Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 19, 2022 11:42:13 GMT 12
From The Press, 5th of November 1975
PEARCE DUNN, a former R.N.Z.A.F. flight engineer, has just taken delivery of a Gloster Meteor jet fighter as the prize exhibit at his War Bird Museum in Mildura, Australia. He was offered it by the British Ministry of Defence, and the aircraft was sent out to Australia by sea. It joins 20 other aircraft in the only privately owned museum of military aircraft in Australia. The R.N.Z.A.F. had a Meteor of its own from 1946 until it was sold to an Onehunga man in 1957. It was the first jet aircraft to arrive in New Zealand, and was demonstrated to enthusiastic crowds all over the country before being sent to Hobsonville for instruction purposes. As the first jet to enter R.A.F. service and the only Allied jet aircraft to see action during the Second World War, it was well worth preserving. But it's fate was to be broken up for scrap and its parts melted down.
PEARCE DUNN, a former R.N.Z.A.F. flight engineer, has just taken delivery of a Gloster Meteor jet fighter as the prize exhibit at his War Bird Museum in Mildura, Australia. He was offered it by the British Ministry of Defence, and the aircraft was sent out to Australia by sea. It joins 20 other aircraft in the only privately owned museum of military aircraft in Australia. The R.N.Z.A.F. had a Meteor of its own from 1946 until it was sold to an Onehunga man in 1957. It was the first jet aircraft to arrive in New Zealand, and was demonstrated to enthusiastic crowds all over the country before being sent to Hobsonville for instruction purposes. As the first jet to enter R.A.F. service and the only Allied jet aircraft to see action during the Second World War, it was well worth preserving. But it's fate was to be broken up for scrap and its parts melted down.
