Meteor F.Mk 8 - Ventral Fuel Tanks

[Warmtoast]

Were Meteor F.Mk 8s designed and built with ventral fuel tanks from the outset, or were tanks retrofitted whilst the aircraft was in service?

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

In Edward Shacklady's book, Meteor, he refers to the ventral tanks on MK4s and has an illustration of one on a MK3 (EE464). A MK1 (EE214) was fitted with a fixed ventral tank and first flew 9/5/44. The success of the trial led to a jettisonable tank, first fitted to a modified MK3.

The first prototype MK8 (VT150) flew on 12/10/48.

[Krakatoa]

I quote from the book Lion Over Korea by David Wilson, an account of no.77 Squadron operations in Korea flying Meteor Mk8.

On 9th. March 1952, Sergeant Cranston was killed whilst making a second rocket pass on a target in North Korea. Hit in the vulnerable ventral tank, the Meteor caught fire and crashed before Cranston could eject.

Another pilot managed to jettison his flaming tank. The authors reference to the ventral tank was the Achilles heel of the aircraft during ground attack operations.