Ref the 56 Sqn checkerboard tails ... am I right in remembering that "Authority" got overexcited as the design omitted the r/w/b fin flash? And that this marked the beginning of the end for colourful Lightning markings?
Fighter Command disbanded on Tuesday 30 April 1968, becoming part of the new Strike Command. On Wednesday morning, 1 May, No 74 Sqn's Lightning F6s were pulled out of their hangar onto the line at Tengah, all sporting black tails. The 'official line' at 74 was that whilst FC had banned coloured fins, FC no longer existed and no such edict had been received from STC.
I'm sure there's a Tiger Mate here who remembers the occasion.
(The paint on the fin leading edge eroded quite quickly - I think they were re-done, at a more leisurely pace, with better quality paint later on)