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Was the first jet aircraft to take off and land from an aircraft carrier when Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown (1919/2016), RN performed this feat aboard HMS Ocean in early Dec 1945.
Developed in the UK, the Vampire was designed to meet a British Air Ministry experimental specification for a prototype jet fighter with the capability to carry four 20mm Hispano cannons, each with 150 rounds of ammunition, a top speed of at least 480mph (788km/h), a service ceiling of 48,000ft (14,600m) and a combat radius of 300 miles (480km).
Work on the design of the DH100 began in May 1942 and the prototype made its first flight on 20 September 1943. Originally called the Spider Crab it was re-named Vampire when ordered into production for the RAF. The first aircraft did not become available until 1945 and the Vampire did not enter service until the early summer of 1946.
Was a first generation jet fighter which saw service in the immediate post-war period with RAF front-line fighter squadrons in the United Kingdom and Germany, followed by further service with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.