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No.74 Lightning F.1 XM165 was the  rst example for 74

Squadron and was delivered to the unit at Lecon eld,

Yorkshire, on June 29, 1960. It operated the type

(including F.3s, F.6s and T.4s) for 11 years. Also based

at Coltishall, Leuchars and Tengah, Singapore at various

times in the 1960s.

No.92 This famous unit took on its  rst single-seat Lightning,

F.2 XN783, at Lecon eld, Yorkshire, on March 26, 1963

and operated the type (including F.2As and T.4s) until

late March 1977. No.92’s Lightnings were also based at

Gelsenkirchen, West Germany (1966 to 1968) and then

Gütersloh.

No.111 Received its  rst Lightning, F.1A XM185, on August 29,

1961 and operated the type (including F.3s and T.4s)

until September 1974. The unit’s operational base was

Wattisham.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 51

Above: A spectacular photo of F.2 XN787/M

of 19 Squadron, circa 1962. via Andy

Thomas

Left: This aircraft – F.3 XR715/E of 111

Squadron – was  rst  own on November

14, 1964 and served with the unit from 1965

to 1969. It was lost in a crash while being

operated by 29 Squadron in 1972.

Above: Aircraft serving with No.3 (Advanced) Squadron of 226 OCU

usually carried ‘2T’ unit markings, as illustrated by XR716.

Right: Lightning F.1A XM181 of the Binbrook Target Facilities Flight in

1974. The Aviation Photo Company

Lightnings T.4 XM970/G, XM971/K and XM972/J of the Lightning Conversion Squadron based at Middleton St George. LCS markings were simply

yellow trainer bands around the wings and rear fuselage and a tail letter. Crown Copyright via Hugh Trevor

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