Former Lightning people?

[phil9560]

I remember back in my Air Cadet days visiting 10 AEF at RAF Woodvale for a ride in a Chipmunk.It would've 1984 I think.Anyway there were a pair of Lightnings in the area and they gave the cadets an impromptu 'display'.It was the most incredible 5 minutes flying I've ever witnessed-none of those air show regulations to stop them ! Awesome aircraft.

[Zoom]

The earlier mention of Leafy (5 Sqn's stylized emblem) reminds me of a 5 Sqn Missile Practice Camp at Valley in 1969 when I was a stude at the FTS. There had been a particularly good bender one evening in the Shamrock Bar as was, with us studes in awe of these 'real pilots' and enjoying their heavy merry-making. When I woke up the following morning and looked out of my OM bedroom window at the opposite wall, I was stunned to see a massive Leafy painted on the wall and covering all 3 storeys -I think it was pink on green. It was absolutely fantastic and had been done very quickly. As it happens, the exterior of the Mess was about to be decorated and there was scaffolding about but not in position. The 'artists' had employed this without creating any noise. Photos were taken and Leafy was painted out, although he was still faintly visible a couple of years later. I have forgotten what the fallout was for the blokes involved but at least one of them made 3 star.

[Jetex Jim]

The book, Cold War Hot Science, although not exclusivly about aviation is extremly interesting. The section, on the Lightning provides an insight into its origins (in wartime German swept wing research), and a look at how the aircraft industry of the time was seen --Beaverbrook described it as "a hotbed of cold feet "

Cold War, Hot Science: Applied ... - Google Book Search

Also some rarely seen Crown copyright drawings that might be worth reproducing, see page 38, for example.

[neilf92]

January 1968 RAF Geilenkirchen - I was on the line , sat in the cockpit of one a 92 Sqdn. F2 completing a morning B/F. Two of our F2’s lined up away to the left - due to depart for Gutersloh for QRA duties . A familiar roar announced the roll of the first a/c - seconds later an odd drop in noise level made me glance left . There was one of our kites just lifting off but without the usual bellowing reheat accompaniment.
It sank and a bright , thick trail of sparks shot back from the tip of the ventral fin . The fin quickly eroded away , the sparks trail got thicker till eventually a plume of flame burst out of the ruptured ventral tank . Trailing a tail high banner of flame the jet slid on for what seemed an age before gradually nosing down and juddering to a halt .
As it did so the new Boss , one WCdr. Robinson of U2 fame , opened up the second a/c and launched past the crashed jet - before ATC could close the airfield - he figured it was vital to maintain the QRA at Gutersloh and had to go.
A minor incident ( I’m sure the pilot didn’t view it that way) and one that ended happily .
Unfortunately the name of this pilot escapes me.
We left Geilenkirchen shortly after - with one abiding memory of people diving left and right off the top of the single story line hut as one of the Red Arrows Gnats levelled out of the bomb burst and headed straight over them.
Gutersloh next , one of our pilots Jerry Bowler recalled a QRA encounter he had with a Mig 21 .
For some unusual reason this jet followed the exact line of the border for a long way . Jerry was wary of his intent but curious to know what was going on in the guy’s mind as they flew along together . Eventually the “enemy” simply banked off and went home . Jerry asked me to paint the scene as a memento of his time with the squadron.
Sadly a year or so later Jerry lost his life flying with the Red Arrows. He was the typical fighter pilot - “fast jets , fast cars and beautiful women” - “ Sorry I bent your jet Chief” - to quote some of the flavour.
Recently I decided to recreate the scene Jerry described and the painting below is how I recall the event.

[Jetex Jim]

Originally Posted by neilf92

Recently I decided to recreate the scene Jerry described and the painting below is how I recall the event.

Very nice work sir. Well done.

[1.3VStall]

neilf92,

Were you aware that "S" was the very last blue-finned Lightning? Happy days!

[EyesFront]

January 1968 RAF Geilenkirchen - I was on the line , sat in the cockpit of one a 92 Sqdn. F2 completing a morning B/F. Two of our F2’s lined up away to the left - due to depart for Gutersloh for QRA duties . A familiar roar announced the roll of the first a/c - seconds later an odd drop in noise level made me glance left . There was one of our kites just lifting off but without the usual bellowing reheat accompaniment.

It must have been about then that I visited Geilenkirchen as an ATC cadet. I clearly remember looking around 3 Sqdn's Canberras and 92 Sqn's Lightnings - and what was probably my first experience of getting thoroughly plastered in a local hostelry. I particularly remember the gutted Lightning jacked up in a hangar, waiting to be repaired after going through/under the safeland barrier - we were told that the braking parachute had failed to deploy and the that runway wasn't long enough to stop on without one. The Lightning's still my all-time favourite aircraft, even though I never got to fly one.

Edited to say that's a fantastic painting!!

[neilf92]

quote
"Were you aware that "S" was the very last blue-finned Lightning? Happy days!"

Yes - according to Stewart Scott's excellent ref work " Birth of a Legend - "Sierra" was in fact the only F2 to serve all it's days as such without modification to the ungainly F2A version - and it served all it's time on 92 Sqdn. I believe.
Thats why I chose "S" for the painting , not being aware of the actual a/c code involved.

[newt]

Yes she was the last Mk2 with a blue fin and she had my name on her side!

And somewhere I have the pictures of her as they stripped the paint away!

At least her sticktop is still on my desk!

She will always be remembered!!

[GeeRam]

But not the last 'active' Lightning with a blue fin........

This was T.5 XS458 being given some fast exercise along Cranfield's runway only last month sporting her 'tribute' half n half 111/92 scheme (although obviously 92 only had T.4's not 5's)

[1.3VStall]

Ah, how that brings back memories!

The real 92 Sqn "T" was, indeed, a TMk4 and she was XM995. Yes, I know I'm an anorak!

[Tim McLelland]

She's certainly still looking very smart, though I really can't understand why anyone would want to apply a T4 paint scheme to a T5 - it's not as if there ain't enough attractive paint schemes to choose from!