de Havilland
Vampire MK I
AvHistory - Version-4.00.151

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AIRCRAFT BACKGROUND:

The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was the second jet-engined aircraft commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War (the first being the Gloster Meteor), although it did not see combat in that conflict. The Vampire served with front-line RAF squadrons until 1955. It also served with numerous other air forces worldwide. Almost 4,400 Vampires were built, a quarter of them under licence.



The de Havilland chief test pilot and son of the company's president, test flew prototype LZ548/G on its maiden flight 20 September 1943 from Hatfield. The flight took place only six months following the Meteor's maiden flight.

The first Vampire flight had been delayed due to the need to send the sole remaining flight engine to Lockheed to replace one destroyed in ground engine runs in the prototype XP-80.

The production Vampire Mk I did not fly until April 1945 with most built by English Electric Aircraft due to the pressures on de Havilland's production facilities, busy with other types.



No 247 squadron was the only squadron to be equipped with Gladiators throughout the Battle of Britain, having been formed on 21 August 1940, when the Fighter Flight at Sumburgh having moved south to Roborough, on 1 July 1940, for defensive duties in the South-West of England and particularly around Plymouth was raised to squadron status.

In January 1943, it received its first Typhoon and having supported the actual landings on 6 June 1944, the squadron moved to France two weeks later and continued flying armed reconnaissance operations in support of the advancing Allied armies through France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany.



In August 1945 the squadron returned to Britain and converted to Tempest IIs, but in June 1946, it was moved to Odiham, where it became the first unit to receive the De Havilland Vampire jet fighter.  



These remained its equipment , being progressively upgrade to the F Mk 3 in 1948, the FB Mk 5 in 1949, until May 1951, when it began to re-equip with Meteors.

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