DH-100 Vampire FB Mk.5. The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter. It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and the first to be powered by a single jet engine. Development of the Vampire began in 1941 and May 1944 it was decided to produce as an interceptor for the Royal Air Force. 3268 Vampires had been manufactured in different versions.