Reference

74 Squadron was the first frontline unit to operate Lightnings, in 1960. It had moved onto the F.3 version from April 1964, moving to Leuchars from Coltishall in the same year. It received the longer-range F.6 version from August 1966 and it was the first unit to receive the definitive F.6, which could be fitted with overwing tanks (260 gallon ...

Twice the speed of sound was exceeded in November 1958. Only a month before the aircraft had been named "Lightning", and in July 1960 deliveries began to No.74 Squadron RAF as the Lightning F.1. 74. Squadron was the first of eight RAF active units which operated Lightnings in the following 28 years. In Great Britain, all Lightning squadrons ...

No 74 'Tiger' Squadron had many firsts to its name during the Lightning era. When it flew its Lightning F6s to a new home at RAF Tengah in Singapore, it made the type's longest deployment to date — and some memorable years in the Far East were to follow Thirteen Lightning F6s, 17 Victor K1 tankers, more than 6,700 miles.