As the title suggests, this book is devoted to the nations that used the
Meteor in anger. After WWII Europe's air forces were keen to rebuild
their air arms with jet aircraft. With little to choose from the Meteor
was the prime candidate and hundreds were sold over the following years.
Further afield in the Middle East, Meteors were sold to Egypt, Israel
and Syria. In far off South America, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador
purchased the aircraft. On the other side of the World, South Africa and
Australia operated them as well.
Several of these nations used their Meteors operationally in open
conflicts. From the RAF's struggle against the V-1 menace to the various
hot spots around the dwindling Empire from Aden to Malaya. The Suez
Crisis of 1956 would see Meteors from the RAF, Egypt, Israel and Syria
all operating in the same conflict. During the Korean War (1950-53) the
Royal Australian Air Force carried out thousands of ground attack
missions and even engaged the MiG-15 in air to air combat. During a
number of internal revolutions in Argentina in 1956, both sides operated
the Meteor. Even France operated a handful of Meteor night fighters
during their troubles in Algeria in 1957. Although it did not achieve a
large amount of victories, the Meteor played an important part in the
emerging air forces of a forever changing post-WWII World. Essential
reading for aviation enthusiasts & scale aeromodellers.
