At the time of this incident this aircraft was in the process of being ferried to No.12 M.U at Kirkbride. It was a brand new aircraft and No.2 Home Ferry Unit (based at Aston Down) was tasked with delivering it. At the time this aircraft and at least one other new aircraft (Meteor WL466) were both heading toward other RAF units by No.2 HFU. On 3rd October 1952 both WL465 and WL466 landed at Finningley, possibly to refuel. In the case of WL465 it then remained at Finningley overnight and there may have been a problem with the weather conditions present over the Pennines. On 4th October 1952 the pilot attempted to take off from Finningley but soon after it became airborne the pilot raised the undercarriage but the aircraft then sank to the ground and damaged the engine nacelles. The pilot must have been able to remain airborne and went on to land normally, probably at Finningley, and it later went to 233 OCU in November 1952. The incident involving WL465 was exactly the same as that which occurred to WL466 a day prior to this incident.
Pilot - Name unknown.