Here are a few Lightning photos from the archives.
Mostly from airshows in the Sixties, they were all taken by the late Gerald Lawrance, digitised and made available by Tony Clarke.
As usual, dates and locations have been difficult to pin down. Any further information always welcome. As far as I know, only four of the following airframes survive.
Firstly, a batch of early F.1’s. Three views of XM137/F of AFDS, the first two without nose markings were at Coltishall 17-9-60, the last with bars is not known:
XM147 survived to join the Wattisham TFF and is seen here at Mildenhall 17-5-69:
XM166 carries 226 OCU marks at Coltishall 19-9-64:
This batch shows the F.1A. XM171 is again 226 OCU, at Coltishall 18-9-65:
XM172, firstly as ‘S’ of 56 Sq, then with 226 OCU at Coltishall 18-9-65. Last reported with Lakes Lightnings in Cumbria:
Also with 56 Sq, XM173/V is at Coltishall 16-9-61:
With Wattisham TFF, XM177 is at Mildenhall 22-5-71:
XM180, 226 OCU again. At Coltishall 17-9-66:
XM187/D of 111 Sq:
XM188/F of 111 Sq seen at Wethersfield 19-5-62 (W/O 21-6-68):
XM192/K of 111 Sq survives at Tattershall Thorpe:
XM214 of 226 OCU at Coltishall 18-9-65:
By: JT526 - 17th December 2011 at 12:40
Thanks for the post DCW. Brings back memories of the 22 ship Lightning scramble that always opened the Coltishall BoB day display.
Absolute magic, shall never see or hear anything like that again.
By: roberto_yeager - 17th December 2011 at 12:12
Thank you!!! I really love the Lightning!
1Saludo
By: DCW - 17th December 2011 at 08:15
Now for two-seaters, starting with the T.4. XM966 ( looks like a Paris Airshow ) was later converted to T.5 but never entered service, crashing 22-7-65:
XM973 and XM974 are both without unit marks, probably both at Coltishall:
XM996 (Coltishall 19-9-64) and XM997 are both with 226 OCU:
A group of 226 OCU Lightning T.5’s. XS417,XS418 and XS419 are at Coltishall 18-9-65, and XS459 is Coltishall 17-9-66. ( XS417 is preserved at Newark, XS459 last reported West Walton Highway )
Finally, the fabulous sight of nine Lightnings from 74 Sq (?) at Coltishall 16-9-61:
By: DCW - 17th December 2011 at 08:13
In 1964, 92 Sq at Leconfield was the official RAF jet aerobatic display team. Their Lightning F.2’s were at the Farnborough Airshow September 1964 (XN768/S,XN786/D,XN790/E and XN793/K):
XP759/J is a Lightning F.3 of 23 Sq, seen at Mildenhall 21-5-66:
The spectacular markings of 56 Sq seen on F.3 XR719/D:
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December 17, 2011 at 8:12 am