Corgi AA32311 Lightning F6 – XR770, 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, 1987

BAC Lightning F.6, XR770 joined the RAF on 26th Sept 1966, with No.74 Sqn at Leuchars, Fyfe, followed by service with Nos. 23 Sqn and 56 Sqn. It was then transferred to Binbrook, Lincs in 1980 and flew with No. 5 Sqn as the CO’s aircraft coded ‘A’. Recoded ‘AA’ in 1987, XR770 was the personal aircraft of the CO, Wg Cdr Andy Williams who had the fin painted scarlet initially, but as the end of Lightning operations approached, the entire length of the spine and the wing leading edges were also painted scarlet. In June 2008, XR770 was transferred to Waddington for further restoration and display by 5 Sqn, which is their current base operating the Sentinal R.1.