircraft was heard and seen by flying control when it reached the runway, and the runway lights were switched on when it started taking off. After taking off, it flew in a west-south west direction. The sector and group headquarters were immediately informed, but a continuous radar watch is not now maintained, and it was not possible to trace the aircraft's course. No trace of it has since been found. One of the pilots of the squadron concerned, Flying Officer J. E. Adams, is missing from the station; we can only assume that it was he who started the aircraft and flew it away.