Gloster Meteor
Gloster Aircraft · Fighter / Attack · UK · WWII (1939–1945)
The Gloster Meteor was Britain's first jet fighter and the only Allied jet aircraft to enter in-service service during WWII. Gloster Aircraft built 3,947 Meteors between 1942 and 1955. The Meteor entered RAF Fighter Command service on 27 July 1944 — about three months after the German Me 262 — and was the only Allied jet to engage Nazi Germany in combat. The aircraft did not engage Me 262s but did intercept V-1 cruise missiles ("Doodlebugs") over Britain, scoring about 14 confirmed V-1 kills. Post-WWII the Meteor served the Royal Air Force, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and 13 export operators through the late 1960s.
The Meteor was a twin-engine all-metal mid-wing single-seat fighter. Power: two Rolls-Royce Welland (1,700 lbf each) on the F.1, replaced by Rolls-Royce Derwent (3,500 lbf each) on the F.4 onward. Maximum speed 600 mph (F.8 variant); service ceiling 43,000 ft. Armament: four 20 mm Hispano cannons in the nose. The Meteor was markedly slower than the contemporary Me 262 (Mach 0.74 vs. Me 262's Mach 0.86) and slower than the post-war F-86 Sabre and MiG-15 (each ~Mach 0.92), but its safer engine reliability, easier handling, and superior range made it a successful early-jet fighter that outlived several of its rivals.
WWII service was brief but firsts-rich. 616 Squadron RAF flew Meteor F.1s from RAF Manston starting July 1944. Meteors intercepted V-1 cruise missiles over Britain, scoring about 14 V-1 kills (often by tipping the V-1's wing with the Meteor's wingtip rather than firing — a technique to avoid 1-tonne warhead detonation in close air-to-air gunfire). The Meteor never engaged Me 262s in combat; both sides kept their jets out of contested airspace where they might encounter each other.
Post-war Meteor variants included the F.4, F.8 (most-produced fighter sub-variant at 1,183 built), the NF.11 / NF.12 / NF.14 night-fighter variants, and the U.16 unmanned target drone. Australian Meteors flew Korean War combat sorties 1950-1953 (77 Squadron RAAF) — the only Allied Meteor combat use of the Korean War. Final RAF retirement was 1965 (target-tug variants). About 50 Meteor airframes survive in 2026, including airworthy examples in the U.K. (Bruntingthorpe, Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum) and several other countries.
For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version
The Gloster Meteor was Britain's first jet fighter. It was also the only jet plane used by the Allies in World War Two. Gloster Aircraft built 3,947 Meteors between 1942 and 1955. That is a lot of planes!
The Meteor joined the Royal Air Force on 27 July 1944. It had two jet engines, one on each wing. The engines were made by Rolls-Royce. The later models were faster than the early ones, reaching up to 600 miles per hour.
The Meteor had a special job during the war. It chased flying bombs called V-1s, or "Doodlebugs." These bombs flew over Britain and caused great damage. Meteor pilots stopped about 14 of them. That took a lot of skill and bravery!
After the war, the Meteor kept on flying. Thirteen other countries used it too. Some flew in the Korean War in the early 1950s. The Meteor was still in service into the late 1960s. It had a very long career for an early jet plane.
The Meteor was smaller than many later jet fighters. It had four cannons in its nose. It was easier to fly and more reliable than some of its rivals. That made it a favorite with many pilots around the world.
Fun Facts
- The Gloster Meteor was the first jet fighter ever flown by British pilots.
- Nearly 4,000 Meteors were built over about 13 years — that's faster than making one a day!
- The Meteor could fly faster than 600 miles per hour, faster than any propeller plane of its time.
- Meteor pilots chased V-1 flying bombs called 'Doodlebugs' right out of the sky over Britain.
- The Meteor had two Rolls-Royce jet engines, one tucked under each wing.
- The German Me 262 was faster than the Meteor, but the Meteor was safer and easier to handle.
- Thirteen countries around the world flew the Meteor after World War Two ended.
- The Meteor flew as high as 43,000 feet — higher than most clouds you ever see!
Kids’ Questions
Was the Meteor the fastest jet in World War Two?
No, it was not the fastest. The German Me 262 could fly faster than the Meteor. But the Meteor was safer to fly and had better engines that were more reliable. That made it very useful for the Royal Air Force.
What did Meteor pilots do during the war?
Meteor pilots chased flying bombs called V-1s, or "Doodlebugs," over Britain. They stopped about 14 of these bombs from reaching their targets. It was a very dangerous and important job.
How many guns did the Meteor have?
The Meteor had four cannons built right into its nose. They were 20 mm cannons made by a company called Hispano. Having all four guns in the nose made them very accurate when aiming at a target.
Did other countries fly the Meteor too?
Yes! Thirteen countries outside Britain used the Meteor. Some flew it in the Korean War in the 1950s. The Meteor stayed in service with some air forces all the way into the late 1960s.
Variants
- Meteor F.1 / F.3
- Original Welland-engined variants. F.1 (20 built) — the WWII V-1 interceptor variant. F.3 (210 built) — improved 1944-1945 production.
- Meteor F.4 / F.8
- Derwent-engined variants. F.4 (489 built), F.8 (1,183 built — the most-produced Meteor sub-variant). Used by RAF Fighter Command, RAAF (Korean War), and many export operators.
- Meteor NF.11 / NF.12 / NF.14 (night-fighters)
- Two-seat night-fighter variants with AI Mk X / Mk XXI radar. About 700 built. Used by RAF Fighter Command 1950-1961.
- Meteor T.7 (trainer)
- Two-seat trainer variant. About 712 built. Used by RAF + many export operators 1949-1965.
Notable Operators
- Royal Air Force
- Largest user. WWII V-1 intercepts (616 Squadron) + post-war fighter / night-fighter / trainer service through 1965. Retired in 1965 by RAF Target Towing Squadron.
- Royal Australian Air Force (Korean War)
- 77 Squadron RAAF flew Meteor F.8s in the Korean War 1951-1954 — the only Allied Meteor combat use of the Korean War. Mostly ground-attack against North Korean troops.
- 13 export operators
- Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Syria, Argentina. Combined export fleet ~700 airframes 1947-1965.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Gloster Meteor the first Allied jet fighter?
Yes — it was the only Allied jet aircraft to enter in-service service during WWII. Service entry was 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron RAF, about 3 months after the German Me 262 entered Luftwaffe service. The Meteor never engaged Me 262s in combat; both sides kept their jets out of contested airspace.
Did Meteors shoot down V-1 buzz bombs?
Yes — Meteor F.1s of 616 Squadron RAF shot down about 14 V-1 cruise missiles over southern England in summer 1944. Pilots often used wingtip tipping (sliding the Meteor's wingtip under the V-1's wing to flip it out of stable flight) rather than firing — to avoid the 1-tonne warhead detonating in close air-to-air gunfire.
Did Meteors fight in Korea?
Yes — 77 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force flew Meteor F.8s in Korea 1951-1954, mostly in ground-attack roles against North Korean troops. Meteors did engage MiG-15s in air combat but were generally outclassed; the type's fighter role transitioned to ground attack by mid-1952.
How many Meteors were built?
3,947 airframes between 1942 and 1955. Production was at Gloster Aircraft (Hucclecote and Brockworth, Gloucestershire) plus Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft licence-built (Coventry, ~430 airframes). The F.8 fighter sub-variant (1,183 built) was the most-produced Meteor.
Sources
See Also
- Messerschmitt Me 262 — German contemporary jet fighter
- Gloster E.28/39 — Direct prototype predecessor (first British jet)
- Supermarine Spitfire — RAF contemporary piston fighter
- North American F-86 Sabre — Successor U.S. jet fighter (Korean War)
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 — Soviet jet fighter contemporary (Korean War)