Originally Posted by
GeeRam
These were not even close to being the first two Sabre's the RAF received..!
In fact they were almost in the last batch of aircraft the RAF took on charge, being in a batch of ex-USAF aircraft, rather than the Canadair Sabre's delivered earlier. Most of the RAF Sabre's were in the XB serial range.
The first 3 x Sabre's taken on charge by the RAF flew into RAF North Luffenham on 10th October 1952 after being ferried across from Canada.
Fighter Command received its first swept wing aircraft.
The apposite part of the post
PS The XD aircraft were also Canadair aircraft, delivered for ADGB rather than the 2TAF ones in the 'XB' serial ranges. As they were MDAP they has US serials, but they were delivered from Canada for the RAF