Names of the Pilots in the 22 Hunter Loop
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Names of the pilots in the 22 Hunter Loop
Treble One Squadron only appeared at Cottesmore on 13 May 1959, when it put on a display for the visit of the Shah of Persia. 92 Squadron displayed at Cottesmore on 6 June 1961 (12 aircraft) and 12 June 1962 (9 aircraft). Both these displays were for the IDC.
Treble One reverted to being a normal fighter squadron (as opposed to being an aerobatic squadron) in November 1960 in readiness to convert to the Lightning. In the same month, Peter Latham was posted to the RAF Staff College at Bracknell and replaced as squadron CO by Sqn Ldr K A L 'Dickie' Wirdnam. The squadron began to convert to Lightning F.1As in April 1961.
Treble One reverted to being a normal fighter squadron (as opposed to being an aerobatic squadron) in November 1960 in readiness to convert to the Lightning. In the same month, Peter Latham was posted to the RAF Staff College at Bracknell and replaced as squadron CO by Sqn Ldr K A L 'Dickie' Wirdnam. The squadron began to convert to Lightning F.1As in April 1961.
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Brian Mercer, one of the Black Arrows in the loop was also the Leader of the 92Sqn Blue Diamonds, the successor to the Black Arrows. Brian now lives in Perth, Australia.
The Blue Diamonds operated a 16 Hunter team, but also had two spares that could slot in either on the left or right hand side, so it is concievable that at some stage they looped 18 aircraft. Certainly some of the manoeuvres they did carry out warrant comment, particularly the 7 A/C line abreast loop with a diamond 9 behind. I have never seen that manoeuver performed elsewhere.
Brian points out that the Blue Diamonds never received the recognition that the Black Arrows received, in fact many of the iconic photos of the Black Arrows are actually the Blue Diamonds. The following Newsreel is proof of the that phenomenon.
WITH THE BLACK ARROWS - Colour - British Pathe
It is an excellent clip showing the aforementioned loop plus Lightnings of 74 Sqn. Many former Black Arrows can also be seen walking out to dispersal.
The Blue Diamonds operated a 16 Hunter team, but also had two spares that could slot in either on the left or right hand side, so it is concievable that at some stage they looped 18 aircraft. Certainly some of the manoeuvres they did carry out warrant comment, particularly the 7 A/C line abreast loop with a diamond 9 behind. I have never seen that manoeuver performed elsewhere.
Brian points out that the Blue Diamonds never received the recognition that the Black Arrows received, in fact many of the iconic photos of the Black Arrows are actually the Blue Diamonds. The following Newsreel is proof of the that phenomenon.
WITH THE BLACK ARROWS - Colour - British Pathe
It is an excellent clip showing the aforementioned loop plus Lightnings of 74 Sqn. Many former Black Arrows can also be seen walking out to dispersal.
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Another Pathe newsreel, this time correctly labelled.
BLACK ARROWS LAST SHOW - British Pathe
The Pathe site has a wealth of clips for aviation buffs.
BLACK ARROWS LAST SHOW - British Pathe
The Pathe site has a wealth of clips for aviation buffs.
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I find it irritating that even well-respected aviation magazines mis-identify the Blue Diamonds and caption them as the 'Black Arrows' in b/w photos. The Blue Diamonds can easily be identified in b/w photos, as their Hunters had white wingtips and a white lightning flash down the fuselage.
Misidentifying colour footage can only be put down to colour blindness!!
Misidentifying colour footage can only be put down to colour blindness!!
Last edited by Amos Keeto; 8th Sep 2010 at 07:11.
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Names of Pilots in 22 Hunter Loop
I spoke to Brian this morning and this is his response regarding the 18 aircraft formation at Farnborough:
Farnborough 1962 -
Farnborough 1962 -
We finished by running in with 18 in echelon (16 + 2 airborne spares) all smoking and we looped into a break on to the downwind leg in 4 fours and1 pair. The 18 in echelon apparently looked quite spectacular.
I saw it and totally agree with his comment.
I saw it and totally agree with his comment.
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I am searching for amateur still photographs and film footage of No. 111 Squadron between 1955 and 1961, in particular of The Black Arrows. I'm interested in ground activity, aerial shots, ground-to air shots and people.
If anyone can help please PM me for further details.
(I am a newcomer to these forums and I should point out that I have checked with the mod (Rob) that this request is OK to post).
By the way, George Aird (who, as has been pointed out, didn't fly the 22 loop) is still flying! I met and interviewed him last week at his home. Lovely man and very modest about his achievements. Regarding the Lightning incident, he was more upset that he had lost an aircraft than pleased to have been on the front cover of many magazines at the time. Today he flies from Blackpool with a friend who is several years older than him. He is obliged to fly with someone else who can land the aircraft.
I have met many of the surviving pilots from the 22 loop (sadly quite a few are no longer with us) and one of my questions is 'do you still fly'. No-one else has said yes other than Roger Hymans, who flies RC models and Peter Latham, who I believe goes up with a friend in a glider once in a while.
At Leuchars a month or so ago, Ross Colwill (who was in the team for the 59 and 60 seasons) flew in a T.7 as part of a four ship which then formated on the Vulcan for a flypast. A wonderful sight. He then rolled, looped and landed the Hunter himself. He last sat in a Hunter cockpit fifty years ago this month. Not bad, eh?
If anyone can help please PM me for further details.
(I am a newcomer to these forums and I should point out that I have checked with the mod (Rob) that this request is OK to post).
By the way, George Aird (who, as has been pointed out, didn't fly the 22 loop) is still flying! I met and interviewed him last week at his home. Lovely man and very modest about his achievements. Regarding the Lightning incident, he was more upset that he had lost an aircraft than pleased to have been on the front cover of many magazines at the time. Today he flies from Blackpool with a friend who is several years older than him. He is obliged to fly with someone else who can land the aircraft.
I have met many of the surviving pilots from the 22 loop (sadly quite a few are no longer with us) and one of my questions is 'do you still fly'. No-one else has said yes other than Roger Hymans, who flies RC models and Peter Latham, who I believe goes up with a friend in a glider once in a while.
At Leuchars a month or so ago, Ross Colwill (who was in the team for the 59 and 60 seasons) flew in a T.7 as part of a four ship which then formated on the Vulcan for a flypast. A wonderful sight. He then rolled, looped and landed the Hunter himself. He last sat in a Hunter cockpit fifty years ago this month. Not bad, eh?
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I think you'll find ther new DVD(not video) has been out since 1st November,as I have received my copy. A little disappointing as nearly all the footage has been seen before. Once again, they show b/w footage of the "Blue Diamonds" whilst talking about the "Black Arrows" (what is the matter with these peoples' eyesight!
. Later on there is actual mention of the "Blue Diamonds" where they show the correct footage, followed by the "Firebirds" Lightnings and then the "Yellowjacks" Gnats, but instead of showing footage of them, they show just some regular 4 FTS Gnats. Ho hum! Hope Ian's DVD will be better!
. Later on there is actual mention of the "Blue Diamonds" where they show the correct footage, followed by the "Firebirds" Lightnings and then the "Yellowjacks" Gnats, but instead of showing footage of them, they show just some regular 4 FTS Gnats. Ho hum! Hope Ian's DVD will be better!
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I do sympathise with anyone producing documentaries such as this. For any project there is obviously only a finite quantity of relevant archive footage and what is available is often charged at exorbitant rates by people like Pathe, ITN etc. In my case I was badly let down at the last minute by one source that change their minds and decided they wanted to charge me £12 per second. For a DVD that is only realistically (should I say 'hopefully'?!) going to sell a hundred or so copies this just isn't viable.
However, at the risk of being accused of promotion, the DVD I am producing focuses more on interviews with the surviving UK-resident team members (I shot more than 20 hours and interviewed almost all of them including both leaders and a number of ground crew) rather than being a collection of archive clips (not that there's anything wrong with that).
I have, thankfully, since found an alternative and less costly source of the same (and more) archive material, but anyone with more than a passing interest in the subject will almost certainly have seen it before. What I can offer, that is unlikely to have been seen publicly before now, is a good deal of home (cine) footage taken by the pilots and groundcrew themselves. This may not be of the highest quality but it's different! Add to that a good number of still photographs from the team's private collections and hopefully there will be enough new material to hold interest.
What I promise to do my best to avoid, of course, is incorrectly identifying the magnificent Blue Diamonds as the sensational Black Arrows! I wish I could find more footage of the Blue Diamonds as that would make a great story as well.
'The Story of the Black Arrows - in their own words' has been delayed because of the archive footage debacle and is now due for release at the end of January (1/11 - I thought that was rather appropriate). Sorry to anyone who wanted a copy for Christmas. Believe me, I'm as disappointed as you!
Hope this isn't seen as being too self-promoting. Fully understood if parts are edited.
Merry Christmas to all.
However, at the risk of being accused of promotion, the DVD I am producing focuses more on interviews with the surviving UK-resident team members (I shot more than 20 hours and interviewed almost all of them including both leaders and a number of ground crew) rather than being a collection of archive clips (not that there's anything wrong with that).
I have, thankfully, since found an alternative and less costly source of the same (and more) archive material, but anyone with more than a passing interest in the subject will almost certainly have seen it before. What I can offer, that is unlikely to have been seen publicly before now, is a good deal of home (cine) footage taken by the pilots and groundcrew themselves. This may not be of the highest quality but it's different! Add to that a good number of still photographs from the team's private collections and hopefully there will be enough new material to hold interest.
What I promise to do my best to avoid, of course, is incorrectly identifying the magnificent Blue Diamonds as the sensational Black Arrows! I wish I could find more footage of the Blue Diamonds as that would make a great story as well.
'The Story of the Black Arrows - in their own words' has been delayed because of the archive footage debacle and is now due for release at the end of January (1/11 - I thought that was rather appropriate). Sorry to anyone who wanted a copy for Christmas. Believe me, I'm as disappointed as you!
Hope this isn't seen as being too self-promoting. Fully understood if parts are edited.
Merry Christmas to all.
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Yes, Air Commodore Swart died on 7th February. I was very sad that he didn't get to see the film, which includes my interview with him.
One of many interesting things I learned about him is that he had been lined up to be one of the early TSR-2 pilots before it was cancelled.
One of many interesting things I learned about him is that he had been lined up to be one of the early TSR-2 pilots before it was cancelled.
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Not that I knew him well, but Les Elgey was OC C Flt of 20 Sqn at Tengah in 68-69, flying Single Pioneers on FAC tasks. I have a photo of him somewhere with some young fg off called Pete Squire who was getting his S-Pin 'Op Pot' at Gemas airstrip in Malaya. 
Oh, and the Stn Cdr was Peter Latham.
Oh, and the Stn Cdr was Peter Latham.
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FltLt "Will" Scarlett 1 Sqn
In the mid 70s I flew with an ex airforce pilot called Will Scarlett on F27s with Air Anglia, I wonder if this is the same person?
In the mid 70s I flew with an ex airforce pilot called Will Scarlett on F27s with Air Anglia, I wonder if this is the same person?
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New Black Arrows documentary finally ready for release!
I hope it's OK to mention my film again (I did check with the mod, Rob, last time).
Finally, after two years in production and a whole raft of copyright issues from grasping archive media libraries, The Story of The Black Arrows is about to be released.
It's finished, it's been approved by the surviving pilots and it's about to be duplicated ready for sale after 5th September.
The film is just shy of two hours - as Flt Lt George Aird wrote "It might be a tad long for the plebs but for the aficionados, and there are many, it will be a piece of aviation history to treasure". Let's hope so. I make no secret of the fact that a lot of the archive material is from the pilots' and ground crews' personal collections, so while the quality of that footage might be questionable, its 'previously unseen' status is not. Other than the voiceover in the trailer, the only dialogue you will hear in the entire film is that spoken by the pilots and ground crew making this the story of the Black Arrows in their own words and their words only.
Here's the trailer, which is also the opening couple of minutes of the film. I hope you enjoy it and welcome any constructive criticism.
Finally, after two years in production and a whole raft of copyright issues from grasping archive media libraries, The Story of The Black Arrows is about to be released.
It's finished, it's been approved by the surviving pilots and it's about to be duplicated ready for sale after 5th September.
The film is just shy of two hours - as Flt Lt George Aird wrote "It might be a tad long for the plebs but for the aficionados, and there are many, it will be a piece of aviation history to treasure". Let's hope so. I make no secret of the fact that a lot of the archive material is from the pilots' and ground crews' personal collections, so while the quality of that footage might be questionable, its 'previously unseen' status is not. Other than the voiceover in the trailer, the only dialogue you will hear in the entire film is that spoken by the pilots and ground crew making this the story of the Black Arrows in their own words and their words only.
Here's the trailer, which is also the opening couple of minutes of the film. I hope you enjoy it and welcome any constructive criticism.
