Gloster Meteor NF14, WS838

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Manufactured by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Coventry to contract 6/ACFT/6412/CB5(b). WS838 was built from the batch WS827 - WS848.

Service History
Date Notes
9th April 1954 First flight
28th April 1954 Ready for collection
30th April 1954 To 15 MU, RAF Wroughton, Wiltshire
9th May 1955 To 238 OCU (All weather training unit), RAF North Luffenham. Coded 'M', 'X' and 'C' at various times.
20th Jan 1958 To 64 Squadron, RAF Duxford. Coded 'P'.
1st April 1958 To 12 MU RAF Kirkbride
39th July 1959 To RAF Pershore on loan to Ministry of Supply for airbourne interception research.
1st November 1961 Officially transferred to Ministry od supply. Initially with All-Weather wing later with Royal Radar establishment, Pershore.
7th March 1963 To A&AEE Boscombe Down, Photographic coverage for Folland/ Martin-Baker ejector seat trails and general air-to air photography duties. Painted high visibility yellow scheme with black nose, fuselage inscribed 'Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment Boscombe Down'.
1968 Photographic chase plane for Shackleton icing trials (WR989).
Sept 1968 Displayed Battle of Britain open day, RAF Gaydon, Warwickshire.
1st Jan 1969 To RAF Bedford, Replaced NF14 WS804 for photographic, chase and support duties.
27th July 1971 Released from trials work after 1,900 hrs. Subject aircraft becoming to fast for WS838.
9th Feb 1972 Final flight from Bedford to RAF Colerne in Wiltshire to join station museum. Still in Yellow test colour scheme
11th Sept 1975 Transferred by road to RAF Shawbury due to imminent closure of RAF Colerne.
April 1976 To RAF Cosford Aerospace Museum
30th August 1982 To Manchester Air and Space Museum.
Early 1983 Returned to RAF Cosford
15th March 1986 To Midland Air Museum, Coventry, Warwickshire. On loan from RAF Museum, On external display.

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