Last Lightning Loss

[tc2324]

Latest in-flight diorama of the production line depicting the last Lightning loss in service with the RAF.

Flt Lt. Dick Coleman, an RAAF exchange pilot, ejected safely from Lightning F.6 XR769 into the North Sea on 11th April 1988 after an in-flight engine fire. The whole incident was captured in photos by Ian Black and is covered in his book Last of the Lightnings. (Thanks to Ian also for his assistance helping me out with this). Dick was picked up in good order and in good health.

For those who love coincidences, it in interesting to note that Lightning F.6 XR769 entered service with 74 `Tiger` Squadron based at Tengah, Singapore and was lost on a day when it was it was carrying out practice intercepts against two Phantom F-4J(UK)s from 74. Ian who was on the sortie and took the aforementioned photos is the son of George Black who flew Lightnings with 74 in the 1960`s. It can be a funny old world.

This is an Airfix 1/48 scale kit and built for fun to show a unique moment in time for both the EE Lightning and no doubt for Dick Coleman.








Thanks for looking.

[awacsfan]

Very nice, I like it and thanks for the history lesson!

[paddyboy]

Hi TC

Awesome job as always

Well done you

Patrick

[PaulN]

Well done

Great imagination as usual

Cheers

Paul

[Kevin Brewer]

Wow!

[Seahawk 11]

Wow, just fantastic,

Rob

[cj9ru]

Your dioramas are excellent. Captures the action well as usual.

Chris

[JONLITE06]

Great!! I was up at Binbrook the day it was lost........unusually, you could see the ex- blue lightning bolt near the port nose roundel!

[3Greens]

Hi TC, what a great action and historical diarama
I do have recording of the incident and those words from Dick Coleman "I'm going to throw it away, Blacky" resonate even now.
Interestingly the aircraft did pitch up on his ejection and although DC pointed it out to sea, it went into a slow turn back towards the East Yorkshire coastline covered in myriads of holiday caravans... but thankfully it ditched ok. In tradition Dick's flying boots were suitably nailed to the ceiling in the bar of the 'Blacksmith's Arms' at Rothwell near Binbrook along with those of quite a number of other Lightning jocks.
I hope you don't mind my additions below but I photographed the aircraft just a few weeks before on 16th March 1988 after a ground running which had been a troublesome session for the techs. It kinda looks unhappy....







and in happier times on the 11 Squadron line on 3rd December 1986


3Greens

[Gordyflyer]

Audio recording of the incident here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm8fI9hTIqc