Post by viscount on Apr 3, 2011 16:01:07 GMT 1
GLOSTER METEOR F.8, WH291, COMES TO LIVERPOOL
The only known (to me) photograph of WH291 at Speke Airport, 26th May 1962 for the Liverpool 'At Home' Air Display. At the time she was operating with the Royal Air Force Flying College at Manby, weeks before the unit was renamed the College of Air Warfare. Although the unit was at Manby, the Meteors operated out of Strubby.
There are three threads relating to this aircraft currently open. I've selected this thread as all my previous history posts relating to SAHG aircraft are on this section. Other posts are on the daily 'EGGP movements' section (for 23.2.11) and in the 'Other North West Locations' section (on which thread much of this info in abbreviated form first appeared thanks to Phil Butler's researches). I've included more about the operating units and colours, thanks mainly to the A-B RAF Squadrons book and internet searches. Note that the dates while in RAF service are 'paperwork' dates, not the actual date of arrival or departure, which are usually a few days earlier.
For more on the Gloster Meteor, its development, various marks, operators and a list of survivors en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor
History of WH291, Meteor F.8
This Gloster Meteor Fighter Mark 8, was built as one of the fifth production batch of Meteor F.8s, totaling 200 aircraft in the block of serials between WH249 and WH513 to Contract 6/Aircraft/5621/CB7(b) and delivered between 9.51 and 3.52. Aircraft WH291 was constructed and first flown in late 1951 by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft at their Bitteswell factory in Leicestershire. On 7.11.51 WH291 was declared as awaiting collection from AWA, and on 19.11.51 was issued to No.257 Squadron based at Wattisham.
Home defence fighter unit, 257 Sqdn reformed 1.9.46 at Church Fenton, later at Horsham St.Faith and Wattisham, progressively on Meteor F.3, F.4 and F.8. Hunter F.2s began to arrive 9.54 and the last Meteor F.8 left 1.55. While with 257 Sqdn, WH291 likely wore plain metal scheme, chequer board (green & yellow) squadron insignia either side of the fuselage roundel and a single letter individual aircraft code, maybe (no proof yet) with a yellow fin and rudder: www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/decals/xtra/decal_xtra_72057.shtml scroll and click over side views. Alternative, shorter, squadron fuselage colours are illustrated: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._257_Squadron_RAF
WH291's career with 257 Sqdn came to an abrupt halt (after a little over two and a half years) with a flying accident - apparently a wheels up landing, notified on 18.6.54 as Cat.3R damage. Initially to be repaired on site by Gloster personnel, on 24.8.54 it was re-assessed as Cat.4R damage and moved to a Gloster's factory for repair. The repair took near on a year, the aircraft being notified as with No.20 MU at Aston Down on 4.7.55. On 5.1.56 it was notified as moved to No.33 MU at Lyneham, however only a few months later it was on the move again, now with No.12 MU at Kirkbride 27.4.60, where it stayed only 3 weeks, presumably being checked over prior to re-entry to service.
On 16.5.60 WH291 was issued to the RAF Flying College at Manby, although the Meteors were operated from Strubby. The Unit changed name 1.7.62 to become the College of Air Warfare. The aircraft was to serve with RAFFC/CAW a little under 5 years, its longest period of active service. During this time another accident resulted in Cat.3 damage on 12.6.61 which was repaired on site by 60MU personnel, and returned to CAW service `1.8.61. The aircraft was notified as having arrived at No.5 MU at Kemble on 7.7.65.
It was during this period that WH291 visited Liverpool Airport, for the 1962 Liverpool 'At Home' Air Show held on 26th May. Four RAFFC Meteor F.8s: WH291, WK968, WL161 and WL166 landed at Liverpool, inbound from Strubby on Friday 25th. Listed on the display programme as 'R.A.F. Manby Aerobatic Team' led by Flying Officer Rorison, three of the aircraft flew a 8 minute aerobatic formation routine - although restricted by low cloud. It is likely that the display routine was flown using WH291, WL161 & WL166. All four aircraft returned to RAF Strubby on Monday 28th, so were at Speke for 3 nights. Certainly on the day of the display they were parked down towards the river, which is where this photo of WH291 is taken: forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=95382&page=7 (dead line by 2021). It would appear that the CAW Meteor team (which at times included WH291) made a number of airshow appearances 1962-64 under the name 'The Evergreens', although I can find absolutely no mention of this name in material I have related to the 1962 Liverpool 'At Home' display.
From memory (always fickle), rather than photos, colours at this time were silver with large day-glo paint patches on nose and tail. This early day-glo faded to an orange-yellow quite rapidly. No codes were worn at the time of the Liverpool visit 1962. Another link shows 3 photos of the team in flight, apparently including WH291 whose colour scheme is the lowest of the 3 side view drawings (click over to expand) forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=73993 By 1964 the CAW's Meteors were given individual codes, WH291 became code 'E'.
After only 5 months with No.5 MU, WH291's active service career continued, issued on 14.12.65 to No.85 Squadron at Binbrook. Here it served for four and half years before return to No.5 MU at Kemble, notified 30.4.70.
No.85 Sqdn operated Meteor F.8s from 4.63 through to 7.70 alongside a fleet of Canberra B.2/T.4/T.11/T.17 aircraft. The Target Facilities Flight at West Raynham was renumbered 85 Sqdn 1.4.63, and moved to Binbrook to provide fighter interceptor training. 85 Sqdn was disbanded at West Raynham 19.12.75. The Meteor F.8 belly tank fairing was interchangable with one mounted with a hook onto which to attach a 200 ft cable and drogue banner to record air-to-air gun strikes, however the appellation F(TT).8 to a target tug hook fitted Meteor is fictional. Towards the end of its 85 Sqdn service, coded 'T'. 85 Sqdn aircraft usually carried unit colours - a white hexagon nut outline on a black circle, on the lower tail. A July 1968 dated photo on the web www.rob.clubkawasaki.com/bytype/meteor/meteor.htm shows no individual unit code or squadron colours worn, but reveals still overall bare metal, with bands of improved, brighter red, day-glo on nose, engine tops and rear fuselage. It appeared in the flying display at RAF Valley 10th June 1968, as noted on another thread on this forum!
After near six months at No.5 MU, Kemble the aircraft was issued on 20.10.70 to No.229 OCU at Chivenor. Here it was flown in the markings of 'Shadow Unit' No.79 Squadron.
With 79 Sqdn/229 OCU, a handful of Meteors provided target facilities for the Operational Conversion Unit's Hunter F.6/FGA.9s, training air interception techniques to future air defence pilots. No.79 Sqdn did not code their Meteors. WH291 was flown in a protective coat of pale grey overall , with unit markings consisting of forward facing red arrow-heads on white rectangles either side of the fuselage roundels. 79 Sqdn/229OCU was formed 2.1.67 and operated until 2.9.74 when it became a part of 1 TWU.
There should be plenty of photos of the aircraft in this period. I noted seeing it appearing at the RAF Finningley Battle of Britain display 8.9.73 and a few weeks later at the Duxford Air Show 14.10.73.
After just under four years with 229 OCU/79 Sqdn, WH291 was returned to RAF Kemble by air on 19.8.74 along with WL349 (and notified 21.8.74, when it was also declared a 'non-effective airframe').
Stated to be the final Meteor (a claim I dispute as F.8 VZ567 and T.7 WF791 served with 1 TWU Brawdy until c.1982) in RAF mainline service. It was, though, certainly one of the very, very last with a mainstream unit, although a few others continued to fly in military marks with the CFS Vintage Pair display team, RAE Llanbedr and Martin Baker's for ejection seat trials.
On 10.2.76, WH291's 24 year-long military career ended when it was 'struck off charge' as sold to Ormond Hayden-Baillie (a well known cold-war warbird collector in the UK). WH291 remained stored at Kemble until early in 1980. Apparently now owned by Bob Cole, it was dismantled and transported to Lasham by road 15.5.80 and placed on external display with the Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society. Here it remained for the next 30 years, however the SWWAPS Museum closed down in 2009.
Throughout its time on display at Lasham it continued to display the 79 Sqdn colours of its last active period of R.A.F. service. In 2011 these are now considerably faded, but still clear on the photos in the initial posts. Further photos: www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=WH291 Mostly 2003 Lasham (beware of erroneous claims in at least one caption), but also one when 85 Sqdn (1968) and one 79 Sqdn (1970s).
After a while 'in limbo' at Lasham, it was dismantled and on 19.8.10, and under the care of Barry Parkhouse, was taken by road to Booker. On the morning of 23.3.11 it completed a further road journey, this time bringing it to Liverpool for Mike Davey and the Speke Airport Heritage Group at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. There is much work now to be done treating corrosion, cleaning, repairing transport damage and re-assembly, with an aim of having it back on its own undercarriage by late summer 2011. It would be late summer 2016 before full reassembly was completed. While some external surfaces have been treated ready for repaint, at the end of 2016 the faded 79 Sqdn marks could still be seen.
There is an urgent need for further volunteers to help restore this aircraft. SAHG would be delighted if you feel inspired to help, offering expertise/labour. SAHG/Mike Davey would be pleased to see any photos of this aircraft during its military service - and especially at Speke in 1962.
This is a truly dusty transparency, despite the 'noise' the picture captures three of the RAFFC Meteor F.8s at Speke, parked way down towards the river.
