On Sunday Sept 3rd a unique gathering took place at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Over 40 ex Meteor pilots assembled to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Group Captain Teddy Donaldson’s world air speed record, achieved flying Meteor Mk 4 EE 549 out of Tangmere on Sept 7th 1946. In that short flight Donaldson raised the world air speed record to 616 mph and EE549 remains on display at the Museum to this day.
It was an occasion for old friends to meet – some had not seen each other for 40 years – and many a tale of Meteor flying in the 40s, 50s and 60s was exchanged. Members of the public attending were able to meet and chat to the gathered pilots, many of whom are shown here on the group picture taken in front of EE549. As well as this the Museum had a Meteor cockpit open for members of the public to sit in.
