Peter Caygill - Meteor from the Cockpit Britains First Jet Fighter

First published in Great Britain in 2010 by

PEN & SWORD AVIATION

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Pen & Sword Books Ltd

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Copyright Peter Caygill 2010

ISBN 978 1 84884 219 9

eISBN 9781844683352

The right of Peter Caygill to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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Contents

Gloster F.9/40 DG204/G was the third prototype and was powered by Metropolitan Vickers F.2 axial-flow turbojets. It is seen here at Glosters factory at Bentham during engine tests. ( Philip Jarrett )

Posing in front of Gloster F.9/40 DG205/G are ( left to right ) John Tiny Crosby-Warren, Michael Daunt, Frank McKenna (Gloster general manager), Frank Whittle and George Carter. ( Philip Jarrett )

Metreor F.1 EE214/G was used for trials carrying a ventral fuel (as seen here), and later flew with 616 Squadron. ( Philip Jarrett )

One of the first photograph of a Meteor to be the press. It was made available for publication on 11 July 1945. ( Philip Jarrett )

EE212/G was the third Meteor F.1 ( Philip Jarret )

A Meteor F3 of 616 Squadron in an overall white scheme, which was to aid identification. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.3s of 56 Squadron, which, together with 74 and 245 Squadrons, formed the RAFs first jet fighter wing at Bentwaters in 1946. ( Philip Jarrett )

A close-up view of an early Meteor, showing the ports for the 20mm Hispano cannon and Daunt guards in the engine intakes. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.3 EE247 YQ-B of 616 Squadron. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.3 EE317 of 226 OCU. This unit was formed in August 1946 and was formely 1335 Conversion Unit. ( Philip Jarrett )

A line-up of Meteor F.3s of 74 Squadron. Note the jet blast marks on the grass behind the aircraft in the foreground. ( Philip Jarrett )

This view of F.3 EE401 shows to advantage the original long-span wings of the Meteor. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.4 EE454 was used by Group Captain H.J. Wilson to capture the World Speed Record at 606mph on 7 November 1945. ( Philip Jarrett )

During the Speed Record attempt in 1945, Meteor f.4 EE455 featured an all-yellow paint scheme and was flown by Glosters Eric Greenwood who achieved 603mph. ( Philip Jarrett )

On 7 September 1946 the Speed Record was raised to 616mph by Group Captain E.M. Donaldson in meteor F.4 EE549. This aircraft is preserved at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.4 EE519 was used for trails to clear the carriage of underwing drop tanks and bombs. ( Philip Jarrett )

Photographed in November 1946, F.4 EE592 later served with 205 APS at Middleton St George. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.1 EE227 became the first aircraft in the world to be powered by turboprop engines when it was modified in 1945 to accept Rolls-Royce RB.50 Trent propeller turbines. ( Philip Jarrett )

The forerunner of the night-fighter variant of the Meteor, F.3 EE348 was the first British jet aircraft to be fitted with AI radar. ( Philip Jarrett )

Meteor F.4 RA382 was the first of this variant to featured the lengthened fuselage, which went some way in improving directional stability. ( Philip Jarrett )