Korea As A Testing Ground

[Jim Oxley]

I've often wondered why the RAF didn't take the opportunity to test several of it's fighter jets over Korea. Seems very much a missed opportunity.

Only the poor old Gloster Meteor soldiered through the conflict with the RAAF. The Brits had the chance to evaluate the Vampire, Venom, Sea Vixen and Hunter under real combat conditions. All were available at that time, even if in prototype form.

Yes, doing so is a hazard no doubt, but the advantages of gaining first hand experiences against what was seen as a first class opponent (the MiG 15) would far outway the drawbacks. To my mind it's a contributing factor to the decline of British fighter design. The Americans gained enormous information out of the conflict, and went from strength to strength in fighter design.

Anyone have any insight as to why the British forwent such an opportunity?