Gloster Meteor In British Service

The Gloster F.9/40 was Britains first jet fighter and as the Meteor F.I became the first jet-powered aircraft of any description to enter service with the Allies in World War II. Several early Meteors were dispatched to Europe in the hope that 1945 might witness the first ever jet-on-jet combats between it and the much-vaunted German jets a contest which, in the event, was never to occur.Postwar, and the Meteor quickly became the backbone of the UKs day fighter defenses, progressing through successive Marks as it did so, until finally being replaced on the front line by later types during the mid-1950s. With their ever-adaptable airframe, two-seat Meteors became Britains primary night fighter too, serving for several years until replaced by the Gloster Javelin from the late 1950s onwards.With its operational career over, the Meteors adaptability and ruggedness was put to sterling use as an advanced trainer, the most obvious example of which was the T.7. As late as 1982, a handful of stalwarts were still soldiering on.Although space precludes a comprehensive history of such a prolific aircraft, it is hoped that both aviation enthusiasts and aircraft modelers may find some interesting examples in these pages, and sufficient inspiration to help them choose which color scheme to finish their latest Meteor model in.This latest addition to the FlightCraft range follows our well-established format in that it is split into three primary sections. The first covers the Meteor using numerous photographs, informative captions and tables. The second is a 16-page full-color illustration section featuring detailed profiles and 2-views of many of the color schemes and markings carried by British Meteors. The final section lists as many injection-moulded plastic model kits of the Meteor, in all the major scales, that the authors could obtain, plus a gallery of models made by some of the UKs best modelers.

The Gloster F.9/40 was Britain's first jet fighter and as the Meteor F.I became the first jet-powered aircraft of any description to enter service with the Allies in World War II. Several early Meteors were dispatched to Europe in the hope that 1945 might witness the first ever jet-on-jet combats between it and the much-vaunted German jets - a contest which, in the event, was never to occur. Postwar, and the Meteor quickly became the backbone of the UK's day fighter defenses, progressing through successive Marks as it did so, until finally being replaced on the front line by later types during the mid-1950s. With their ever-adaptable airframe, two-seat Meteors became Britain's primary night fighter too, serving for several years until replaced by the Gloster Javelin from the late 1950s onwards. With its operational career over, the Meteor's adaptability and ruggedness was put to sterling use as an advanced trainer, the most obvious example of which was the T.7\. As late as 1982, a handful of stalwarts were still soldiering on. Although space precludes a comprehensive history of such a prolific aircraft, it is hoped that both aviation enthusiasts and aircraft modelers may find some interesting examples in these pages, and sufficient inspiration to help them choose which color scheme to finish their latest Meteor model in. This latest addition to the FlightCraft range follows our well-established format in that it is split into three primary sections. The first covers the Meteor using numerous photographs, informative captions and tables. The second is a 16-page full-color illustration section featuring detailed profiles and 2-views of many of the color schemes and markings carried by British Meteors. The final section lists as many injection-moulded plastic model kits of the Meteor, in all the major scales, that the authors could obtain, plus a gallery of models made by some of the UK's best modelers.

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only operational jet aircraft during the Second World War. For the Meteor, the main issue was to find the right engines and the development of these took more time than initially planned and proved more complicated than originally thought but eventually the first Meteor F.Is were ready to enter service in the summer 1944. Their first action took place soon after in the hunt of the V-1 launched against England. Then the Meteor was deployed on the Continent in its F.III variant where it participated to the last stages of WW2 with the 2 TAF. This study covers the wartime era and ends in September 1945. This book is illustred with 30 photos (5 in colours) and five colour profiles.

This is the first ever in-depth history of one of the most successful British aircraft of all time, the British Gloster Meteor, whose strong popularity is evidenced by the recent release of several brand new model kits of the type. The Gloster Meteor first flew during World War II, and a few hardy survivors are still airworthy into the 21st century. It served with 16 overseas air forces as well as with the Royal Air Force. This book thoroughly covers the craft's design, development, and initial flight testing, as well as night fighter variants, construction information, service both in the United Kingdom and abroad, test beds and trials aircraft. The authors have had access to a wealth of material in the United Kingdom's Public Record Office which was not previously available to researchers on the aircraft. As a result, the book contains a great deal of previously unpublished information, many detailed photos in both color and black & white, and data tables and information on the serials carried by the aircraft.

British jet fighters initiated jet vs. jet warfare when they fought Hitler's Nazi German V-1 attacks on London in World War II. The V1 attack on London began on the night of 13/14 June 1944 from bases in Normandy. On 29 March 1945 the last one to fall on Britain was shot down by gunners in Suffolk. A total of 10,500 missiles were launched, of which 3957 were destroyed by the defences - 3531 reached England, 2420 falling in the London area. No fewer than 6184 people were killed and 17,981 seriously injured. Indeed, it could have been much worse, for by the end of the war the Germans had manufactured close to 32,000 flying bombs. The defences put forward to guard against the V1 were formidable - 23,000 men and women with their guns, radar and communications networks were installed on coastal sites. Squadrons of Britain's newest Spitfires, the F XIVs, and Hawker Tempest Vs were kept at home to battle the new menace. While the Spitfire F XIV and Tempest V had excellent low-level speed and were able to catch the V1, there was one aircraft that was much faster. Rushed into action on 22 July 1944 to help counter the V1 threat, Britain's Gloster Meteor I was the first jet fighter to enter RAF service. At low and medium altitudes the Meteor was faster than its piston-engined contemporaries, which in turn made it perfectly suited to 'anti-Diver' V1 operations. On 4 August the Meteor scored its first V1 victory. Having just closed in on a flying bomb, Flg Off Dean of No 616 Sqn squeezed the trigger but his guns jammed. Using the Meteor's superior speed, he was able overtake the missile and, using his wing tip, he tipped the craft over and sent it crashing into the ground. This was the first time a jet-powered enemy aircraft had been destroyed by a jet fighter without a shot being fired! It was also the world's first jet versus jet encounter. As the only jet fighter squadron in Allied service in Europe, No 616 Sqn would go on to shoot down 13 V1s. A small number perhaps, but the interceptions between the V1 and Britain's Gloster Meteor were historic, and ushered in a new era of aerial combat.

Gloster Meteor - The advent of the gas-turbine engine pioneered in the late 1930's by Frank Whittle in Britain and Germany's Dr Hans von Ohain, and its subsequent development into operational jet-propulsion units led to the introduction of a new breed of combat aircraft in the last year of World War II. While Germany developed, built and flew many jet powered aircraft during the war, with several of these subsequently entering operational service, only a handful of allied jet designs actually flew before the war's end. Of these, only the Gloster Meteor twin-jet fighter actually entered service; No.616 Squadron becoming the first jet powered squadron in the world to be declared operational. In many respects, 616Squadron gained this accolade on paper only, as some German Units were operating jet powered aircraft in contested air defence zones prior to the Meteor being declared operational. Flying their first operational sorties against V-1 Flying Bombs on 27 July 1944, the Meteor was at the time being operated on an ad hoc basis, as a direct response to the V-1 attacks against southern Britain. The Squadron did not fully relinquish its Spitfire VII's until 13 August 1944, the date on which the last operational Spitfire mission was flown. The Meteor I was flown operational against the V-1 from late July 1944 until early September that year, following which it entered an intensive period of training through February 1945, by which time the Squadron had been transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force for operations on continental Europe supporting the allied armies advancing towards the German hinterland. A handful of aircraft began operating from Belgium from early February 1945, albeit in a non-operational role. The rest of the Squadron, which had been temporarily transferred back to RAF Fighter Command, commenced flying Anti-V-1 operations from early March 1945, until the 19th of that month, after which it reverted back to 2nd Tactical Air Force, flying out to Belgium on the 31st of the Month. The Squadron commenced operational missions as part of 2nd Tactical Air Force on 1 April, flying air defence and reconnaissance/ground attack sorties until the war in Europe ended, flying its last operational sorties on the 4 May 1945. By this time 504 Squadron was on the strength of Fighter Command, with several other squadrons commencing conversion to the Meteor III before World War II ended. Within weeks of the war's end the Meteor IV, which had flown on 15 August, captured with Word Speed Record with an average speed of 606 mph. This volume covers the development of British jet aircraft and the operational service of the aircraft from summer 1944, when the aircraft were employed against V-1 flying bombs until late 1945, including the aircrafts service with 2nd Tactical Air Force supporting the allied armies during the final advance into Germany.

Gloster Meteor Jones. The only RAF jet to see service in WWII, the Gloster Meteor remained in service for several years asan interceptor, ground attack aircraft, night fighter and trainer. Its simple construction made it an ideal test airplane. Many were configured with different engines and even ejector seats. In this comprehensive study, Barry Jones recounts the entire history of this long-serving aircraft from WWIIto the present day. Hdbd., 8 1/2"x 11", 192 pgs., 200 b&w ill.

Detailed profile artworks and descriptions of 14 different RAF jet aircraft types.