- Ireland: The Irish Air Corps (IAC) got their first jet aircraft in 1956 when they received three Vampire T.55 in May and July. They were assigned to No.1 Squadron with base at Baldonnel airfield, in Dublin. In 1960 three additional T.55s were ordered and delivered on 19th January 1961 and 16th March. They served as trainers until 1975 when they were gradually written off. One machine was sold to a private buyer in the USA, some were scrapped and some other were donated to museums.
- Italy: Italy was looking for ways to modernize the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Military Aeronautical - Italian Air Force or AMI) during the late 1940s with a strong emphasis on re-establishing their aeronautical industry. After discussion with various aircraft manufacturers, the Italian Government decided in favour of the Vampire after de Havilland sent a demonstrator aircraft for inspection and technical evaluation in 1948. An agreement was signed on 24th October 1949 for five Vampire FB.Mk.5 and 14 NF.54 made at the UK plus a license for 120 FB.52s (which was eventually increased to 150) locally built by Macchi. This deal included also the license to manufacture the Goblin and Ghost engines. The first five FB.Mk.5 were flown from Hatfield factory (Hertfordshire) to Foggia-Amendola (Apulia, South-Eastern Italy) on 11th February 1956. They were assigned to the AMI Jet Training School. In August 1951 Vampires for the first operational units of the AMI ,79 and 81 Squadriglie (Flight), 6º Gruppo (Squadron) of the 4º Stormo Caccia (4th Fighter Wing) arrived. The Italian Vampires took part in 'Cirrus 6' NATO exercise in Germany and, eventually other units of the AMI were equipped with the Vampire, like the 7º Gruppo Scuola de Caccia (7th Group Fighter School), the whole 2nd and 4th Stormos, with base at Bergamo (Lombardy) and Napoli-Capodichino (Campania), 1 3 and 4 regioni aerei (Aerial Region) and the Reparto Sperimentale Volo (Experimental Flight Detachment). Between July 1950 and December 1951 all the FB.52s were delivered plus 10 spare sets built by Fiat. Once the Italian production was set up, Macchi assembled 27 machines at Varese (North-Western Lombardy) with the first machine taking off on 18th December 1951. Fiat manufactured 93 machines at Turin (Piedmont) with their first Vampire flying shortly later, on 22nd December 1951. A second batch of 30 Vampires FB.52 was shared between Macchi and Fiat and the ordered NF.54 night fighters were completed at Hatfield during 1951, with the remaining ones being completed at Chester. They were delivered to the AMI between June 1951 and 25th March 1953. They were all assigned to 3a Scuola de Caccia (3rd Fighter School which became Scuola Caccia Ogni Tempo (All-Weather Fighter School). During the following years the Italian Vampires took part in many NATO exercises. The NF.54s were gradually withdrawn from use between May 1956 and October 1959 when they were replaced by the North American F-86K 'Sabre Dog'. The regular Vampires were gradually replaced by Republic F-84 Thunderjet and the North American F-86 Sabre and, by 1960 they had all been withdrawn from service.
- Norway: The Royal Norvegian Air Force (RNAF) sought to replace their Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito piston-powered fighters and so, their turned their sight to the Gloster Meteor. However, when tested, it was felt that the Vampire with its greater angle of climb, smaller turning radius and shorter take off and landing run, was more adequate for Norway's geographical characteristics.
A total of 58 Vampire FB.Mk.3 were ordered by the RNAF in 1948. They were completed at Preston, Lancashire and Hatfield. Once under RNAF Command they formed the 'C' Flight of No.331 Squadron, for technical evaluation. By October 1949 all the Vampires Mk.3 were delivered with the delivered of the FB.52 continuing until April 1951.
In early October 1951 twelve Vampire F.Mk.3 of the No.336 Squadron flew to North Weald, Essex, to take part in 'Exercise Emperor', returning to Norway on 17th October.
In late 1951 six Vampire T.55 were ordered with the first delivery taking part in 4th July 1952. All six were assigned to Nos. 336 and 337 Squadrons. The RNAF, however, began to take into service the Lockheed T.33 for training and the T.55s were, therefore, returned to the UK.
As Norway was part of NATO's Northern commitment, was pressured to have the most modern warplanes in service and so, in 1957 the last nine F.Mk.3 and 25 FB.52 were written off active service. Some were donated to museums, other served as gate guards and some few were used as ground instructional frames. In the year 1991 one ex-Swiss Vampire was operated by the Warbirds of Norway Association.
Sources:
1st Hall Park Books - Warpaint 27 - De Havilland Vampire
2nd: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire
3rd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_de_Havilland_Vampire_operators
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