Samuel
What about the Canberra in 1949? The US bit our arm off to have that.
In my view we concentrated our national funds more on bombers in the late 40s early 50s and these turned out to be as good as any at that time.
Later the US became the largest operator of Harriers and Hawks (as the Goshawk)
I suspect (know) it is harder to sell military aircraft to the US than it ever is to buy them. I think your poor old UK industry did quite well on that basis.