Meteor F.3 EE278 at Church Fenton airfield.
During the morning of 28th November 1946 this 257 Squadron aircraft was flown on a weather test, the pilot took off from Church Fenton at 11.05hrs and on completion of the flight the pilot returned to make an approach to land at Church Fenton. The port undercarriage would not lock down and the indicator in the cockpit did not light. He tentatively attempted a landing at Church Fenton and the port wheel began to fold so the pilot applied power and took off again. He again attempted to get the undercarriage to lock down but when this was not possible he raised the legs and made a belly landing on the airfield at 12.15hrs. The port undercarriage would not lock down owing to a broken part. The pilot had been with 129 Squadron which disbanded then 257 Squadron formed with their pilots earlier in the year.
Pilot - F/Lt Anthony Bradshaw DFC RAFVR (144012).
Meteor EE278 had a long service history and I thank Graham Sharpe for looking it up. It was initially taken on charge by 616 Squadron at Melsbroek in early 1945 and during the next few months moved in Europe with the squadron as Allied forces advanced. On 26th March 1945 it moved with the unit to Andrews Field, then Gilze-Rijen, then Nijmegen, then Quackenbruck, then Fassberg, then Luneberg and finally on 7th May 1945 616 Squadron moved to Lubeck. On 29th August 1945 616 Squadron was redesignated 263 Squadron. On 1st September 1945 263 Squadron moved back to the UK and to Manston. The squadron then moved around the UK over the coming months; to Acklington on 21st September 1945 to Acklington, Charterhall on 24th February 1946, back to Acklington on 1st March 1946, Church Fenton on 2nd April 1946, Boxted on 3rd June 1946, Church Fenton six days later and then to Acklington on 3rd October 1946. The aircraft was then transferred to 257 Squadron at Church Fenton where it was coded "A6-A". As a result of the belly landing at Church Fenton on 28th November 1946 Cat.B/FA damage was the damage assessmenty. It appears to have sat at Church Fenton after being assessed to await collection and transfer to be repaired. On 25th February 1947 it was taken to 32 M.U. at St.Athan for a repair in works. On 12th February 1948 it was taken on charge by 222 Squadron at Tangmere once servicable. On 17th April 1948 it passed to Squadron HQ at Thorney Island. On 11th June 1948 it transferred to 1 Squadron at Tangmere. On 12th April 1949 it passed to 38 M.U. at Llandow but was flown to Gloster Aircraft Ltd on 25th September 1950 and returned to 38 MU in August 1951. It later served with 206 A.F.S. at Oakington before spending time with 33 M.U. at Lyneham then finally with No.1 School of Technical Training in December 1954 where it was converted to Ground Instructional Airframe 7165M. After this nothing more is known of the aircraft.