As we approach Halloween, here's a topical submission, in the form of the de Havilland Vampire.

Introduced too late to see service in the Second World War, the single-engine, twin-boom Vampire was entered into service with the RAF in 1946, as an interceptor aircraft to replace Hawker Typhoons and P-51 Mustangs, stationed in British-controlled Germany. Into the 1950s, and the aircraft's role was adapted to that of fighter-bomber, and this FB.5 variant saw active service in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, perhaps most notably in the suppression of communist insurgents in Malaya, alongside other Commonwealth forces. BY the mid-1950s, however, with more advanced jet aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter and English Electric Lightning entering service, the Vampire was relegated to the role of advanced trainer aircraft, where it would remain until it's retirement from the RAF in 1967, and from the Fleet Air Arm in 1970.

This particular aircraft, WZ550, was a T.11 twin-seater trainer variant used by the Royal Navy, built in 1953, and is currently stored in Ta'Qali Aviation Museum, Malta. But, for the purpose of confuse those of you with eagle-eyes, in 2000 the aircraft was re-sprayed in the colour scheme of a T.22 trainer operating from HMS Falcon, also known as RAF Hal Far.

Hope you enjoy!