Leuchars Battle of Britain Airshow 1966

[Jabba]

The best bits for me are the Javelins and the 74 Squadron Lightnings. The topside MK.3 Shack flypast is brilliant too.
https://youtu.be/UOuMZkNXif4

[Mike]

Wow! That's a great little video, it was my second Leuchars show as I'd already been to the 1965 one, the first time I ever saw a Phantom too!

[Unknown74]

Must get my DeLorean Time Machine ready have to go back to that show. Two questions;

1) Where the Red Jet Provosts the RAF Display Team at the time? Were they really the Red Pelicans?

2) The 3 Dominies, was that a display team or did they just appear?

Also those Javelins looked big beasties looked really heavy and what was the US Phantom at the start was it a recce bird?

[Nighthawke]

From memory and a bit of research - The Red Pelicans were the RAF team until the Red Arrows formed in 1965 then the Peicans reduced to four aircraft for displays. They continued until 1973.

Not aware of a Dominie team.

RF-4C recce version as you suggested.

Javelin certainly was a large aircraft. Never saw one fly but my old school bus drove past the gate guard at RAF West Raynham twice every day as well as my ATC unit based there and my father working on the camp. All in all very well acquainted with it!

[Mike]

The Dominies were based at either Stradishall or Manby at the time, they just did a few flypasts together and then (if memory serves me correctly) landed again, the red JPs were indeed the 'Red Pelicans' team and the RF-4C was one of the first Phantoms to be delivered to the 10th TRW at Alconbury.

[Unknown74]

Cheers for that Mike, thank you very much.

[vampiredave]

What wonderful memories? We sent four Jet Provosts of the Red Pelicans team for the show, which was led by Wg Cdr Eddie Edmonds (a real gent!). I have a feeling that the other JP team present was either from Linton-on-Ouse (Gin Section) or Manby (RAF College of AW Formation Aerobatic Team) I can't remember at the moment it's an age thing? The superb display by the Hunter from Chivenor was flown by Stu Lumsden, while the 'stars' of the show (for me, at least) was the swansong exhibition by the Javelin's of 228 OCU, led by Sqn Ldr George Beaton. Happy daze!

[vampiredave]

It appears that I have three private messages in my Inbox following my last post, which for some reason, I am unable to open? Because I do not wish to appear to be rude by not responding, can I suggest that you PM me for a possible reply?

[Mike]

It sounds like your Inbox could be full as the maximum is 50 messages in each folder, if so, then delete some messages.

[vampiredave]

There are only five old messages in my Inbox

[Mike]

In that case it sounds like whoever sent them has deleted them.