Meteor Jets In RCAF

Good evening !

I have found even more – EE311 is here:

http://www.cahs.ca/pdf/journals/CAHSJournalSpring1988.pdf

Enjoy.

Flyer.

‘RCAF (Canada)
Canada did not operate the Meteor but did purchase a small number and co-operated with the RAF on winterisation trials in the late 1940’s. The first Meteor to fly in Canada was F Mk III, EE311 arrived in September 1945, it was lost after running out of fuel and force landing in Helen’s Bay Lake, Ontario. Its replacement EE361 also suffered an early accident after only a few hours of trails work in Dec 1946 although it did return to the UK in March 1948 by sea.
In February 1948 Meteor F4, RA421 was sent to Canada for further winterisation trials which was carried on by VT196. After is return to the UK, VT196 was also involved in reheat trials of the Avro Orenda. Two Meteor T7 trainers (WA740 & WA742) were operated by the RCAF at Odiham for intensive training between january and November 1951 after which they were returned to the RAF.’
http://www.meteorflight.com/waveplus/meteor.nsf/pages/exports_other

Could this photo that I have in my collection be of EE311?

On the back it has a typed label which reads…………..
“Meteor III. Arctic Trials at Edminton, Canada. January and February, 1946.”

Guess it is EE361
http://www.jetagemuseum.org/aircraft/meteornf14/history.shtml

It is great !

Let’s thank contrailjj for his deep research of subject.

It is good job !
__________________________________________________________________
Fleet16b wrote:

I have a picture of E311 taken in Canada by my father.
On the back of the pic he has written
Gloster Meteor June 27 1945
It is in camoflage , with a white band around the tail just forward of the v-stab
E311 is painted on the tail directly under the v-stab

What national insignia (and of what style) have Meteor on Your photo ?

Best wishes,
Flyer.

Found these tidbits on the Meteors in Larry Milberry’s Sixty Year – The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924-1984

“The flight trials of the NRC Flying Wing began in spring 1946 and progressed well despite some setbacks. But Meteor EE311 was lost June 29 when ditched in a northern Ontario lake while being flown to Malton by Bill McKenzie. It had been thought that ditching a Meteor would be fatal, but McKenzie succeeded. He was missing for 27 days in the bush before he found his way out. …”

and another Meteor…

“Meteor testing continued on EE361 after EE311 was lost, but on December 10 (1946) its career ended. Jack Ritch was flying it that day and was descending through cloud to land when the controls became very stiff. As he broke into the clear, Ritch realized that he was diving too fast. He hauled back on the stick with all his strength and managed to regain control and land safely. But a look at EE361 showed serious structural damage. …”

Quoting a caption to a wingless Meteor… “Once damaged, EE361 could not be flown although it did serve as a useful ground test bed.”

So there’s our ‘wingless’ Meteor – EE361.

AND… From Milberry’s Canada’s Air Force at War and Peace – Vol. 3… 3 great static photos (2 of EE311 and 1 of RA421) – Page 58

“RA421, the RCAF’s third and last Meteor, served briefly in 1948…” This particular aircraft is pictured in said volume and is shown wearing an overall aluminum finish.

James

OK, men, I glad to read Your posts. My special THANKS to Hairy for cool photo.
Fleet16b wrote:

It appears that the port outer wing has been removed.
Hard to tell for sure but if you look closely it sure looks like it

I think, the aircraft had both outer wings removed for the next reasons:

Reason 1 (in my opinion): – because in these parts of airplane are no details and systems, which must be tested in cold weather. (??)

Reason 2 (in my opinion): – because the aircraft was moved to test place by land transport. (??)

Maybe, somebody knows more reasons or real facts ?

Regards,
Flyer.

Glen Mhor

Do you have any further information on the ditching of EE311? Could it have ditched in Helen Lake instead of Helen Bay Lake?

Could this photo that I have in my collection be of EE311?

On the back it has a typed label which reads…………..
“Meteor III. Arctic Trials at Edminton, Canada. January and February, 1946.”

Interesting picture.
It appears that the port outer wing has been removed.
Hard to tell for sure but if you look closely it sure looks like it

I have a picture of E311 taken in Canada by my father.
On the back of the pic he has written
Gloster Meteor June 27 1945
It is in camoflage , with a white band around the tail just forward of the v-stab
E311 is painted on the tail directly under the v-stab

Could this photo that I have in my collection be of EE311?

On the back it has a typed label which reads…………..
“Meteor III. Arctic Trials at Edminton, Canada. January and February, 1946.”

Meteor F.3 EE311 was written-off when it ditched in Helen Bay Lake on 29 June 1946.
HTH

The first Meteor in Canada was EE311 (an F.3) which was assigned to the Test & Development Establishment at Rockcliffe in 1945. EE311 was also flown on several exhibition flights over Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Hamilton, London and Windsor before being crated and shipped to the Winter Experimental Establishment in Edmonton (November/December 1945)

The earliest RCAF pilots flying EE311 were S/L Shan Baudoux, F/L Bill McKenzie and F/L Jack Ritch – Ritch performed the majority of the exhibition flights.

The 2 photos I’ve seen published of EE311 show it to be finished in standard RAF camouflage and markings of the time.

The meteor T.7 in the photograph has an unofficial Canadian Maple Leaf Zap on the centre of the RAF Roundel. It was never on charge with the Canadian Air Force.

At the time 421 squadron were operating from Odiham.

Many Vampire Squadrons had a couple of two seat meteors before the T.11 bacame available.

The other Meteors were purely for winterisation trails works. One such aircraft was EE311 which was with the RCAF from 1945-46.

The Canadians bought Vampires rather than Meteors for their Air Force.