Lightnings

[dennis273]

My posts so far have been almost exclusively USAF/USN, mainly as most of my images (apart from the odd day off work) were taken at the weekend when the
Americans were still kind enough to work.

The Royal Air Force mostly knocked off at 5pm on a Friday for Happy Hour after a hard week keeping the Russian hordes at bay, which, given that I had a short and unillustrious career
in the aforesaid organisation between early 1974 and late 1977 was fine by me!

My last posting was at a god forsaken hole named RAF North Coates on the Lincolnshire coast - just up from Donna Nook and our "parent" station for all things administrative was RAF Binbrook
which I visited quite regularly, albeit (unfortunately) sans camera. I did see a lot of Lightnings though as they recovered to Binbrook.

The last of the all British fighters and one of the most iconic aircraft ever - IMHO of course

This week will be a short selection of Lightnings each day, in no particular order....

LightningT5 XS457 LTF Binbrook 26th August 1978


LightningT5 XS456 LTF Coningsby 11th September 1979


LightningF6 XR770 5Sqn Binbrook 16th July 1980


LightningF6 XS935 5Sqn Binbrook 16th July 1980


LightningF6 XS920 11Sqn Binbrook 16th July 1980

[Nighthawke]

Wow-a week of Lightnings. Not sure if I can stand that much indulgence

Fabulous idea and great photos as ever.

Quite fitting given that my work is currently related to storms!

[haveblue]

Lovely stuff. Lightning best looking British fighter for me, shame they went grey in the end too. Liked the natural metal ones but the two tone green/grey was a pretty photogenic scheme too. Like shot number 3 behind the tow truck. Look forward to seeing more.

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, another selection of memories and it's Lightning's. So another classic type and probably one of the most iconic British built military aircraft built.

[Punkrunner62]

A brilliant set of top quality images and scans, thanks.
Cheers.

[F3]

Those were the days when the RAF worked through 'til 1700 hrs on a Fri. Go to almost any base today and they start putting the a/c to bed around 1400hrs! V. nice Frightening shots in perfect weather. What with the height and proximity to the coast it was often v.claggy.

[paddyboy]

Hi Dennis

A week of Frightning shots

My all-time favourite aircraft

Don’t think my eyes will be able to take it, but I’ll try my best

Thanks for posting and bring ‘em on

Paddyboy

[The Phantom]

Super shots of F.6's in flight

[paulh]

Love shot no.3, that is a typical scene from Crash Gate 3 - very happy memories.
Be great to see some missile shots from North Coates if you have any Dennis

Thank you for posting these and looking forward to some more Lightning shots

Paul.

[dennis273]

Love shot no.3, that is a typical scene from Crash Gate 3 - very happy memories.
Be great to see some missile shots from North Coates if you have any Dennis

Thank you for posting these and looking forward to some more Lightning shots

Paul.

Hi Paul,
Thanks

Sadly no Bloodhound shots - I worked in Eng control so was on the technical site with the missiles, but I don't think cameras
would have been looked upon favourably. To be honest I never asked and I got on well with the Boss - an excellent ex Vulcan jockey
named Dave Haller - and he might have said yes, but the Snowdrops would have probably had kittens!

I do regret not asking now though as although my time at North Coates was not a happy time it was sad to see it had been levelled
last time I was up there visiting an old friend. One of my enduring memories of my time in the RAF was watching a Buccaneer attacking
the site and crossing the site at the height of the Radar head!

Dennis

[paulh]

Hi Paul,
Thanks
Sadly no Bloodhound shots - I worked in Eng control so was on the technical site with the missiles, but I don't think cameras
would have been looked upon favourably. To be honest I never asked and I got on well with the Boss - an excellent ex Vulcan jockey
named Dave Haller - and he might have said yes, but the Snowdrops would have probably had kittens!

I do regret not asking now though as although my time at North Coates was not a happy time it was sad to see it had been levelled
last time I was up there visiting an old friend. One of my enduring memories of my time in the RAF was watching a Buccaneer attacking
the site and crossing the site at the height of the Radar head!
Dennis

That's a shame Dennis no photos of the missiles. I know what you mean about the Snowdrops as in the mid 80's just before it was closed our Motor Club at Grimsby
used to organise a car stage rally round there once a year. I remember the missile compound being out of bounds obviously and cameras were not allowed anywhere near the fences surrounding them.
Over the next couple of years the missiles disappeared and we could use the full airfield, which made a great tarmac venue for stage rallies which were then held 3-4 times a year.
Like you say the tarmac has now almost disappeared and a few buildings remain in use by North Coates Flying Club.
It is good to see the light aircraft using a small grass runway but at the same time very sad to see farmers fields covering the rest of the place!

Thank you for the Information Dennis

Paul.

[3Greens]

Great shots Dennis. Living under the approach into Binbrook was the attraction from school days - bike rides in the hols up to the Crash Gate at Thorganby.
Thankfully the Lightnings did perform their last 'display' at North Cotes just before their final departures.
Interestingly some years after the closure of North Cotes I sold a truck to a guy who occupied one of the former missile workshops. He was pleased to joke with me that his pension was the marble flooring throughout - when I queried this he said that it was perfectly flat and any tools that may have been dropped would not create a spark ! And when he need to eventually lift it it was worth a small fortune.
And yes North Cotes is not the Costa Brava
Looking forward to the next instalment

Thanks for posting
Keith (3Greens)

[gonk]

OH dear who did the starter crew on shot 4, and who was in the caravan, stbd missile has still got the noddy cap on,

[CLPSLFBT]

Hi, fantastic pictures of my all time favourite aircraft, great memories, thanks for these.

Cheers Glenn