As A2QFI's site reference states the aircraft in which Gp Capt E. M. Donaldson raised the world speed record to 616 mph on the 7th Sept 1946 was a Meteor F.4 Serial No EE549 and is in the Tangmere Aviation Museum on loan from the RAF Museum. Bill Waterton flew EE550 with the RAF High Speed Flight in 1946 which as stated above saw Gp Capt Donaldson increase the world air speed record to 616mph (Waterton was able to achieve 614mph). He was awarded a second Air Force Cross following the success of the team but left the RAF in October 1946 to join Gloster as a test pilot.
He apparenelty became the chief test pilot for Gloster in April 1947 and was involved in all the experimental flying with the later models of the Meteor and in training of pilots for other air forces beginning with Argentina, the first export customer for the Meteor. In December 1949 he was sent to Canada to test fly the Avro CF-100 where he remained on loan until Feb 1951. Following his return he continued to be the primary experimental test pilot for Gloster including the initial flights of the Javelin in in which he suffered his most serious crash following the loss of the Ailerons due to aerodynamic flutter.
It is understood Bill Waterton resigned from Gloster's at the end of May 1954.
Last edited by MReyn24050; 17th Apr 2007 at 20:16.