Lightinings Binbrook 1976-1980

[PCR1965]

Hello all has anyone got a list of the Lightnings that were based at Binbrook from 1976-1980 as I visited there regularly. As my school I went to wasn't far from the based I possibly saw 25+ different aircraft intact all that were based cheers all Paul

[Nighthawke]

Sorry can't help but the fleet would almost certainly have changed over the years so no way of knowing what you saw.

[Mike]

There were many more than 25 Lightnings based at Binbrook during those 5 years, probably nearer 50 (or even 60) in total. Binbrook was the hub of Lightning activity during that period and every useful airframe was based there, many were in the hangars being robbed of spare parts to keep those with lower airframe hours in the air.
As Nighthawke says, sadly there's no way of knowing which ones you saw.

[rh226]

I may have miscounted (very) slightly, but I make it around 84 Lightnings based at Binbrook in that period, including the decoys and gate guard.

I logged 75 at the 1982 Open Day there.

[Mike]

Looks like I seriously underestimated when I said 50-60!

Here's a couple of shots that I took of the decoys that I took in 1987, a terribly sad sight to see (sorry about the quality) :-

[Nighthawke]

(sorry about the quality)

So am I - dreadful condition for Lightnings! Never mind the image quality - they're nostalgia.

[rh226]

Nice to see the two F.1As XM181 and XM183 still there.

[Ferrari]

Now that's very interesting.

My first ever visit to an RAF airfield was here on 3rd August 1985 and recorded 3 decoy Lightnings.

Long shot - which of these 3 would they be?

Regards

Ferrari

[JAWS]

Now that's very interesting.

My first ever visit to an RAF airfield was here on 3rd August 1985 and recorded 3 decoy Lightnings.

Long shot - which of these 3 would they be?

Regards

Ferrari

From BARG

In January 85 the following were still present on field ( All with no markings apparently ) :

DECOYS


XM181 (8415M) F.1A
XM183 (8416M) F.1A
XP695 (8808M) F.3
XS418 (8531M) T.5
XS423 (8532M) T.5
XS449 (8533M) T.5
XS454 (8535M) T.5

DUMP

XP761 (8438M) F.3
XS450 (8534M) T.5
XM969 (8592M) T.4 ( Burnt )

[plmc135]

They were still present at that unforgettable "Farewell to the Lightning" show in August 1987

[Vulcanone]

And scrapping commenced shortly afterwards. replaced with the first true disposals.

As it was also my local. I can add that they stripped any useful items when jets were rotated into/while in through storage, this was to even out the airframe FI usage. They occasionally took some bits off the decoys.

[Mike]

I've checked my logs and the photos that I posted above were actually taken on 11/05/87

They were :-

XM181
XM183
XP695
XP741 (unconfirmed)
XR752
XS418
XS423
XS449
XS454

None of this has anything to do with the original request though!

[Ferrari]

Great responses, thanks - I wonder why I only had three written down? I was 11 at the time and without binoculars or a camera.

Regards,
Ferrari

[Vulcanone]

Mike

The 5th T.5 was XS450.

The base did move them around every now and then. Sometimes for major UK/NATO exercises, or even on one occasion for the local and base emergency services disaster exercise

[Mike]

XS450 was noted on the dump over 2 years before I took my photos, see STEVIEJAWS's post above.

[rh226]

But XS450 was still a decoy in 1982 at the Open Day.

The difference between then and 1985 was that XS450 had moved to the dump and XP695 (which was in store in 1982) had moved in with the decoys.

[Vulcanone]

Well they were playing musical chairs with it ;-) The only one they didn't move regularly was the rather crispy XM969, I did watch them torch it a fair few times.

Anyway it was back on the decoy line and not on the dump during the airshow in 87

BAR AU570/1987

As I said they moved them around regularly... (But then what the hell would I know being a local) ?

[plmc135]

XP741 was with 5 Sqn as AR in August 1987.

[Vulcanone]

And along with AQ/XR716 it was Jon Fynes display jets for the final year of Lightnings... Crikey was it that long ago!!

[Vulcanone]

PCR1965

Further to the is it on the dump or is it not on the dump saga. This website has the Lightning serials that might help.

http://www.ukserials.com/

They also have a list of yearly accidents which might help