First delivery to 56 squadron 20/2/54, and taken out of service 13 months later; over the last 6 months there were 12 aircraft on strength
I knew they enetered service in early 1954 and AFAIR were grounded in August 1954.
I took the following photo of one of 56 Sqn's Swift F Mk 1's when it was flown in for static display at the 1954 Royal Observer Corps ‘Recognition Day’ held at Biggin Hill.
It was the custom for a variety of RAF, RN and USAF aircraft to be flown in so the Royal Observer Corps and the Army Anti-Aircraft Command (then an integral part of the UK’s air defences), could examine up close on the ground the friendly aircraft they were expected to recognise in the air.
As can be seen it was the object of attention for Biggin based airmen normally used to Meteor F Mk 8’s. In the background can be seen the tail-fin of a USAF B45 from Sculthorpe, and just visible the fins of two USAF F86 Sabres from Manston.
As Henry Crun says Swift F Mk.1's didn't last long, although to be fair they redeemed themselves with some of the later marks.