Gloster Meteor F.Mk.III "WWII Jet"
The first operational jet fighter squadron was No. 616. It was given a detached flight of seven Meteor F.Mk Is when it moved to Manston, Kent in July of 1944. RAF Flying Officer Dean claimed the first V-1 to be destroyed by a jet fighter. After all four of his guns jammed, he used his wing tip to push the V-1 nose-first towards the ground. The same day another Meteor claimed a second V-1. By the end of August, the squadron was completely converted to Meteors. The first Meteor F.Mk IIIs were delivered on December 18, 1944, and these began to replace the Mk. Is. The Mk IIs had the much better Derwent turbojets, which improved performance considerably. In January of 1945, one flight from No. 616 Squadron was moved across the channel to begin operations in Belgium. After the war, production continued. The most prolific version built was the Meteor F.Mk 8, with gyro-gunsights, bubble canopy, ejection seats and bigger Derwent engines, with a top speed of 600 mph (966 km/h). A two-seat, dual control trainer was built for the RAF under the designation Meteor T.Mk 7, and a two-seat night fighter, the Meteor NF Mk 13, entered service in 1952.
Vier uitvoeringen mogelijk;
- Gloster meteor F.Mk.III EE239, RAF Melsbroek, March 1945.
- Gloster Meteor F.Mk.III EE275, RAF No.616 Squadron, April 1945.
- Gloster Meteor F.Mk.III EE318, RAF No.74 Squadron, Colerne, June 1945.
- Gloster Meteor F.Mk.III EE420, RAF No.500 Squadron, West Malling, 1948.
