RAF Meteor Squadrons
After 616 Squadron was declared operational and as production of the Meteor was stepped up toward the end of the war Meteors were also dispatched to 504 Squadron with the first arriving on 10th April 1945. Sufficient Meteors were available to form a flight which was deployed to Lubeck in July 1945. The squadron was disbanded on the 10th August and became 245 Squadron. 245 Squadron and 74 Squadrons comprised the first Meteor wing at Bentwaters in April 1946 where they were joined by 56 Squadron who had converted from Tempest V's. A second wing comprising 222, 234 & 263 squadrons formed at Boxted with the Meteor going on to equip 74 RAF, RAuxAF and FAA squadrons.
Many squadrons retained Meteors for general use as hacks and target towing long after their retirement from front line service, this page over time will build up into a resource showing hopefully many of the squadrons who operated the Meteor and their distinctive unit markings and codes where known. It is far from complete and contributions to the pages would be welcome, the sqaudrons listed are not being added in any particular order.
| 41 Squadron | 66 Squadron | 72 Squadron | 85 Squadron | 245 Squadron |
Meteor Types in RAF service:
- F4: 245 Squadron
- F8: 72 Squadron, 85 Squadron, 245 Squadron
- NF12: 72 Squadron
- NF13: 39 Squadron
- NF14: 72 Squadron
RAF Meteor Squadrons
- 72 Squadron - F8, NF12, NF14
- 85 Squadron - F8
- 245 Squadron - F4, F8
39 Squadron RAF In March 1953 39 squadron at Fayid in the Canal Zone exchanged its Mosquito nightfighters for Meteor NF13's. It transferred to Malta in January 1955, disbanding at Luqa on 30 June 1958. The next day RAF 69 squadron at Luqu operating Canberra PR Mk 3's were redesignated 39 squadron, they updated to Canberra PR Mk 9's in October 1962 but remaining in Malta until until September 1970. They were based at RAF Wyton when they returned to the UK continuing to operate as a photo reconaissance unit until disbanded on the 1st June 1982.