I am still trying to pin down the date and location of this line up and the Spitfire RW382 therein. It looks to be an ROC ‘At Home’ day at RAF Newton in 1953.
Matching this Meteor to a log book entry would clinch the final confirmation.
Do we have an RAF serial for this Meteor, coded ‘R’, and belonging to a unit appropriate to the Squadron colours?
Mark
By: TempestV - 26th May 2008 at 09:17
Vampire NF.10 ID
Mark12
Vampire NF.10 WM704 23 Squadron. I have a photo of this aircraft taken on the 10th March 1953 in preparation for the coronation review flypast, so hopefully this narrows the date down to the correct year for you, as it is painted in exactly the same scheme/squadron codes.
By: Mark12 - 26th May 2008 at 08:27
I think the aircraft between the Tempest and the Spitfire is a Vampire. With the fin shape and canopy type it is either an early T.11 trainer, or more likely a Vampire NF.10 nightfighter.
The NF.10 had quite a short carreer, so this may help to pinpoint a date better.
By: TempestV - 26th May 2008 at 07:25
I think the aircraft between the Tempest and the Spitfire is a Vampire. With the fin shape and canopy type it is either an early T.11 trainer, or more likely a Vampire NF.10 nightfighter.
The NF.10 had quite a short carreer, so this may help to pinpoint a date better.
By: mike currill - 25th May 2008 at 06:15
So my old eyes still work then? I was expecting someone to tell me I was losing my marbles.
By: T-21 - 24th May 2008 at 21:39
The Tempest TT.5 is coded “RS” which denotes belonging to 229 OCU at RAF Chivenor.
By: T-21 - 24th May 2008 at 21:36
The Meteor is WM160/R of No141 Sqdn . Note the back and white rings around the engine intake lips applicable to this squadron.
By: mike currill - 24th May 2008 at 17:32
That far end of the line up looks as though it has either 2x Spitfires, or 1x Spitfire (nearest to the camera and 1x Mk V Tempest at the end of the line. Curses on the low quality of the image but many thanks for posting it anyway.
By: Mark12 - 24th May 2008 at 09:44
Mark, it looks to be an NF11 of 141 Sqn. Can’t be much more help than that at the moment though. Scramble doesn’t throw up anything unfortunately.
Thanks Laurie.
Fighter Squadrons has ‘R’ of 141 Squadron as WM160 and that follows the basic form of the serial, barely readable, on the low quality image.
Mark
By: lauriebe - 24th May 2008 at 09:30
Mark, it looks to be an NF11 of 141 Sqn. Can’t be much more help than that at the moment though. Scramble doesn’t throw up anything unfortunately.
Have just found, on page 210 of ‘The Source Book of The RAF’, a photo showing a line-up of 141 Sqn Meteor NF 11’s. There are 6 aircraft in the line-up with their crews. At the far end of the line is what appears to an aircraft with the code ‘R’. Unfortunately, the serial cannot be made out.
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May 24, 2008 at 8:14 am