Raf Meteor Jet Fighters In World War Ii An Operational Log An Operational Log

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.

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.

A total of 10,500 missiles were launched as part of the V1 attack, of which 3,957 were destroyed by the defences. 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. Rushed into action in July 1944 to help counter the V1 threat, Britain's Gloster Meteor I was the first jet fighter to enter RAF service. On 4 August the Meteor scored its first V1 victory. Having just closed in on a flying bomb, its officer squeezed the trigger but his guns jammed. Using the Meteor's superior speed, he was able to overtake the missile and, using his wing tip, he tipped the craft over and sent it crashing into the ground. The interceptions between the V1 and Britain's Gloster Meteor were historic, and ushered in a new era of aerial combat.

A celebration of Gloucester’s rich heritage and identity – its special events, achievements, people, industry and landmarks.

Bristol Blenheim MK.IF The purpose of this volume is to provide a comprehensive detailed study of the operational and combat operations of the RAF's Bristol Blenheim MK.IF twin-engine long-range fighter aircraft from the start of World War II in September 1939 through the battles of May and June 1940 following the German invasion of France and the Low Countries. The volume covers Fighter Commands day fighter sweeps and day/night fighter operations against enemy bombers on both sides of the English Channel including operations over Dunkirk in the latter part of May and early June. Although primarily aimed at covering Fighter Command MK.IF operations, some Coastal Command MK.IF and Blenheim MK.IVF combats with enemy aircraft are also detailed when appropriate. A brief description of the genesis and development of the Bristol Blenheim is laid down, but the volume is not designed to be a comprehensive monograph on that subject. The volume is copiously supported by a wealth of operational documents including Squadron Narratives, Group Intelligence Combat Reports, Squadron operational Records and pilot Personal Combat Reports, many of which are reproduced verbatim. Operational documents have been tied up against German reports whenever possible.

Hawker Typhoon The aim of this volume is to provide a comprehensive detailed study of the operational sorties and combat operations of the RAF's Hawker Typhoon IA/B fighter aircraft operating with the Duxford Typhoon Wing, consisting of No.56, 266 and 609 Squadrons, during Operation Jubilee (the combined operations raid on Dieppe) on 19 August 1942. A brief history of the genesis and operational fielding of the Typhoon, deliveries of which commenced in 1941, with operations commencing in May 1942, is provided, as is the specification and brief description of the Luftwaffe aircraft that it would join combat with over Dieppe - the Focke Wulf FW.190 fighter and the Dornier Do.217 twin-engine bomber. The volume is supported by a wealth of operational documentation including pilot Combat Reports, Squadron Narratives and Wing Intelligence Combat Reports.

This third volume of Fighter command losses deals with the final 16 months of the war. Plans for the Allied invasion of Europe were well under way in November 1943 when the 'Fighter command' nomenclature was put aside temporarily due to the RAF's fighter force being divided into two.

This work describes the vitl role of the Air Ministry in the development of the RAF's fighters and bombers before WWII.