Gloster Javelin: Books - History, Types and Construction

History of The Gloster Javelin : The First All Weather British Fighter

During the plunging temperature of the early Cold War years the RAF found itself increasingly in need of a truly all-weather high performance fighter. There were two leading designs available as prototypes in 1951; the DH110 from de Havilland and from Gloster, the GA5. These were to become respectively, the Sea Vixen and the Javelin.

Neither was a classic or a Beauty, but both operational during the 1950s. The Sea Vixen, hence the title, entered service with the Royal Navy and the Javelin, on the promise of being made ready earlier, with the Royal Air Force.
However, so unready were the first production Javelins, with pressure to get them in service when expected, there were no fewer than nine versions entering service with operational RAF squadrons between 1956 and 1959.
Although the 'Flat Iron' met the requirements of range, weapons and all-weather capability, it was much under powered and cumbersome for a fighter. Nevertheless, the Gloster Javelin was also just as much underrated.

Entering service at the wrong time as the Sandys Defence White Paper unwittingly claimed the end of the manned fighter and following on the Javelin's heels came the English Electric Lightning with its truly supersonic performance. These factors combined to produce a situation which shortened the service years of the Javelin and halted further development.

Flying Flatiron: Gloster Javelin

The Flying Flat Iron and the Harmonious Dragmaster were just two names given to the Gloster Javelin. Designed from the outset as an all-weather day and night two seat fighter, its aim was to take on the large formations of Russian bombers that everyone thought would herald the start of WWIII.
This 15-ton behemoth was the first delta wing aircraft to enter RAF service. It was also the first RAF fighter to be armed with 4 de Havilland Firestreak air to air missiles, and the last aircraft to bear the Gloster name.

Constant changes in the specification and design, plus cut backs in the number of prototypes built caused numerous delays. The Javelin entered service in early 1956 and served as a front line fighter for the next 13 years. Flying in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East the Javelin defended the dwindling British Empire.
It never met the enemy it was designed for. Instead it ended its days flying low over the Borneo and Malaya jungle searching for insurgents, but it soldiered on and performed all the tasks that was asked of it.

The Javelin

The RAF's first and last jet-powered delta-winged fighter, the Javelin was also the very last aircraft to be built by the Gloster Aircraft Company. The twin-engine Javelin was a complex aircraft and development began as early as 1946, the intention being for the aircraft to be a replacement for the Gloster Meteor.
Designed to be the first specifically built all-weather interceptor, the Javelin experienced a protracted development period and did not enter RAF service until 1956.

Progressing through nine operational marks, the Javelin proved to be more than capable of intercepting the Canberra at altitude. To keep pace with increasingly better performing Soviet bombers, the fighter's engines were progressively upgraded from 8,000 lb each in the Mk 1 to 12,300 lbs of thrust in the Mk 8.

The Javelin remained the RAF's sole all-weather fighter until the arrival of the English Electric Lightning. Operating alongside the Lightning, the Javelin was retired from operational service in 1968 although one machine, now on display at IWM Duxford, remained in service until 1975.

The Javelin : An Operational History

The RAF's only delta-winged fighter - the Gloster Javelin was also Britain's first true All-Weather Fighter. Based in the UK and in Germany, the RAF's Javelin squadrons formed the front line of Britain's air defences in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
During this time Javelin crews pioneered the operational use of guided missiles and air-to-air refuelling by fighter aircraft. In the Far East, Javelins were involved in operations during the Indonesian Confrontation and the aircraft was also deployed to Zambia during the Rhodesian UDI Crisis.

In this history, which is richly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, Michael Napier blends official records with personal accounts to describe the operational history of this iconic jet fighter.