Looking For First(?) Red Arrows Leader
Thread Starter
Looking For First(?) Red Arrows Leader
Gents, there's a poster on another forum looking for some info. I can't post a link as it's a members only forum. If anyone can help, I'll forward it on. Thanks.
Hi guys - hope you may be able to help or shed a bit of light as to the whereabouts of my Great Uncle Lee (Leo) Jones. Think he was a Sqn Leader, and he did the forming the Red Arrows thing back in the 60's, and the last I knew he was living in the Southampton area about 10 years ago.
Chances are he's not alive anymore (and even if he was he'd be about 90-ish) but would just like to know one way or the other really.
Thanks for your help.
Chances are he's not alive anymore (and even if he was he'd be about 90-ish) but would just like to know one way or the other really.
Thanks for your help.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: avro country
Age: 72
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Have a look here, mate.
RAF Red Arrows - Team History
The 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of Royal Air Force jet aerobatic display teams. By the mid-60s almost every Flying Training School, and several operational squadrons, had their own teams. So much time, effort and money was being expended on these non-established tasks that the Royal Air Force eventually decided to disband them all and form a single, full-time professional team. Thus, in 1964, the Red Pelicans flying six Jet Provost T Mk 4s became the first team to represent the Royal Air Force as a whole. In that same year a team of five yellow Folland Gnat jet trainers, known as the Yellowjacks, was formed at No 4 Flying Training School at Royal Air Force Valley in north Wales, led by Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones. The following year Jones was posted to the Central Flying School (CFS) to form the Red Arrows. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), the formal name of the Red Arrows, began life at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, then a satellite of CFS. Initially there were seven display pilots and ten Gnat jet trainers. The name ‘Red Arrows’ was chosen to combine the appeal and expertise of two earlier teams, the famous Black Arrows and the Red Pelicans.
RAF Red Arrows - Team History
The 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of Royal Air Force jet aerobatic display teams. By the mid-60s almost every Flying Training School, and several operational squadrons, had their own teams. So much time, effort and money was being expended on these non-established tasks that the Royal Air Force eventually decided to disband them all and form a single, full-time professional team. Thus, in 1964, the Red Pelicans flying six Jet Provost T Mk 4s became the first team to represent the Royal Air Force as a whole. In that same year a team of five yellow Folland Gnat jet trainers, known as the Yellowjacks, was formed at No 4 Flying Training School at Royal Air Force Valley in north Wales, led by Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones. The following year Jones was posted to the Central Flying School (CFS) to form the Red Arrows. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), the formal name of the Red Arrows, began life at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, then a satellite of CFS. Initially there were seven display pilots and ten Gnat jet trainers. The name ‘Red Arrows’ was chosen to combine the appeal and expertise of two earlier teams, the famous Black Arrows and the Red Pelicans.
