AA35012 Gloster Meteor F.8 WH480/M, Sqn Ldr John ‘Dusty’ Miller DFC

A man destined to achieve great things as a member of the Royal Air Force, Yorkshireman John ‘Dusty’ Miller trained as a military pilot in America under the UK-US ‘Arnold’ Scheme, showing himself to be so proficient that he was retained as a flight instructor. He eventually did join an operational RAF squadron flying Beaufighters in an anti-shipping strike role, but would advance his career significantly during the early years of jet aviation. Given command of No.41 Squadron at Biggin Hill flying the Meteor jet from the summer of 1951, his personal aircraft was one of the most colourful of that era, defending Britain’s airspace in some style. Miller would be one of the first RAF pilots forced to eject from his Meteor, when a turbine blade failure caused an in-flight fire whilst high above Essex in April 1952, but once back flying, continued his rise through the ranks. With his potential for senior rank, Miller was forced to turn his back on ten years flying jet fighters to take command of a Vickers Valiant nuclear bomber squadron, as his seniors wanted to take him away from what he was expert in, to broaden his service experience. During his time with the V-Bomber force, he would be the officer responsible for introducing the Blue Steel air launched nuclear stand-off missile into RAF service. When deciding to leave the RAF in 1969, he did so at the rank of Air Commodore.