I understand the implications, but there are better are far more effective ways to suppress arcing on switch contacts than a diode.
Today I installed a very similar solenoid for an anchor winch in the yacht club boat. Also installed a solar regulator. Everytime I switch the solenoid on it resets the solar controller. Perhaps this is what is/was happening on the aircraft in question? Eitherway, a diode is not the correct fix, a proper snubber is. The snubber can include a diode, but the diode on its own serves no useful purpose unless is driven by a transistor.
Oh, and BTW snubbers are still well utilised in modern electronics, especially where these is large instructors!
Back to OP, when a diode fails, it almost always fails short circuit, so this explains a lot. IF you want to install a new one, then go for the highest voltage and decent current rating. From jacycar, a 1N5048 is what you want. When installing it, the band on the diode, the stripe or band goes to the positive side of the solenoid. Photo below shows silver band,