The Gloster Meteor was the first jet fighter aircraft of the British Royal Air Force, and was introduced into service in August, 1944, only weeks after the Third Reich's Messerschmitt Me262 jet aircraft. It was thus the world's second jet fighter aircraft, and the first and only one of the WWII Allied powers.

In November, 1945, a standard Meteor Mark IV, piloted by Group Captain H J Wilson, AFC, broke the World Air Speed Record at Herne Bay with a speed of 606mph. This was the first jet air speed record and the first air speed record over 600mph.