Gloster
Meteor F.Mk III
AvHistory - Version-4.00.164

This Meteor is a B-grade plane. The cockpit is rudimentary, fully functional, but not final. Weapons loadout is complete & all bomb/rocket loads can be delivered. 

The Gloster Meteor Mk III fighter was developed & painted by Joel "Joe Daddy" Rachal.  Joel has painted the Mk III in the colors of No. 74 Squadron RAF based at Colerne, Wiltshire, June 1945.



74 Squadron was re-equipped as the RAF's third Meteor squadron in June 1945 at Colerne in Wiltshire and formed the first all jet fighter wing along with 616 and 504 Squadrons.  The camouflage and markings are nearly the same as the wartime ones.

The only Allied turbojet-powered aircraft to see combat during World War 11, the Gloster Meteor was designed by George Carter, whose preliminary study gained Air Ministry approval in November 1940 under Specification F.9/40. Its twin-engine layout was determined by the low thrust produced by the turbojet engines then available.

The Meteor F.Mk Ill, the second and last mark to see operational service during World War 11, had increased fuel capacity and a sliding bubble canopy in place of the sideways-opening hood of the Meteor Mk.l. Fifteen F.Mk IIIs were completed with Welland engines and 195 with Derwents, some in lengthened engine nacelles. The Derwent engines in the Mk III produced 2000 lbs of thrust improving the performance over the original Mk I Meteors.

The RAF began recieving Mk III Meteors in December of 1944. In 1945, Mk III's were deployed to the continent.  However, these fighters were prohibited from flying over Germany to prevent capture.  At any rate, Meteors did not encounter any German jet aircraft during the war.