Date:	Wednesday 17 May 1950
Time:	10:34 LT
Type:	de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB Mk 5
Owner/operator:	OFU RAF
Registration:	VG699
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Istres-Le Tubé BA 125, Bouches-du-Rhône 13 -   France
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Test
Departure airport:	RAF Manston, Ramsgate, Kent
Destination airport:	Istres-Le Tubé, Bouches-du-Rhône (LFMI)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
DeHavilland DH.100 Vampire FB.Mk.5 VG699, OFU, RAF (Overseas Ferry Unit, Royal Air Force). Written off (destroyed) 17/5/50 when crashed over a French air base. The aircraft broke up in flight during a slow roll over the French Air Force base at Istres-Le Tubé, Bouches-du-Rhône, France.

According to some sources, the Vampire had taken off from RAF Manston, Ramsgate, Kent on a delivery flight to the Middle East. However en route, the aircraft became unserviceable, and was forced to land at the French Air Force base at Istres. There it sat for four weeks until repairs on site could be effected.

On 17/5/50 at 10:34 hours, Vampire VG699 took off for a test flight to check that the aircraft was fit to continue its onward journey. The pilot made two low level passes over Istres Airfield, and then began his third. Flying inverted at around 1,000 feet, the pilot tried to roll the aircraft back into the upright position.

During this move, the Vampire began to side slip and then part of the wing detached. A puff of smoke appeared followed by flames as the aircraft dived into the ground just outside the Istres Airfield perimeter, with wreckage spread over a wide area. The pilot was killed

Crew of Vampire VG699:
Flight Lt William Makepiece Strathearn DFC & Bar (RAF Service Number 59269/RNZAF Service Number 42476) aged 30

William Make[iece Strathearn now lies in Rouquiers Cemetery, at Istres along with LAC Hibbert RAF who died in a separate incident on 1st November 1948. Neither are commemorated with the CWGC as they fall outside their date remit for WWII, however they are cared for by the organisation.

1. Halley, James (1999) Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd p.102. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Last Take-off: A Record of RAF Aircraft Losses 1950 to 1953 p 57
3. Hamburger Abendblatt 19 May 1950
4. National Archives (PRO Kew) File BT 233/24: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C424145
5. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AVIA 5/30/S2498: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6578344
6. http://aircrewremembered.com/strathern-william-makepiece.html
7. https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/46304/Strathern-William-Makepeace.htm
8. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH100%20prodn%20list.txt
9. https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/siv/rechercheconsultation/consultation/ir/pdfIR.action?irId=FRAN_IR_057354 (French National Archives File 19760051/65)
10. https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/90564
11. https://www.facebook.com/twgpp/posts/969109286798677?comment_id=969136600129279

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
08-Mar-2018 13:51	TB	Added
23-Dec-2019 00:21	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Registration, Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
23-Dec-2019 00:21	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Aircraft type]
23-Dec-2019 00:22	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
23-Dec-2019 22:09	stehlik49	Updated [Operator, Operator]