Displayed at the RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre are the only known parts on public display in the UK of a Douglas RB-66 Destroyer.............This includes one of the J-71 Allison Jet Engines
On the 3rd of July 1958....RB-66 54 0433 of the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance squadron, took off from RAF Sculthorpe on a routine Navigational training flight.
Into the flight the crew, Captain A Marcum, Captain William Gray and 1st LT Constantin Costen had realized the Hydraulic pressure had failed and landing was now not an option.
Burning off fuel and setting the Autopilot for a North Sea ditch, the crew ejected out over Sculthorpe.
The plane however, circled Sculthorpe twice before flying off south over Norwich, flying pilotless for 24 miles at approx 400mph....before drilling into a muddy field near long Stretton.... And stayed for 45 years before partly being excavated and taken to Bentwaters.....
Finally, after 60 years she has come home to Sculthorpe.......
On the 3rd of July 1958....RB-66 54 0433 of the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance squadron, took off from RAF Sculthorpe on a routine Navigational training flight.
Into the flight the crew, Captain A Marcum, Captain William Gray and 1st LT Constantin Costen had realized the Hydraulic pressure had failed and landing was now not an option.
Burning off fuel and setting the Autopilot for a North Sea ditch, the crew ejected out over Sculthorpe.
The plane however, circled Sculthorpe twice before flying off south over Norwich, flying pilotless for 24 miles at approx 400mph....before drilling into a muddy field near long Stretton.... And stayed for 45 years before partly being excavated and taken to Bentwaters.....
Finally, after 60 years she has come home to Sculthorpe.......
