Following a period of store, XP688 joined the CATCS (Central Air Traffic Control School) at RAF Shawbury in May 1975. Assigned the letter code 'E', it was employed as a live training tool for junior Air Traffic Controllers for the next fourteen years.
In July 1989, the CATCS retired all of its aircraft and returned to a teaching a purely computerised training syllabus. Now redundant, XP688 was placed in storage at Shawbury, pending a decision on its future.

During 1991, the aeroplane was moved by road to RAF Halton, joining the RAF School of Technical Training (1SoTT). Assigned the maintenance serial 9031M, it was employed as an training aid for future RAF technicians.
In 1993 the school and airfield was facing closure, and as a result many of its aeroplanes were being retired and disposed of into private hands. XP688 was one of the last aeroplanes to leave the site, moving by road to Bruntingthorpe airfield, Leicestershire in March 1995.

Originally earmarked for scrapping, XP688 escaped the cutters torch and was subsequently offered for sale. On 13th February 1997, the aeroplane was moved to Chorley, where it became part of the Botany Bay Village collection and placed on display.
During the autumn of 2003, XP688 was sold to Doug Hackins Motorcycles based in Bolton. It was moved by road and offered for sale once more.

In July 2005, XP688 was bought by the Eccleston Delph Scuba Diving Centre. Located on the site of a former quarry and now a thriving diving centre, XP688 arrived at Eccleston and was sunk a few months later. It remains there today, and is regarded as an important part of the Delph diving experience.

Related web-links:

• The Delph Diving Centre