History[]
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Castle Bromwich, and brought on charge May 1945. Placed in storage, before passing to No 16 Operational Training Unit, Keevil from May 1946. To No 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Filton, from November 1946 (Unit code RAB-D). To No 6 Maintenance Unit, Brize Norton, from February 1949. To 102 Fighter Refresher School, North Luffenham, from April 1951 To No 33 Maintenance Unit, Lyneham, from October 1951. Officially grounded 1954, and used in film "Reach for the Sky" in 1955. Gate Guardian at Kenley in August 1955. To No 60 Maintenance Unit, Rufforth in October 1955. [1] Held at RAF Church Fenton, July 1959-1961, and then at RAF Dishforth, September 1961-1963. Owned by Brevet Club, Canterbury, NZ, 1962-1984, the aircraft was shipped to NZ, arrived June 28, 1963, and displayed on plinth near Christchurch airport as AR251. Replaced by fiberglass replica "TE283", 1984, it was shipped to Woodbourne AB for restoration, 1984-1986, and has been in the possession of the RNZAF Museum, Wigram AB, since 1984, and displayed as OU-V.[2]