de Havilland Venom FB4
Serial Number:
J1704
Period:
Post-WWII
Collection Ref: 84/A/954
Location: RAF Museum Cosford, War Planes
Despite a strong resemblance to the earlier de Havilland
Vampire, the Venom was in fact a largely new design, incorporating an
entirely new wing and other refinements to take full advantage of the
more powerful de Havilland Ghost engine.
The prototype Venom first took to the air in September 1949, the first
FB1 variants entering service with No.11 Squadron in West Germany three
years later. The FB4 version arrived in 1955 and introduced a redesigned
tail, power-operated ailerons and an ejector seat. The RAF also ordered
a two-seat night-fighter version and from this the Sea Venom was developed
for the Royal Navy.
The RAF's single-seat Venoms were operated exclusively overseas, equipping
the Far East and Middle East Air Forces as well as the 2nd Tactical Air
Force in Germany. The last RAF Venoms in use were those of No.28 Squadron
in Hong Kong, these being withdrawn in 1962.
Other operators of land-based fighter-bomber Venoms included New Zealand,
Iraq, Venezuela and Switzerland. From 1953 a consortium of three Swiss
companies built 150 FB1 (including 24 camera-equipped reconnaissance FB1R)
and 100 FB4 aircraft for the Swiss Air Force, equipping 11 squadrons by
1965. These were the last Venoms in service, and were finally retired
in 1983.
