Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

(F-30) Single-seat interceptor fighter
(FB-31) Single-seat fighter-bomber
(FB-5) Single-seat fighter-bomber

Power Plant:

(F-30)

One 5,000 lbst Rolls Royce Nene 2-VH turbojet

Specifications:

Armament:

Four 20 mm Hispano cannon, and, on FB-31, provision for 907 kg (2,000 lb) of bombs or rockets

History:

The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was built as a single-seat, jet-propelled, interceptor and the prototype (LZ548/G) was flown for the first time on 20 September 1943 powered by a de Havilland Goblin turbojet. Although too late to see service during World War II, during post-war years the type formed part of Royal Air Force Fighter (RAF) Commands first-line squadrons on home defence. By 1951 they had been replaced by the Gloster Meteor F.8 but remained with some Royal Auxiliary Air Force units. Most were based in Germany with the 2nd Tactical Air Force, and with the Far East Air Force.

Design of the type began in 1941 to meet Specification E.6/41. Production was sub-contracted to English Electric Company’s plant at Preston, Lancashire, the initial contract being for 120 aircraft. This order was increased to 300 on 7 May 1945 and English Electric ended up constructing more than 1,000 Vampires for the RAF.

The first 50 aircraft were not pressurised but subsequent aircraft were. The Vampire F-1 was superseded on the production line by the F-III, which was first flown on 4 November 1946 and had increased fuel capacity. In 1949 the FB-5 was introduced designed for the close-support role and had the wingspan reduced. The FB-9 was the last single-seat variant for the RAF, the last aircraft being supplied in December 1953. This model had an air-conditioned cockpit.

In September 1946 the RAAF ordered 80 Vampires from de Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd at Bankstown, NSW, to be powered by the Rolls Royce Nene engine, which engine was to be built under licence by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermens Bend, VIC. Three British-built aircraft were imported, and the first of these, a Vampire F-1 (TG431/A78-1), arrived at No 1 Aircraft Performance Unit (APU) on 20 May 1947. This machine was powered by a 3,100 lbst deHavilland Goblin turbojet.

The second aircraft (TX807/A78-2) was an F-2 with a 4,500 lbst Rolls Royce Nene engine. Eventually, after service trials, this machine became an instructional airframe. The third, a Vampire FB-5 (VV465/A78-3), was received on 9 May 1949 and had a 3,100 lbst de Havilland Goblin 2/2 turbojet. It also later became an instructional airframe.

The first Australian-built machine, A79-1, flew for the first time on 29 June 1949. The first 57 aircraft produced were F-30 fighters, the last 23 being completed as FB-31 fighter-bombers. Later, 28 of the Vampire F-30s were converted to FB-31 standard, becoming known as the F-30/FB-31. The FB-31 had a strengthened and shortened wing to accommodate four hard-points capable of carrying 907 kg (2,000 lb) of bombs or rockets. The first aircraft had the air intakes on top of the fuselage, whereas on production aircraft they were positioned under the fuselage. A proposed variant, the FB-32, was to be fitted with enlarged wing-root air intakes, which were tested on A79-427, and an ejection seat, but the FB-32 was not proceeded with.

Units equipped with the Vampire were No 2 (F) [Fighter] Operational Training Unit (OTU), Nos 75 and 76 Squadrons, all based at Williamtown, NSW. In addition, Citizens Air Force Squadrons were also equipped with the type, these being Nos 21 (City of Melbourne) and No 25 (City of Perth) Squadrons. Eventually the type was replaced by the Gloster Meteor F-8, and later the CAC-built Sabre.

For most of their existence the F-30s and FB-31s had scattered serial numbers and, other than the three British-built machines (serials A78-1 to A78-3), the remainder were allotted serials in the range A79-5 to A79-914. Later, because the T-34 and T-35 series two-seat trainer Vampires were allotted serials in the A79-600 and A79-800 range, the single-seat Vampires which had been allotted serials in that range were changed to serials in the A79-400 range.

Amongst the wide variety of aircraft involved in rain making experiments in Australia was Vampire A79-111 which, in 1954, operated in this role with two smoke generators, and had tanks containing titanium tetrachloride, zinc sulphide powder and silver iodide tanks, which materials were delivered to the aircraft exhaust in the tests.

A number of Vampire single-seaters have survived, and these have included: A79-1 at RAAF Williamtown; A79-36 at WA Squadron, ATC Claremont, WA; A79-422 at the Moorabbin Aircraft Museum, VIC; A79-593 at Wingham, NSW; A79-390 at Tamworth, NSW; A79-440 at Amberley, QLD; A79-14 and A79-642 at the Camden Museum of Aviation, Narellan, NSW; and another at Dubbo, NSW. Others are known to have survived in private collections. One was noted on the fire dump at ‘HMAS Albatross’, Nowra, NSW in 1997; and two, both bearing the serial A79-175 on their tail booms, were noted in a hangar at Bankstown, NSW in 1998. Another has been restored by Pacific Fighters at Wangaratta, VIC for display.

The single-seat Vampire was also flown by the RNZAF. Eighteen FB-52s were obtained from the United Kingdom in 1952 (NZ5721 to NZ5738) and were operated by Nos 14 and 75 Squadrons, seeing service up to 1973 in the fighter-bomber role. In addition, 29 Vampire FB-5s and FB-9s were also received (NZ5750 to NZ5778), these all being ex-RAF aircraft. With the aircraft came a stock of spare parts, including FB-9 wings. The FB-52s were withdrawn from service in 1958-1959 and sold for scrap in 1963.

The Vampire FB-5s survived to 1972 when they were also scrapped, a number being converted for Instructional Airframe use. In addition, the RNZAF received a number of Vampires from RAF stocks solely for Instructional Airframe use, including a Mk I (ex TG443) which saw service at No 1 Technical Training School at Hobsonville as Inst 166; a Mk III (ex VT806) Inst 167; and two Mk 9s (ex WL514 and ex WR202) Inst 169 and Inst 171.

A number of ex RNZAF Vampires survive. FB-5s which have survived include: NZ5751 in storage at Blenheim; NZ5757 on display at Air Force World at Wigram; NZ5758 with the Ferrymead Aeronautical Society at Christchurch; NZ5765 with the NZ Fighter Pilots Museum at Wanaka; NZ5767 with the Ohakea Wing of the RNZAF Museum; NZ5769 at the Ashburton Aviation Museum; NZ5770 at the Southwards Motor Museum at Paraparaumu; NZ5772 as a gate guardian at Ohakea; and NZ5732 in storage in Auckland.

Vampire FB-52 survivors have included: NZ5734 stored at Ardmore and NZ5735 stored at Wigram.

One Vampire FB-9 has survived. an ex-RAF aircraft (WR202), noted above, which never flew with the RNZAF has been placed on display at MOTAT in Auckland. A number of incomplete airframes have been stored at Mapua.