Performance: Maximum speed 583 mph, Range 700 miles, Service ceiling 44,500 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 2,000 lbs Gloster Meteor F.Mk 4 Dimensions: Wingspan 43 ft, Length 41 ft, Height 13 ft Crew: 1 Entered service: 1947 Number built: 658 The Meteor F.1 was the first operational jet aircraft in the R.A.F. when it entered service with No. 616 Squadron in the summer of 1944. The F.1 had a short operational life, 616 Squadron exchanging them for the Meteor F.3 in December. The next major version of the aircraft was the F.4 which first flew in May 1945. Several areas of the aircraft were redesigned, but the major difference was the installation of Rolls-Royce Derwent 5 engines which gave the aircraft a speed of 585 mph at sea level, 170 mph faster than the F.1. The F.4 was placed in production in 1946 and would serve with twenty-seven R.A.F. squadrons. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 10,590 lbs, Maximum take-off 13,900 lbs Powerplant: Two 3,500 lbf Rolls-Royce Derwent 5 turbojets Performance: Maximum speed 600 mph, Range 600 miles, Service ceiling 43,000 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 2,000 lbs Gloster Meteor F.Mk 8 Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 2 ins, Length 44 ft 7 ins, Height 13 ft Crew: 1 Entered service: 1950 Number built: 1,183 The next major development of the Gloster Meteor after the F.4 was the F.8 when it entered service in August 1949. The F.8 was an attempt to keep the Meteor competitive with the new swept winged fighter designs which were emerging, such as the North American Sabre, and had a longer fuselage, greater fuel capacity, standard ejection seat and a modified tail. The F.8 was the last and best day fighter version of the Meteor, and equipped the majority of the R.A.F. fighter squadrons in the U.K. between 1950 and 1954. The Meteor was built through eighteen marks, including two seat nightfighters, and in total nearly 4,000 were produced. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 10,864 lbs, Maximum take-off 15,700 lbs Powerplant: Two 3,600 lbf Rolls-Royce Derwent 8 turbojets Performance: Maximum speed 559 mph, Range 650 miles, Service ceiling 37,500 ft Armament: 4 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons Bombload 1,100 lbs Messerschmitt Me.262 Dimensions: Wingspan 41 ft 6 ins, Length 34 ft 9 ins, Height 11 ft 6 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1944 Number built: 1,430 The prototype Me 262 first flew under jet power in July 1942, but delays were encountered after it was decided the aircraft should be used as a bomber. Two versions were developed alongside each other, the Me 262A-2a bomber and the Me 262A-la fighter, with the first Me 262A-2as entering service with the Luftwaffe in mid 1944. Too late to make a dramatic impact on the war, the Me 262 took a heavy toll of allied aircraft during the last few months of World War Two. Only around 200 were ever operational at any one time, and according to sources destroyed between 300 to 450 enemy planes for the loss of about 100. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,795 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,130 lbs Powerplant: Two 1,980 lbf Junkers Jumo 004 B-1 turbojets Performance: Maximum speed 596 mph, Range 50 miles, Service ceiling 40,000 ft Armament: 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons Bombload none Messerschmitt Me163 Komet Dimensions: Wingspan 30 ft 7¼ ins, Length 18 ft 8 ins, Height 9 ft ½ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1944 Number built: 300+ The Messerschmitt Me163 Komet has the distinction of being the only tailless rocket powered interceptor to ever see operational service. The aircraft’s introduction into service during 1944 was a hazardous process, owing to the highly volatile fuels, resulting in several fatal accidents. The Komet was fast, reaching its service ceiling of 40,000 ft in 3½ minutes, but only carried enough fuel for eight minutes of powered flight. This left time for one or two passes at the enemy before the pilot had to glide back to base, the aircraft then being defenceless. By the end of 1944 only nine confirmed kills had been achieved by their pilots. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 4,200 lbs, Maximum take-off 9,500 lbs Powerplant: One Walter 3,748 lbf 109-S09A-2 rocket motor Performance: Maximum speed 600 mph, Range 1,200 miles, Service ceiling 46,000 ft Armament: 6 x 0.50 inch machine guns Bombload 2,000 lbs Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star Dimensions: Wingspan 38 ft 9 ins, Length 34 ft 5 ins, Height 11 ft 3 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1945 Number built: 1,700+ The prototype P-80 took to the air in June 1944 with service trials commencing in October, but were too late to see operational service during the World War Two. The performance of the aircraft during the trials ensured that the P-80 became America’s first operational jet aircraft. Named the P-80 Shooting Star (F-80 on the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947), they were to see action during the Korean War. When the Mig-15 began to be deployed by North Korea the F-80 was totally outclassed as a fighter, being replaced by the North American F-86 Sabre, the F-80 then being used in the ground attack role. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 8,420 lbs, Maximum take-off 16,856 lbs Powerplant: One 4,600 lbf Allison J33-A-35 turbojet Performance: Maximum speed 342 mph, Range 745 miles, Service ceiling 28,500 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons, Ordnance load 2,000 lbs Blackburn Firebrand Dimensions: Wingspan 51 ft, 3½ ins Length 38 ft 9 ins, Height 13 ft 3 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1945 Number built: 200 The Blackburn Firebrand was designed during World War Two as a fleet fighter for the Royal Navy and made its maiden flight in February 1942. The performance of the aircraft proved to be disappointing for its intended role which led to the aircraft being redesigned as a strike fighter to take advantage of its load-carrying capability. The first production aircraft were delivered to the Royal Navy in late 1945, but were only ever issued to two squadrons, Nos 813 and 827, and in most pilots opinion they poor aircraft that lacked performance and manoeuvrability. The Firebrand was withdrawn from service in 1953. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 11, 457 lbs, Maximum take-off 16,700 lbs Powerplant: One 2,520 hp Bristol Centaurus IX radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 451 mph, Range 500 miles, Service ceiling 43,100 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 1,000 lbs Supermarine Seafire Mk.47 Dimensions: Wingspan 36 ft 11 ins, Length 34 ft 4 ins, Height 12 ft 9 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1948 Number built: 90 The Seafire F Mk.47 incorporated a number of refinements over earlier variants including the use of Rotol contra-rotating propellers and being powered by a Roll-Royce Griffon 87 or 88 engine. The Mk.47 entered service in early 1948 with No. 800 and 804 Squadrons, but in May 1949 804 Squadron converted to the Sea Fury, leaving 800 Squadron the only operator of the type. 800 Squadron Seafires were used operationally in 1949 during the Malayan Insurgency before being deployed during the early days of the Korean War. In November 1950 800 Squadron was disbanded which ended the career of the Seafire. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 7,625 lbs, Maximum take-off 12,750 lbs Powerplant: One 2,350 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon 88 inline engine
Performance: Maximum speed 472 mph, Range 1,500 miles, Service ceiling 37,500 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 2,000 lbs
de Havilland Hornet F.19
Dimensions: Wingspan 45 ft, Length 36 ft 8 ins, Height 16 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1946 Number built: 174
In 1943 de Havilland began to design a high performance twin engined fighter as a private venture, using the constructional techniques pioneered in the Mosquito. The D.H.103 resembled a scaled down Mosquito, and was designed for long range missions against the Japanese in the Pacific. A production order was received towards the end of 1944, with the Hornet F.1 entering service with No. 64 Squadron in mid 1946. Hornets served with seven squadrons, and in 1951 a considerable number were redeployed from the U.K. to the Far East during the Malayan Emergency, the last sortie by a Hornet being flown in 1955. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 12,505 lbs, Maximum take-off 20,900 lbs Powerplant: Two 2,070 hp Rolls-Royce 130/131 inline engines
Scroll down to see all the illustrations on this page
Performance: Maximum speed 437 mph, Range 1,650 miles, Service ceiling 41,900 ft Armament: 6 x 0.5 inch machine guns Bombload 2,000 lbs North American P-51D Mustang Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft, Length 32 ft 3 ins, Height 12 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1944 Number built: 8,102 In service the P-51C was criticised for its poor view from the cockpit, especially to the rear, and in response North American addressed the problem by cutting down the rear fuselage and fitting a one piece sliding canopy. At the same time they also modified the wings, and in this form the aircraft entered service in the spring of 1944 as the P-51D. This was the most widely produced variant of the Mustang with 8,102 being built, 6,502 at Inglewood and 1,600 at Dallas. The final production Mustang was the P-51H, by which time over 15,000 of all marks were built. The last P-51 was retired from military service by Dominica in 1984. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 7,125 lbs, Maximum take-off 11,600 lbs Powerplant: One 1,490 hp Packard Merlin V-1650-12 inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 352 mph, Range 2,000 miles, Service ceiling 30,000 ft Armament: None Bristol Buckmaster Dimensions: Wingspan 71 ft, Length 46 ft 5 ins, Height 17 ft 6 ins Crew: 2 + 1 pupil Entered service: 1944 Number built: 65 With the cancellation of the Buckingham, it was decided in to keep the Bristol workforce together before production of the Bristol Brigand and Hawker Tempest commenced, so it was decided to produce a limited batch of the Buckingham. The first 54 were completed as bombers, but were soon converted into high speed courier aircraft and named Buckingham C.1. A further 65 were converted into high performance trainers for the Bristol Brigand which were named Buckmaster. The aircraft was equipped with dual controls and became the most powerful training aircraft to see R.A.F. service during the Second World War. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 24,042 lbs, Maximum take-off 33,700 lbs Powerplant: Two 2,585 hp Bristol Centaurus VII radial engines Towing speed: Optimum 150 mph, but not too exceed 187 mph, Maximum payload: 7 tons, typically one Tetrarch or M22 light tank or two universal carriers G.A.L. Hamilcar Mk I Dimensions: Wingspan 110 ft, Length 68 ft, Height 20 ft 3 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1942 Number built: 344 After British airborne units were formed in 1940, a glider was required that could transport carry a heavy cargo, such as the Tetrarch or M22 Locust light tank, in support of the airborne forces. General Aircraft Limited developed the GAL 49 Hamilcar for this purpose which could carry a light tank or two Universal Carriers. They were first used during the D-Day landings on the 6th June 1944, when thirty transported heavy equipment in support of British forces. In September they were used during Operation Market Garden, and again during the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 18,400 lbs, Maximum take-off 36,000 lbs Towing tug: Usually a four engined Short Stirling bomber Performance: Maximum speed 365 mph, Range 500 miles, Service ceiling 25,100 ft Armament: 6 x 0.5 inch machine guns Bombload 1,000 lbs North American A-36 Apache Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft ins, Length 32 ft 2 ins, Height 12 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1943 Number built: 500 The A-36 Apache was a ground attack aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Force, and based on the Allison engined Mustang I. The aircraft was barely indistinguishable from the P-51, except machine guns was rearranged, four being fitted in the wings and two in the nose. 1,000 lbs of bombs could be carried on underwing hardpoints, while dive brakes were fitted to limit the dive speed to 390 mph which improved bombing accuracy. They entered service in April 1943, and by the end of May about 300 were deployed to the Mediterranean where they were later heavily involved in operations during the Sicily and Italian campaigns. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 6,609 lbs, Maximum take-off 10,000 lbs Powerplant: One 1,325 hp Allison V-1710-87 inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 430 mph, Range 1,450 miles, Service ceiling 41,800 ft Armament: 6 x 0.5 inch machine guns Bombload 2,000 lbs North American P-51C Mustang Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft, Length 32 ft 3 ins, Height 12 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1943 Number built: 1,750 In 1940 the British approached the North American Aviation Company to produce the Curtiss P-40 fighter aircraft under licence. They soon proposed they could produce a better aircraft, and by April the first design was approved. They used the same Allison engine as the P-40 but incorporated the latest technology. The prototype took to the air in just over six months and entered service with the British in early 1942, but in service the Allison engine lost power at high altitude, and it was not until the British replaced the Allison engine with a Rolls-Royce Merlin that the Mustang, as the British had named it, turned into a war winner. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 6,985 lbs, Maximum take-off 9,200 lbs Powerplant: One 1,380 hp Packard MerlinV-1650-3 inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 430 mph, Range 1,450 miles, Service ceiling 41,800 ft Armament: 6 x 0.5 inch machine guns Bombload 2,000 lbs North American P-51C Mustang Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft, Length 32 ft 3 ins, Height 12 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1943 Number built: 1,750 The Mustang was clearly an excellent aircraft, and in the R.A.F. the Merlin powered aircraft was designated the P-51B which was built at the companies Inglewood plant in California, while the P-51C at Dallas in Texas. The R.A.F. however still had problems with visibility to the rear from the cockpit, which they solved by the replacement of the existing canopy with the Malcolm Hood. The real answer was carried out by North American who cut down the rear fuselage and fitted a one piece sliding canopy, and in this form the aircraft became the definitive P-51D which entered service in the spring of 1944. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 6,985 lbs, Maximum take-off 9,200 lbs Powerplant: One 1,380 hp Packard Merlin V-1650-3 inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 335 mph, Range 3,000 miles, Service ceiling 30,000 ft Armament: 8 x 0.5 inch machine guns Bombload 4,000 lbs Bristol Buckingham Dimensions: Wingspan 71 ft, Length 46 ft 5 ins, Height 17 ft 6 ins Crew: 5 Entered service: 1944 Number built: 54 In mid 1940 the British Air Ministry issued specification B7/40 for a medium bomber to replace the Bristol Blenheim. Bristol had proposed a bomber version of the Beaufighter in early 1939 which had been rejected, but resurrected their proposal which was known as the Beaumont. In 1941 the Air Ministry changed the requirements, and after being redesigned was renamed Buckingham. 400 were ordered, but during trials the prototype suffered from stability problems, and by the time this was resolved the de Havilland Mosquito had entered service which met the needs of the R.A.F., resulting in the order being cut back in 1944. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 24,042 lbs, Maximum take-off 36,900 lbs Powerplant: Two 2,585 hp Bristol Centaurus VII radial engines Performance: Maximum speed 461 mph, Range 1,500 miles, Service ceiling 37,500 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 2,000 lbs de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 Dimensions: Wingspan 45 ft, Length 36 ft 8 ins, Height 16 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1948 Number built: 79 De Havilland always had in mind the Hornet’s possible use by the Royal Navy, and shortly after the prototype first flew, the Air Ministry issued Specification N.5/44 which covered the modifications of the aircraft for naval service. The modifications included folding wings, slotted flaps, and a reinforced fuselage and undercarriage, all of which only reduced the top speed of the aircraft by 11 mph compared to its land based counterpart. On the completion of successful trials the aircraft was ordered into production as the Sea Hornet F.20, with No. 801 Squadron being the first unit to operate the type. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 13,300 lbs, Maximum take-off 19,500 lbs Powerplant: Two 2,030 hp Rolls-Royce 134/135 inline engines Performance: Maximum speed 460 mph, Range 1,500 miles, Service ceiling 36,500 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 2,000 lbs de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Dimensions: Wingspan 45 ft, Length 38 ft, Height 16 ft 2 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1949 Number built: 79 The Sea Hornet NF.21 was designed as a naval night fighter, and was fitted with a second cockpit in the rear fuselage for the radar operator/navigator and an elongated radome fitted to the nose which housed a small radar dish. No 809 Squadron was the only unit to be fully equipped with the type, although individual machines served with several squadron. In service the NF.21 was primarily used as a scouting flight leader for formations of strike aircraft, and remained in service aboard the aircraft carriers H.M.S. Illustrious and Vengeance until 1954 when they were replaced by the De Havilland Sea Venom. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 13,193 lbs, Maximum take-off 20,200 lbs Powerplant: Two 2,030 hp Rolls-Royce 134/135 inline engines Performance: Maximum speed 548 mph, Range 1,220 miles, Service ceiling 42,800 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 1,000 lbs de Havilland Vampire Dimensions: Wingspan 38 ft, Length 30 ft 9 ins, Height 8 ft 10 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1946 Number built: 3,268 (all mks) Design of the de Havilland Vampire began in 1941 and initially intended as an experimental jet aircraft that may be suitable for combat. The design configuration was of a Halford H.1 turbojet and twin booms to carry the tail surfaces, and apart from these it was a relatively conventional aircraft. The prototype first flew in September 1943 and the decision was made to place the aircraft in production, with the Vampire Mk I entering service with the R.A.F. in 1946. Over thirty marks of the Vampire were built over the next ten years, and by the time production ended in the mid 1950s over 3,250 had been built S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 7,283 lbs, Maximum take-off 12,390 lbs Powerplant: One 3,350 lbf de Havilland Goblin 3 turbojet Performance: Maximum speed 340 mph, Range 950 miles, Service ceiling 28,200 ft Armament: 2 x 0.5 inch machine guns 4 x 0.3 inch machine guns Curtiss-Wright CW-21B Demon Dimensions: Wingspan 35 ft 10 ins, Length 28 ft 5 ins, Height 9 ft 5 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1940 Number built: 62 In early 1938 Curtiss-Wright began to develop Carl Scott's two seater Model 19 aircraft into a lightweight fighter for export with a high rate of climb in order to attack bomber formations with minimal warning. The new fighter aircraft was designated the CW-21 and first flew in September 1938, but was immediately dismissed for service with the U.S.A.A.F., but orders for the aircraft did follow. The first came from the Chinese for 35 aircraft, followed by an order for 24 of the improved CW-21B from the Netherlands for service in the Far East. With the Dutch they were easily outclassed by the Japanese Zero and sustained heavy losses. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,237 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,384 lbs Powerplant: One 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R1830 radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 340 mph, Range 950 miles, Service ceiling 28,200 ft Armament: 2 x 0.5 inch machine guns 4 x 0.3 inch machine guns Curtiss-Wright CW-21B Demon Dimensions: Wingspan 35 ft 10 ins, Length 28 ft 5 ins, Height 9 ft 5 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1940 Number built: 62 In early 1938 Curtiss-Wright began to develop Carl Scott's two seater Model 19 aircraft into a lightweight fighter for export with a high rate of climb in order to attack bomber formations with minimal warning. The new fighter aircraft was designated the CW-21 and first flew in September 1938, but was immediately dismissed for service with the U.S.A.A.F., but orders for the aircraft did follow. The first came from the Chinese for 35 aircraft, followed by an order for 24 of the improved CW-21B from the Netherlands for service in the Far East. With the Dutch they were easily outclassed by the Japanese Zero and sustained heavy losses. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 5,237 lbs, Maximum take-off 7,384 lbs Powerplant: One 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R1830 radial engine
Performance: Maximum speed 472 mph, Range 1,500 miles, Service ceiling 37,500 ft Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannons Bombload 2,000 lbs
de Havilland Hornet F.19
Dimensions: Wingspan 45 ft, Length 36 ft 8 ins, Height 16 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1946 Number built: 174
In 1943 de Havilland began to design a high performance twin engined fighter as a private venture, using the constructional techniques pioneered in the Mosquito. The D.H.103 resembled a scaled down Mosquito, and was designed for long range missions against the Japanese in the Pacific. A production order was received towards the end of 1944, with the Hornet F.1 entering service with No. 64 Squadron in mid 1946. Hornets served with seven squadrons, and in 1951 a considerable number were redeployed from the U.K. to the Far East during the Malayan Emergency, the last sortie by a Hornet being flown in 1955. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 12,505 lbs, Maximum take-off 20,900 lbs Powerplant: Two 2,070 hp Rolls-Royce 130/131 inline engines Contents Contents 4 4 3 3 2 2
Pages
7 7 6 6 5 5 1 1 Contents Contents 4 4 3 3 2 2
Pages
7 7 6 6 5 5 1 1 Home Page Home Page Home Page Home Page