Gloster Meteor F3

Gloster Meteor F3 EE 274 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron,
2nd TAF Belgium 1945.

Gloster Meteor F3 1/144 scale pewter limited edition aircraft model of one of the early RAF jets. Handmade by Staples and Vine Ltd.

Scale 1:144 Wingspan 3.66″ (93 mm)
Base size 4.84″ (123 mm) square (No. 3)
Weight not including base 2.4 ozs (70 grams)
Total number of models produced 47

The Gloster Meteor was the RAF’s first jet fighter and 616 Squadron its first operational jet fighter squadron. The Meteor was initially used against the V 1’s scoring the first jet victory on the 4th August 1944. In early 1945 the squadron changed to the new Mk 3 Meteors, powered by Roll Royce Derwent engines, EE 274 was taken on strength on the 12th March 1945 at Moelsbroek in Belgium where the squadron sought to engage the Me 262 in combat, without success. At the end of August 1945 this aircraft was transferred to 263 Sqn. at Manston in Kent, it was finally grounded and used as an instructional airframe in early 1946.