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Hi Paul,
just to let you know that we are all ready to roll on Sunday Morning at 7.30am this is because it is a wide load and will have police escort.
You would be very welcome to come along with your cameras to film this unique occasion.
We have had B B C Midlands here today to get a bit of background history and filming.
unfortunately they cannot make such an early start so they have asked me if anyone can do a video of the morning departure they would be very happy to include it in their transmission which will be probably next Tuesday 30th April

Cyril

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VW453 built by Glosters and awaiting collection 24.5.49

25.5.49 delivered to 203 AFS (Advanced Flying School), based at RAF Driffield. 203 AFS were the first unit to use the Meteor T.7 in any numbers.

1.9.49 No.203 AFS renamed No.226 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) at Stradishall

1.12.49 transferred to 604 Sqdn, based at RAF North Weald. Involved in a flying accident 21.10.50, declared Cat 4. Three days later reasessed as Cat.3 and a team from Glosters arived 10.11.50 to effect repairs on site. Repairs completed 8.2.51 and returned to 604 Sqdn day after. Again damaged 7.7.52 an declared Cat.3, repaired by Glosters again on site between 21.8.52 and 1.11.52, whence back to 604 Sqdn.

18.6.53 loaned to Takali, Malta and damaged there 27.9.54, returned to Glosters in UK. Note: Takali as spelt at the time, now correctly Ta Qali.

25.10.54 arrived at Glosters in the UK for repair in the factory

14.7.55 delivered to 20 MU at RAF Aston Down where it was stored (or was this actually 10 MU at Hullavingdon??)

18.3.57 (a paper-work date) allocated to Controller (Aircraft), effectively struck off charge by the R.A.F., with a total flying time of only 381 Hours 25 minutes.

13.3.57 delivered to Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down. Used by A&AEE for 'hack' duties such as tasks involving photo-chase, instrumentation and navigational development. By 1964 noted to be coded '3'.

23.2.68 last flight with A&AEE. Total airframe time 2048 hours 5 minutes.

--?-- Delivered to 5 MU at Kemble for storage and disposal. By 4.71 in outside storage at 5 MU RAF Kemble

24.3.68 Struck off Charge, VW453's flying days were officially over.

--?-- Airframe passed to the CDE (Chemical Defense Establishment) at Porton Down and used by MRE (Microbacterial Research Establishment) for testing bacterial persistance out in the open on Salisbury Plain.

by 1.77 airframe, (now known to have incorporated parts of WA709 eg cockpit canopy & frame), moved back into the CDE compound at Porton Down, by now decontaminated.

11.11.81 VW453 transported to RAF Innsworth. As a Cat.5(GI) allocated 'Maintenance Number' 8703M. Aircraft restored by CARG (Cotswold Aircraft Restoration Group) over a number of years at Innsworth.

5.3.94 unveiled on the gate at RAF Innsworth, replacing former gate guardian, a Javelin XH903 which had left the site by October '93. Painted as VW453/Z of 604 Sqdn (yellow & red triangles formed fuselage flash)

late.12 Purchased on behalf of the Jet Age Museum at Staverton.

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