FORTY-SIX years ago today, the fishermen of Bias Bay, in China, 40 kilometres north of Hong Kong, woke up to find a Vampire had landed on their beach.
It bore little resemblance to Count Dracula.
The Vampire F3 VG703 was a British fighter aircraft from the Vampire Trials Unit on a demonstration flight to the Far East.
The pilot, Flt Lt George 'Kiwi' Francis AFC, ran out of fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing on a small sandy beach close to the water's edge.
The Royal Air Force News explains what happened next: 'Pleased with his good fortune he jumped out to inspect his aircraft and was promptly surrounded by a fierce-looking gang of curious Chinese.
They appeared friendly so Francis put them to work pushing the Vampire out of the tide's reach.
'They did not understand at first so he placed his hands on the wings, shouting 'Heave Ho!'.