Reference

The History of 74 (Fighter) Squadron. ... but stood up again immediately at RAF Valley with the BAe Hawk which it flew until September 22nd 2000 in the training role. 74 has always played a pivotal role in the story of the RAF, introducing new aircraft into operational service (such as the Lightning), developing new tactics (as did Sailor Malan ...

One of the most prestigious fighter Squadrons in the history of the Royal Air Force was 74 Squadron, known as the 'Tigers'. However, three South Africans played a key role in forging the great fighting legacy of the Tigers, two of them commanded the squadron, one during World War 2 and one took the squadron into the jet age.

After a dormancy of 13 years, No. 74 (Fighter) Squadron was reformed at RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, on 19 October 1984, with ex-US Navy McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom IIs (designated as the F-4J(UK) in RAF service).[13] These were purchased by the RAF as a stop-gap measure to replace those of No. 23 (F) Squadron that had been sent to the Falklands after the war.[30] The 15 F-4Js cost $125 million, and underwent a full rework at the Naval Air Rework Facility at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego.[30] Here they received the ability to use the Skyflash air-to-air missile, their radar was upgraded, and were brought up to a spec similar to the more definitive F-4S; they were also sprayed in a distinct duck egg blue colour.[30] The F-4J(UK)s were then ferried across the Atlantic in three different batches supported by Vickers VC10s, with the last group arriving on 5 January 1985.[6] Late April and early May 1985 saw 'the Tigers' participate in their first major exercise; Exercise Priory, which sought to test UK air defences.[31][32][33] July 1985 saw a deployment out to RAF Akrotiri to undergo an Armament Practice Camp (APC); which also saw them carry out dissimilar air combat training (DACT) with Grumman F-14A Tomcats of VF-41 and VF-84 (from USS Nimitz).[34] The squadron's operational capability was declared on 31 December 1985.[35]