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Gloster Meteor F. 3 EE337 on HMS Implacable, 16 June 1948
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Gloster Meteor F. 3 EE337 on HMS Implacable, 16 June 1948
Gloster Meteor F.3 (EE337) of 703 Squadron, on the deck of HMS Implacable, on the occasion of the first landing of a twin-engined jet aircraft on the deck of a Royal Navy carrier, 16 June 1948
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Media ID 11696015
© Charles Brown Collection, RAF Museum
Fleet Air Arm Postwar Royal Navy Experimental
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This historic photograph captures the moment when Gloster Meteor F.3 (EE337) of the Royal Air Force's (RAF) 703 Squadron made the first-ever landing of a twin-engined jet aircraft on the deck of a Royal Navy carrier, HMS Implacable, on 16 June 1948. The event marked a significant milestone in postwar aviation history, as it demonstrated the capability of jet aircraft to operate from naval carriers, expanding the reach and versatility of the Royal Navy's air power. The Gloster Meteor F.3, a versatile and powerful jet fighter, was an integral part of the RAF's fleet during the late 1940s and 1950s. Its twin-engine configuration provided increased reliability and redundancy, making it an ideal candidate for carrier trials. The photograph shows the aircraft taxying towards the bow of HMS Implacable, with a crew member signaling the pilot to stop just short of the arrestor wire. The ship's crew, dressed in their distinctive blue overalls, can be seen lining the deck, observing the landing with great interest. The successful landing of EE337 on HMS Implacable paved the way for the eventual adoption of jet aircraft by the Royal Navy, leading to the commissioning of the first jet-powered carrier, HMS Ark Royal, in 1950. This photograph, taken by Charles E. Brown, is a testament to the groundbreaking research and innovation that characterized the postwar era in aviation and the Royal Navy's commitment to maintaining a cutting-edge fleet air arm.
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