Lightning Squadrons Second Line and Trials

Squadron
Base
Dates
Types Flown
Picture
60 Maintenance Unit
60 MU
(Maintenance Unit) 
* Lightning Modification Flight (later Lightning Servicing Squadron)
RAF Dishforth
RAF Leconfield
RAF Abingdon
March 1963 to Feb 1964
Feb 1964 to Feb 1966 *
April 1976

P.1B - F.1 - F.2
F.3 - F.6 - T.5
Picture
226 Operational Conversion Unit
226 OCU
No 145 (Shadow Squadron for defence exercises)
RAF Middleton St George
RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall 
June 1963 - April 1964
April 1964 - May 1966
May 1966 - Sep 1974
     F.1 - F.1A - F.3
          T.4 - T.5
Picture
A&AEE
A&AEE
         (Aeroplane and           Armament Experimental   Establishment)
Boscombe Down
Intensive trials carried out by 'A' Squadron (Lightnings would have been here throughout their service career)
   P.1B - F.1 - F.2
     F.3 - F.3A - F.6
    T.4
Picture
Air Fighting Development Squadron
Air Fighting Development Squadron (AFDS)
  RAF Coltishall 
        RAF Binbrook                   
September 1959
October 1962
Absorbed by Central Fighter Establishment (CFE)
P.1B - F.1 - F.1A
F.2 - T.4
Picture
Binbrook Target Facilities Flight
Binbrook Target Facilities Flight (TFF)
RAF Binbrook
1966 to 1973
F.1 - F.1A
Picture
Empire Tests Pilot School
Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS)
Boscombe Down
1966 to 1987
T.4 - XL629
T.5 - XS422 - XS457
Picture
Lightning Training Flight
Lightning Training Flight
(LTF)
RAF Binbrook
October 1975 - April 1987
F.1 - F.3 - F.6
T.5
Picture
Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE)
Farnborough
Various
P.1B - F.3A - T.4
Various other units used the Lightning and these included -

  • BAe - F.3
  • CFE - F.2 - F.3 - T.4
  • De Havilland - P.1B (in connection with Firestreak Missile)
  • Fighter Command Trials Unit (FCTU) - F.1 - F.1A - F.3 - F.6
  • Handling Squadron (Sub Unit Of A&AEE) - F.1 - F.6 - T.5
  • Instant Readiness Reserve Unit (IRRU) - F.6
  • Lightning Augmentation Flight (LAF) - F.3 - F.6
  • Lightning Conversion Squadron /Unit (LCS/U) - T.4
  • Leconfield TFF - F.1
  • Leuchars TFF - F.1 - F.1A
  • Lightning Special Engineering Project Team (LSEPT)
  • MinTech (Ministry Of Technology) - T.5
  • MoA (Ministry Of Aircraft) - P.1B - F.2 - T.4 - T.5
  • MOD(PE) (Ministry Of Defence Procurement Executive) - F.3 - F.6 - T.5
  • Rolls Royce - P.1B - F.2 - F.3
  • T(D)FF Leuchars (Target Duel Facilities Flight) - F.3
  • T(D)FF Wattisham - F.3 - F.6 - T.5
  • Trials Flight - F.6
  • Wattisham TFF - F.1 - F.1A - F.3 - F.6




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