Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, July 23, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
First WWII Allied jet fighter finds new home in Chino

by Bob Alvis victory with the downing of a German nightmare, really were the standard
special to Aerotech News V-1 flying bomb. The production Me- on the Meteor for longevity and low
teor F4 held the world speed record at maintenance.
It’s no big secret that I love the 606 mph until 1945, and it was raised So fast forward to last August and
sleek lines of some of the British air- to 616 mph by another Meteor after the arrival of a pristine, airworthy Me-
craft through the years. Researching that. teor touching down at the Planes of
the history of these vintage warbirds, Picking up the phone and first talk- Fame in Chino, Calif., and the staff
you discover just how important many ing to George Welch from the Air walking out to greet this British classic
of these designs were when it came to Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards and welcome it as a permanent flying
advancements in aviation. AFB, I was informed that a picture ex- addition to the museum’s collection
Coming across an old article about ists of a Meteor with a P-59 at Muroc of Warbirds! With the pandemic shut-
the Gloster Meteor, I was happy to not during World War II; the very first jets down and restrictions, the aircraft’s ar-
only discover a storied past, but that from both Allied countries sharing the rival was just a blip on the radar. When
we have some local Aerospace Valley ramp, in a photo that was probably a viewing its two passes on YouTube at
history with these birds as well. When classified project at the time. the Chino Airport, it’s really sad that
it comes to flight test firsts, the Meteor Picking up the phone again and the public could not be there to enjoy
was right up there with the flight test talking with Steve Hinton from Fight- this special occasion — but it’s nice to
operations at Muroc in World War II er Rebuilders, which has both a Me- hear Steve Hinton say the public will
and had many firsts that predated some teor and a P-59, he shared the mindset get a chance to enjoy it in flight at air
of our own aircraft! of the two countries and how they shows in the coming years!
First some background about this approached the construction of those So with the arrival of this Meteor,
sexy Brit and its development. early jets. The British took their time my thoughts turned to the Air Force Courtesy photograph
The Meteor was the first British to come up with a workable, refined Flight Test Museum at Edwards. A 1945 photograph of an operational Gloster Meteor.
During my call to George Welch,
I brought up the Meteor that sits out-
side their museum that has some pretty scheme of the No. 616 Squadron in Allied jet of the World War II era.
cool history itself — thanks to a very Belgium from 1945. Al felt that the So a pretty entertaining aspect of
passionate aviation enthusiast who, for Meteor could not be hangared due to this story and this Edwards Museum
years, called the Antelope Valley and its size, and that the white urethane Meteor has Al Letcher, Steve Hinton
Mojave Airport home. In the 1970s, paint scheme would be compatible and George Welch crossing paths, as
Al Letcher was pretty much building with our desert climate. I will say that, Steve told me the story about the film-
his own RAF squadron at Mojave. His seeing the photos of it in flight and on ing of an episode of Wonder Woman at
acquisitions of de Havilland Vampires, the ground, it sure was one beautiful Chino. Al’s Meteor and Lynda Carter
as well as a Meteor, were helping to jet and I bet you it turned a lot of heads became on screen partners for an epi-
fulfill that dream and for some years wherever it went! sode, while Steve and his crew could
he worked on getting those birds air- So, after all these years where did be seen in the background towing a
worthy. The nice thing about Letcher’s Mr. Letcher’s Meteor end up? After Corsair. This bit of movie magic is
Meteor is that it was good to go from having my talk with Steve Hinton, he now in the possession of the U.S. Air
the very start — it had left England on casually shared the information that Force, the Edwards Flight Test Muse-
June 18, 1975, and put down at Mo- the Meteor ended up at Edwards at the um and George Welch — less Lynda,
jave on June 22, during the Mojave Flight Test Museum! Further into the dang it!
Air Races that year. It was not long conversation, it was also shared that at I so love these beauties, am happy
Courtesy photograph until Al embraced the all-white paint the time, it was the oldest flying allied to share these photos and story, and
Al Letcher’s Mojave-based Meteor from the 1970s. jet in the world! look forward to seeing the Planes of
So now with Fame Meteor in the air! This is some
it becoming a really cool history that was the first in
operational jet aircraft and the only design, while we the Americans were static display, many aspects in aviation. It originated
Allied jet used in combat in World just looking to get a jet in the air. The the recently “across the pond,” far from the deserts
War II, with design work beginning in sleek and smooth design of the Meteor acquired Me- of the Mojave, but now lives on here
1940. Two engines were used, because next to the, shall we say, “clunky” de- teor at Planes for future generations to enjoy!
the early turbo jets had insufficient sign of the Airacomet, said a lot about of Fame now
thrust for the required performance of the rush to get those jets airborne and holds the title of So, until next time, carry on chaps!
one engine. Taxi tests began in 1942 into combat. the oldest flying Bob out!
and in 1943, after design changes, the The Meteors served many years in
first flight took place in March of that the service of countries around the
year. In August 1944, the plane was world in different roles, and the prov-
put into active service and a Meteor, en airframe stood up well to hard use.
in service with the RAF 616 Squad- Those early jet engines, that on many
ron, claimed the first Allied jet fighter early jets were a constant maintenance

Courtesy photograph Courtesy photograph
Al Letcher’s Meteor, currently on display at the Air Force Flight Test Museum Above: The sleek lines of the Planes of Fame Meteor now housed in Chino, Calif. Inset: Lynda Carter as Wonder
at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Woman and Al Letcher’s Gloster Meteor.

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