Hawker Sea Hawk F.G.A. Mk.4 WV845 of the A.W.T.F Royal Navy, flew into Creag an Lochain Deirg near Brora on the 4th September 1957

Hawker Sea Hawk at the Museum of Flight, East Fortune

 

Francis Gerald Maguire Sub Lieutenant Pilot Killed

 

The aircraft, based at R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth, had been on an rocket firing exercise at Tain when it suffered a “hangup” the aircraft left the range to clear the hang up and shortly after flew into high ground near to Brora.

The live firing range at Tain is still in use today.  When we first visited the crash site of WV845 Tornados from Lossiemouth were dropping live ordnance at the range , the detonation of which could be heard above Brora roughly 15 miles to the north.

Wreckage at the crash site of Hawker Sea Hawk WV845 on Creag an Lochain Deirg near Brora
Most of the remaining wreckage from the aircraft is concentrated into a small collection seen in the photo above. It took a while to find this aircraft due to the snow cover on the hill, though that should be expected when visiting Northern Scotland in early February.
Alan holding a part from Hawker Sea Hawk WV845 on Creag an Lochain Deirg near Brora
A photo of Alan examining a piece of skinning from the aircraft.
Crash site of Sea Hawk WV845 on Creag an Lochain Deirg near Brora
A general photo showing the site just before I left it, having put the parts back in the places I found them (but with snow removed).
Crash site of Sea Hawk WV845 on Creag an Lochain Deirg near Brora
The crash site of WV845 in summer.