Churchill Funeral Flypast

[Cricket23]

Hi,

I've just found out that a colleague of mine's Dad took part in Churchill's funeral flypast (1 of the Lightnings). Does anybody have a link to this pls?

I've had a search in the usual places, but can't find anything.

Thanks,

C23

[cleo]

Cricket - have a look at the Churchill Experience / Imperial War Museum / Cabinet War Rooms websites.
There is a video on a loop in the Churchill Experience with newsreel footage of the event. They may also have a video for sale and the credits there might give you a clue where to start looking?

[Lightning Mate]

Try our site:

www.lightningpilots.com (http://www.lightningpilots.com)

Then go to "Directory".

PM me if you wish with the surname of your colleague.

[Geezers of Nazareth]

'Cricket23',

"I've just found out that a colleague of mine's Dad took part in Churchill's funeral flypast (1 of the Lightnings). Does anybody have a link to this pls?"

I've had a passing interest in this event for many years. I've seen conflicting reports about the number of aircraft involved in the flypast ... one source says 4 a/c, and one source says 16.

Please can you get the message (by any means you wish) to the ex-Pilot ... how many aircraft were in his formation, any individual aircrfat numbers involed (I assume they were F1s or F2s?), and where did they fly from and to.

Many thanks.

[Lightning Mate]

There were sixteen Lightnings.

If my memory serves, they were F1s and some F1As.

LM

[Warmtoast]

Some details of the flypast of Lightnings at Churchill's funeral are mentioned here:

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/340256-lightnings-post4353481.html?highlight=Funeral#post4353481

[cleo]

This confirms a formation of 16.

Funeral (http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/biography/funeral)

[GeeRam]

“From the wintry sky to the east appeared 16 Lightnings of 56 and 111 Sqns, Wattisham, and 19 and 92 Sqns, Leconfield, led by Wg Cdr A. F. Jenkins. In four boxes of four in long line astern they came in a shallow dive to 500ft. the thunder of their passage sounding the final deep notes of the day’s poignant music.”

8 x F.2's from 19/92 and probably 8 x F.1A's from 56/111.

111 were in the process of converting to F.3's around this time so, it's possible some of the 4 x 111 machines could have been F.3's, but F.1A's more likely I would think.