111 Sqn.Lightning display team

@saladfingers I am sorry to inform that my father Barney Bullocke passed away last week. He looked back very fondly on his time with Treble One in his memoires. Feel free to share.

I can see from his log book that he was part of the team at the Paris Airshow in June 65 as well as the show at Biggin Hill that September that I believe was for the Battle of Britain celebrations?

For interest I attach of photo of he and I on a canal boat to celebrate his 80th and my 50th birthday 2 years ago.

RIP

Salad Fingers, I have sent you a PM!

Black Diamond

Not sure about that- 7 June 1965 RAFA display at North Weald, Biggin Hill was 14th Sept . SF

111 Squadron Display Team

Information provided by George Black.

Official shows by the Lightning team were:

Bentwaters – 15 June 1965
Paris Air Show (with RAs) – 20 June 1965
Biggin Hill – 18 September 1965

Nine Lightning F.3s of No.111 Squadron, Wattisham, “The Black Diamonds”’
Sqn Ldr G P Black, Capt R Chisholm RCAF, Flt Lts C I Carr-White, J Mitchell, M B Bullocke, D M A Samuels, H Molland, E R Perreaux and P J W Creigh. Flt Lt B C Allchin (56 Sqn) attached for Paris air show. Flt Lt A J R Doyle solo aerobatic pilot.

Thanks Dave for your reply, repeated on PPrune. I presume George Black was the team leader? This is the first time I have ever heard this team called “The Black Diamonds”. What evidence of that do you have?

111 Squadron Display Team

Nine Lightning F.3s of No.111 Squadron, Wattisham, “The Black Diamonds”’
Sqn Ldr G P Black, Capt R Chisholm RCAF, Flt Lts C I Carr-White, J Mitchell, M B Bullocke, D M A Samuels, H Molland, E R Perreaux and P J W Creigh. Flt Lt B C Allchin (56 Sqn) attached for Paris air show. Flt Lt A J R Doyle solo aerobatic pilot.

Reply

No Problem- In order 74 Squadron were the Tigers – Then 56 the firebirds – 92 Squadron had the F2 with the Blue Diamonds. 111 Squadron Formed a Team in 1965 – April i think. They were always just known as “Treble One” not the black arrows. Most ofthe season was flown with 9 FMK3s or 8 plus a TMK4 – the T~MK5 arrived in September. Yes that was Kiwi Peraux – i think sadly he was killed in a mid air early on in the Red Arrows history rgds SF

I know they displayed at USAF Bentwaters around May 65, North Weald, Paris, and Biggin Hill around Sept. Pilots in your picture – Back row, Tony Doyle, Kiwi Peraux, John Mitchel, Hedley Molland, ~Pete `creigh
Front row, ? Bob Chisholm RCAF, George Black, Chrsi Carr White , Barny Bullock
Hope that helps PM me if you need more info Rgds SF

That’s excellent – thanks very much as you have answered everything! 😉
Don’t think they were ever given a name and weren’t fitted with smoke, hence the need for the Red Arrows Gnat to ‘assist’. I believe ‘Kiwi’ Peraux is Euan Peraux who later joined the Red Arrows?

That’s interesting. What were they called? So did they come after the other two Lightning teams mentioned?

111 Squadron

I know they displayed at USAF Bentwaters around May 65, North Weald, Paris, and Biggin Hill around Sept. Pilots in your picture – Back row, Tony Doyle, Kiwi Peraux, John Mitchel, Hedley Molland, ~Pete `creigh
Front row, ? Bob Chisholm RCAF, George Black, Chrsi Carr White , Barny Bullock
Hope that helps PM me if you need more info Rgds SF

Tigers – 74(F) Sqn
Firebirds – 56(F) Sqn

After the demise of the Treble One – the famous Black Arrows I think the next RAF aerobatic squadron were the Blue Diamonds flying Hunters and then in the early 60s The Tigers flying nine Lightnings and then the Firebirds, but each flew only one season with the Lightnings after which it became impractical to use front line fighters for official aerobatic duty. I don’t think either the Tigers or Firebirds were 111 Squadron.

The best person to ask would be Salad Fingers on here as his father was on 111 sqn so im very sure he could answer the question for you or maybe his father would know.
Hope that helps.
BB74