Large armoured plate panel with original paintwork, dated 1953 from RAF Gloster Meteor WS727 of 153 Squadron which crashed on a training flight in a mock dogfight with another Meteor on the 9th January 1956.

This is a large armoured plate panel which looks complete it is maker marked and dated 1953 stamped in the middle of it partly clear to see.The panel has lots of original colour and white paintwork on both sides the panel has only very slightly bent up by the impact of the crash this is a solid section and a large part at 20 inches long by 13 inches wide.The part comes from RAF Gloster Meteor WS727 of 153 Squadron which crashed on a training flight in a mock dogfight with another Meteor on the 9th January 1956. The plate comes with 2x A5 laminated information sheets with picture of the plate.

RAF Meteor WS727 crashed into North Folly Wood, Hunton, Coxheath, near Maidstone in Kent which was based at RAF West Malling.

Meteor NF.Mk.14, WS727, struck the ground near Maidstone, killing both crew on impact. This accident occurred towards the end of a two-aircraft cine photographic mission from West Malling - one Meteor was to pursue the other and make quarter attacks whilst filming. After being airborne for around 20 minutes both jets were observed flying in line astern at about 1000 feet. Without warning, the lead Meteor started a turn to port which developed into a steep climbing turn. The formatting aircraft followed - at a height of around 4,000 feet the lead aircraft commenced a roll to port at about 200 knots. The other aircraft followed until almost inverted, and then rolled out into a climbing turn as the pilot considered the manoeuvre too dangerous at their present altitude. The lead aircraft was last seen in a steep dive, and shortly afterwards it struck the ground near Maidstone, Kent.