60 FLYPAST March 2018
1918 2018
FODDERFODDER
ANDY HAY ARTWORK OF A METEOR THAT ENDED ITS
DAYS AS A TARGET FOR GROUND FIRE
M
eteor F.8 VZ568 was built
by Armstrong Whitworth
and issued to 63 Squadron
at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, on
December 7, 1950. It was adorned
with the unit’s black and yellow
chequers and given the individual
code letter ‘C’.
The jet’s flying career was
short-lived, and it was retired
to 8 Maintenance Unit at LittleRissington, Gloucestershire, just
five months later. In October 1955
it became instructional airframe
7261M at 4 School of Technical
Training at St Athan, South Wales.
By 1965, the airframe had
outlived its use and was sent to the
firing range at Sennybridge in the
Brecon Beacons and became a non-
destructive marker. It lay there for
many years, exposed to the elements,and was then utilised as a small arms
target.
Following research by FlyPast
editor Chris Gilson, parts of VZ568
have been recovered and used in
the restoration of Graham Buckle’s
Meteor NF.14 WS788 which is
based at Elvington’s Yorkshire Air
Museum. It is believed that the
remainder of the aircraft has been
sold to a private collector.M
by Armstrong Whitworth
and issued to 63 Squadron
at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, on
December 7, 1950. It was adorned
with the unit’s black and yellow
chequers and given the individual
code letter ‘C’.
The jet’s flying career was
short-lived, and it was retired
to 8 Maintenance Unit at LittleRissington, Gloucestershire, just
five months later. In October 1955
it became instructional airframe
7261M at 4 School of Technical
Training at St Athan, South Wales.
By 1965, the airframe had
outlived its use and was sent to the
firing range at Sennybridge in the
Brecon Beacons and became a non-
destructive marker. It lay there for
many years, exposed to the elements,target.
Following research by FlyPast
editor Chris Gilson, parts of VZ568
have been recovered and used in
the restoration of Graham Buckle’s
Meteor NF.14 WS788 which is
based at Elvington’s Yorkshire Air
Museum. It is believed that the
remainder of the aircraft has been
sold to a private collector.CANNONCANNON
Artwork
Armstrong Whitworth-
built Meteor F.8 VZ568
of 63 Squadron, based
at Waterbeach, Cambs,
from 1950.
ANDY HAY-2018