RAAF Sabre Aerobatic Teams

RAAF Aero Teams

Adrian,
I flew in two of the aero teams that interest you.
Black Diamonds from May 63 to Jun 64. A team of 4 with one solo.
Marksmen from Apr 66 to Sep 67. We started this one as a team of four and then expanded to a team of five. I seem to recall that for a short time we added a single solo.

I also led the Deltas aero team (flying the Mirage) from Oct 70 to Nov 71. This time we had a team of five with two solos.

I do have a few photos of each team that I will dig out.
Cheers
BG

A94-983 as she is today

Wardie

Black Panther -901

You can see -901 in her Black Panther guise at the HARS Museum at Albion Park Rail.

Sadly, she won’t fly again [airframe fatigue] but has helped Temora to get the RAAF Sword going!

G’day 😉

3 Sqn Sabres

Nice pic David, have not seen that one before.

These are standard 3 Squadron aircraft, the tail band and intake ring are orangey-red, and the ‘3-sabre’ marking was carried by all aircraft at that time, ie between 1958 and 1962.

In 1962, 3 changed its markings to the very attractive red tail with Southern Cross, but all 78 Wing (ie 3 and 77 Sqns at Butterworth) markings were removed in 1963 with Confrontation with Indonesia. Also the Butterworth squadrons had to support 79 Sqn in Ubon, Thailand, as well, so it was just easier for all aircraft to be devoid of markings.

Adrian,

Sabres from 3 Sqdn RAAF Butterworth, Malaya at the Paya Lebar Airshow, Singapore July 1961.

Memories of wonderful teenage years spent enjoying the aviation in Singapore and I can’t believe it was all of 48 years ago.

David

I am still sure “Red Diamonds” were before “Black Panthers”.
The trouble with following a secondary internet source is that inaccurate facts become folklore!!

And the “Black Diamonds” (like 76 Sqn) were at Williamtown. They were initially led in 1961 by a USAF exchange guy, MAJ Stoner.

The 3 Sqn team in 1966 could have been a one-off display.

Sorry Adrian, have got nothing at hand to firm up the dates.

OK Adrian,

Been through my stuff and can provide the following good gen. 😉
Sources are primarily from Aviation Historical Society of Aust (AHSA) journals at that time, and some articles I wrote or assisted with, and contemporary “RAAF News”.
Well-known photographers around at this stage who captured many images were Nev Parnell and Eric Allen.

75 SQN Black Diamonds
Formed 1961. Until 1964. A 5-ship.
Sorry the USAF guy in fact was MAJ Shiner, but he did not lead in the first year (I think he may have subsequently). Team in 1961 comprised FLTLT B Weymouth (leader), FLTLT J Tynan, FLGOFFs M Baston and M Parer, MAJ R Shiner USAF (solo). A later leader was Vance Drummond. Typically it was a 4-ship with solo.
Squadron black & white intake ring (later, black only). Black diamond below cockpit, black band around fuselage aft of canopy. Black wingtips.
Note that in this first year there was a subtle mod to the 75 SQN tail marking – the top hat in the centre was replaced by a black diamond. Aircraft I have noted as “Black Diamonds” over these years were A94-352, 353, 355, 359, 363, 365 and 371 (all Mk 32 aircraft).
A94-983 has been recently returned to airworthiness at Temora. It is in Black Diamonds markings but never flew with 75, it was a 78 Wing aircraft and subsequenly was transferred to the RMAF (TUDM).

76 SQN Red Diamonds
Formed 1962. Until 1964. A 5-ship.
Squadron red intake ring, red wingtips. Red diamond with trail below cockpit.
Aircraft noted in the Red Diamonds were A94-925, 930, 939, 942 and 947 (mainly Mk 31 aircraft as that is mainly what 76 had at that time).
Subtle changes to markings: in 1962 the red diamond on the fuselage (containing a white ’76’) was narrower compared to the 1963 diamond which was more square-shaped when looked upon from an angle.

76 SQN Black Panthers
Formed early 1965. Until 1966. A 4-ship.
Aircraft were A94-901, 933, 352, 353, 359, 363, 368, 370 (some ex-75 aircraft, as that Sqn had by then converted to Mirage).
While the Red Diamonds had retained the normal 76 SQN tail marking, the Black Panthers (sometimes called “The Panthers”) had a red tail band, with white circle containing black ’76’. This was changed in 1965 to an all-red tail with a white ’76’. Panther aircraft had the Squadron red intake ring, red wingtips, and also had a red fuselage band (similar to the black band of the Black Diamonds) and a leaping black panther on the forward fuselage.
Team in 1965 was: FLTLT J Chesterfield (leader), PLTOFF R Bastick, FLGOFF G Warrener, PLTOFF G Coleman.
Often carried inert AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs.

2 OCU Marksmen
Formed 1966. A 5-ship. Until (I think) 1967.
Yellow and black diagonally striped tails, with “Marksmen” in running black/yellow script below the cockpit on both sides.
Squadron yellow intake ring, yellow wingtips.
Aircraft A94-901, 915, 922, 365, 369, and 371.

Trust this helps.

Adrian,
When I saw the title of the thread, I thought of referring the poster to…

… you! 😀

I recall a certain Sabre Aerobatic Team article in a certain Warbirds Worldwide special.

Do you have access to the Stewart Wilson Meteor Sabre Mirage in Australian Service?

Cheers,

RAAF CAC Avon Sabre Acrobatic Teams 1959-68

Team Year(s) Operation Location
78 Wing Sabre Team 1959 78 Wing Butterworth, Malaysia
Black Diamonds 1961-64 No.75 Sqn. location?
Black Panthers 1962 No.76 Sqn. Williamtown
Red Diamonds 1963 No.76 Sqn. Williamtown
No.3 Sqn. Team 1966 No.3 Sqn. Butterworth, Malaysia
Marksmen 1966-68 No.2 OCU Williamtown

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/MEGGS_sabre.html

wieesso – I note you have an internet source, but I am still sure “Red Diamonds” were before “Black Panthers”.
The trouble with following a secondary internet source is that inaccurate facts become folklore!!

And the “Black Diamonds” (like 76 Sqn) were at Williamtown. They were initially led in 1961 by a USAF exchange guy, MAJ Stoner.

The 3 Sqn team in 1966 could have been a one-off display.

Sorry Adrian, have got nothing at hand to firm up the dates.

Thanks very much guys. Much appreciated. For any modellers attending the IPMS Scalemodelworld show at Telford on 7/8th November, come and see the Aerobatic Teams Special Interest Group whose theme this year is…..you guessed it…”Australasia Aerobatic Teams”, covering Oz & NZ.

RAAF CAC Avon Sabre Acrobatic Teams 1959-68

Team Year(s) Operation Location
78 Wing Sabre Team 1959 78 Wing Butterworth, Malaysia
Black Diamonds 1961-64 No.75 Sqn. location?
Black Panthers 1962 No.76 Sqn. Williamtown
Red Diamonds 1963 No.76 Sqn. Williamtown
No.3 Sqn. Team 1966 No.3 Sqn. Butterworth, Malaysia
Marksmen 1966-68 No.2 OCU Williamtown

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/MEGGS_sabre.html

Adrian

You have the main ones.

76 Sqn. I think you have the “Black Panthers” and “Red Diamonds” in the wrong order.
Perhaps : 76 Sqn. “Red Diamonds” (1961–63?)
76 Sqn. “Black Panthers” (1964-66?)

“Black Panthers” until 1966 I think, when the Sqn re-equipped with Mirage.

78 Wing in Butterworth also had a team, made up I believe of two 3 Sqn and two 77 Sqn pilots, and without a name. This would have been early 1960s.

The 2OCU “Marksmen” may have gone until 1969, after which all the Sabres were clumpted in 5OTU, which did not form a team.

After that, the first Mirage team – 77 Sqn “Deltas” – formed in late 1970 for the RAAF 50th Anniversay airshows in March 1971.