As far as I can tell Meteor IV EE568 was used as a chase plane for some of the trials of the Vickers pilotless model of the M.52 which was launched from a Mosquito flying from St.Eval in 1947. There is a film of the trials at http://www.britishpathe.com/video/stills/britain-gets-down-to-it around 3mins20sec into the film. Flight has an article saying the Meteor was flown by a civilian pilot from the RAE – Mr. Keith Butler. I’m not sure if this means the Meteor would have to be on the strength of the RAE – I can’t imagine a civilian flying an aircraft of an RAF unit.
Please does anyone have details of the camera installation on EE568 as it appears to predate most Meteor PR trials and was presumably quite different from the later PR aircraft? Unfortunately the nose escaped the film cameraman.
TIA,
Ross
By: pogno - 28th August 2013 at 07:47
Ross
Just to add to what I posted yesterday K.A. Butler was a Westland TP and was killed flying Spitfire F Mk 22 PK545 on 15/2/50 so at the time of the M.52 trials he could have been employed by Westland or still in the RAF perhaps on loan.
I cannot help with the question regarding the Meteor.
Richard
By: pogno - 27th August 2013 at 16:56
Ross
From ‘Learn to Test,Test to Learn’ History of the ETPS.
A K. A. Butler, RAF was killed in a accident in 1950 while flying a Spitfire, he had been a member of ETPS course No 4 in 1946.
Squadron Leader C.L.T Sawle, RCAF was killed while flying EE568 during ETPS course No 7 in 1948, ETPS by then had moved from Boscombe to Farnborough .
Richard
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August 27, 2013 at 1:31 pm