Meteors Over Castle Howard by Michael Rondot The 'Meatbox', as it affectionately became known, formed the backbone of RAF Fighter Command during the heyday of the 1950s, equipping regular and auxiliary RAF squadrons in the day-fighter, reconnaissance and night-fighter roles. The Meteor F8 day-fighter and NF14 night-fighters featured in Michael Rondot's painting represent the ultimate versions of this classic jet fighter which served on front-line squadrons until the late 1950s. Meteors of number 72 Squadron are seen in formation over the magnificent Yorkshire panorama of Castle Howard country house, the setting for Brideshead Revisited. In the background overlooking the vale of Pickering to the North Yorkshire Moors, dark storm clouds form a striking backdrop to this wonderful aviation painting.Prints also signed by Wing Commander Ian Hawkins and Air Marshal Sir John Nicholls KCB CBE DFC AFC. Aircraft side view by M A Kinnear Gloster Meteor Mk F.1 EE227 YQ-Y.  Aircraft History:  EE227 was 13th out of a batch of 15 F.1 aircraft delivered to 616 Squadron during 1944. Following service with 616, the aircraft was transferred to the Royal Aircraft Establishment and then to Rolls Royce, where it became the first aircraft to be fitted with turboprops (Rolls Royce Trents). It then went to the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment before returning to Rolls Royce and finally going back to the Royal Aircraft Establishment. After a distinguished career EE227 was struck off charge 27th June 1949. Squadron Leader Dennis Barry, Croix de Guerre Avec Palme: Born on 26th August 1921 in London Dennis Barry joined the Royal Air Force in October 1940. In 1941, following pilot training, he was posted to 504 County of Nottingham Squadron and flew both Hurricanes and Spitfires. In August 1943 he was sent on a flight leaders course at Charmy Down and posted to Ibsley as a Flight Commander in 616 South Yorkshire Squadron. In June 1944 with other 616 pilots he was sent to Farnborough for a conversion course to fly the new Gloster Meteor. During this period, USAAF daylight bombers were under attack by German Me262 jet fighters so, together with three other pilots, Dennis was attached to Debden, where they staed mock attacks against 180 bombers and fighters to help the Americans gauge the speed of jet aircraft. In July 1944 616 moved to RAF Manston and was involved with the interception of German V-1 flying bombs and on 29th August he flew EE227 on an operational sortie. In February 1945, Dennis took four meteors Mk III to Brussels/ Melsbroeck. To enable Allied ground forces to distinguish the Meteors from the German jet fighters, the aircraft were painted all white. Prior to the end of hostilities, as the Allies moved through Europe, 616 were involved with numerous attacks on airfields, road and rail traffic. They moved to Lubeck at the end of the war, from where Dennis Barry led the Squadron on a victory fly past at the Copenhagen air show. In May 1946 he was demobilised from the RAF and re-joined 616 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Finningley in March 1948, remaining with the squadron until July 1951. During this period on 8th January 1950 he probably became the only pilot to successfully bale out of a Meteor without the aid of an ejector seat.

616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force: 616 squadron was formed at Doncaster on 1st November 1938 as the last of the Auxiliary Squadrons. Formed initially as a bomber squadron equipped with Hawker Hinds, it was re-equipped with Gloster Gauntlets in June 1939 and transferred to Fighter Command. The squadron's first Spitfires arrived in late October. 616 first saw action and claimed its first victories whilst covering the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940. Returning to Yorkshire, the squadron claimed further enemy victims with 15th August standing out as a memorable day. 616 intercepted a large force of unescorted German bombers off the Yorkshire coast and claimed eight enemy aircraft destroyed. They moved to Kenley to join 11 Group at the height of the Battle of Britain, and destroyed 15 aircraft and claimed a further 15 as probables or damaged. During February 1941, 616 joined the Tangmere Wing led by Wg Cdr Douglas Bader. Flying Spitfire II fighters, they flew 'circus' and 'ramrod' sweeps over Northern France, and re-equipped with Spitfires Vb during July 1941. For the next two years 616 continued as a front line fighter squadron and was heavily engaged during the Dieppe expedition and later flying beach-head patrols on D-Day. In July 1944, 616 re-equipped with Gloster Meteor jet fighter thus becoming the first and only Allied squadron to operate jet aircraft in World War II. The squadron destroyed a number of V1 flying bombs whilst operating from Manston before joining the 2nd Tactical Air Force. In January 1945, 616 moved to the continent and operated in the ground attack role before being disbanded at Lubeck on 29th August. The squadron was re-formed at Finningley on 31st July 1946 equipped with Mosquito NF XXX night fighters which were replaced with Meteor F 3 day fighters a few months later. 616 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was finally disbanded at RAF Worksop on 10th March 1957 whilst equipped with Meteor F8 aircraft. 616 Squadron Motto: Nulla Rosa Sine Spina (No rose without a thorn).