Anyone driving past the main gate of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose will see, in mid-swoop, one of the first Royal Navy jet fighters.

On permanent display behind the wire at the Helston air station is a Hawker Seahawk – an apt name given that Culdrose also bears the ship-name HMS Seahawk.

What is remarkable is that this particular aircraft has survived as a gate-guardian because – contrary to common sense - it was involved in a crash landing.

A spokesman for RNAS Culdrose said:

"This Seahawk was one of the first batch of 60 built under contract to Hawker Aircraft Ltd by Armstrong Whitworth at its Baggington plant at Coventry, where the airport is today.

"It first flew on November 30, 1953, and was delivered to a research team at RNAS Abbotsinch, Paisley, Renfrewshire, now the site of Glasgow International Airport, in December the same year.

"Following a flight test program, the aircraft was delivered to 802 squadron at RNAS Lossiemouth in March 1954 and in July of that year transferred to Lossiemouth's 738 squadron which at that time was part of the Naval Air Fighter School bearing the number LM 127.

"On July 1st, 1955, the aircraft suffered a 'wheels-up landing' accident on Lossiemouth's runway, suffering damage to the front and centre fuselage."

He added that after a survey of the airframe, it was transported by road back to Armstrong Whitworth at Coventry for repairs. This work was completed in August 1956 and, after test flights at RAF Bitteswell, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, returned to RNAS Abbotsinch.

"Following further test flights, the Seahawk was delivered to the Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit at Hurn, now Bournemouth Airport on January 23, 1957, and re-numbered 038. It remained with the unit until May 1958 when the engine was removed from the airframe and it was transported to RNAS Culdrose by road.

"It was in excellent condition having only amassed 455.5 flying hours. It was allocated an instructional airframe number A2645 and mounted at what we know today as L-site, to replace an earlier Seafire aircraft which had previously stood beside the gate. It was slightly re-positioned after building work in 1969."

More than 60 years since it first arrived, the Seahawk continues to proudly stand for all to see, guarding the entrance to RNAS Culdrose and marking a piece of aviation history.