Date:	Saturday 23 October 1954
Time:	day
Type:	Canadair Sabre F4 (F-86E)
Owner/operator:	229 OCU RAF
Registration:	XB711
MSN:	497
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Bristol Channel, off Chivenor, Devon -   United Kingdom
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	RAF Chivenor, Devon (EGDC)
Destination airport:	RAF Chivenor, Devon (EGDC)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Ex RCAF 19597; Diverted to RAF before RCAF serial marked, became XB711. First flight on 6.3.1953. Loaned to RCAF before delivery to RAF, used by No. 444 Squadron at RCAF Station St. Hubert and/or Baden-Soellingen, Germany. Struck off charge by RCAF 1.12.1953. Taken on strength by RAF on 26.3.1954.

Written off 23.10.1954: The aircraft was No. 4 in a four ship formation. Due to cloud the leader was unable to locate No. 3 and 4 and ordered them to return to Chivenor independently. XB711 entered more cloud and was not seen again. The pilot had probably lost control and crashed into the sea. The formation was in fact 150 miles from the intended position. Pilot posted as missing presumed killed.

Crew of Sabre XB711
Flying Officer Brian John Longworth (pilot, Service Number 607078, aged 25)

1. Halley, James (1999) Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. p.165 ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Royal Air Force Aircraft XA100-XZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 2001 p 10)
3. Category Five; A Catalogue of RAF Aircraft Losses 1954 to 2009 by Colin Cummings p.99
4. http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_19551_19600_detailed.htm
5. http://www.ukserials.com/results.php?serial=XB
6. http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1954.htm

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
14-Aug-2012 07:53	Daniel Nole	Added
26-Jun-2013 14:05	TB	Updated [Date, Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Country, Source, Damage]
06-Sep-2017 19:02	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
20-Nov-2018 18:23	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Nature, Operator]
29-Jan-2020 17:53	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Source, Narrative]
30-Jan-2020 05:38	stehlik49	Updated [Operator, Operator]
25-Apr-2020 23:16	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
25-Apr-2020 23:19	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
26-Apr-2020 08:55	stehlik49	Updated [Operator, Operator]