The Meteor NF.13 was a tropicalised version of the Meteor NF.11. Physically it only differed from the regular NF.11 in that the air-intake holes of the engines were broader to allow more air to get in.
It flew for the first time on 23rd December 1952 and, wasn't free of problems. The heavily framed canopy offered poor visibility specially when landing, under-wing external fuel tanks tended to break-up when the wing cannons were fired and gun harmonisation was poor due to wings flexing in flight.
The NF.13 served with the next British squadrons:
- No.39 Squadron: The Meteor replaced the Mosquitoes NF.36 of this squadron when it was based in RAF Fayid, in March 1953and then moved on to Malta in 1955. It was rebased to RAF Nicosia in 1956 when the Suez crisis started in order to take part in the Operation Musketeer. After that, it was rebased back to Malta where it was re-equipped with Canberras on 30th June 1958.
- No.219 Squadron: On October 1952 this squadron, based at RAF Kabrit, in Egypt, very close to the Suez Canal, replaced their Mosquitoes NF.36 and by April 1953 it was fully equipped with Meteors NF.13. It was disbanded in September 1954.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
3. Hall Park Books - Warpaint Series no.22 - Gloster Meteor
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._39_Squadron_RAF
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._219_Squadron_RAF
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