The de Havilland DH 108 "Swallow" was a British experimental aircraft designed by John Carver Meadows Frost in October 1945.

The DH 108 featured a tailless, swept wing with a single vertical stabilizer, similar to the layout of the wartime German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet.

[1] Despite the Comet design taking on more conventional features, the value of testing the unique configuration to provide basic data for the DH.110[2] spurred de Havilland to continue development of the DH 108.

[2] Control was based on the conventional rudder in combination with elevons that were part elevator and ailerons, fitted outboard of the split trailing edge flaps.

[5] In later low-speed testing designed to clear the rear fuselage at high angles of attack, the first prototype was fitted with longer Sea Vampire landing gear.

[6] The second, high-speed, prototype, TG306, which had a 45° swept wing incorporating automatic leading-edge Handley Page slats and was powered by a de Havilland Goblin 3 turbojet, flew soon afterwards, in June 1946.

Modifications to the design included a longer more streamlined nose and a smaller canopy (framed by a strengthened metal fairing) facilitated by lowering the pilot's seat.

Early wind tunnel testing had pointed to potentially dangerous flight behaviour, but pitch oscillation at high speed had been unexpected.

The subsequent accident investigation centred on a structural failure which occurred as air built up at Mach 0.9, pitching the aircraft into a shock stall that placed tremendous loads on the fuselage and wings.

Considered an important testbed for high-speed flight, VW120 was readied for an attempt at the World Speed Record then held by a Gloster Meteor at 616 mph (991 km/h).

Finally, on 1 May 1950, during low-speed sideslip and stall tests, the first prototype, TG283, was lost in a crash at Hartley Wintney killing the pilot, Sqn Ldr George E.C.