Battle of Britain Anniversary RAF Coltishall 1961 BAE Lightning 74 Squadron

This my tribute to my Late Uncle Vaughan Radford the lightning Pilot interviewed in the video. Sadly he lost his final fight with Pancreatic Cancer many years ago.
Battle of Britain Memorial Anniversary preparations at RAF Coltishall 1961
Here's a link to his obituary which contains many funny stories of his time on lightnings in the RAF and His time working with the Saudi's.
74sqdn.co.uk/in-memoriam-farew...
Original credits go to East Anglia Television.

[@maxwellfan55]

Wonderful film. Another reminder of the efficiency and excitement of growing up on an RAF station which always felt like a big family. In memory of my dad, W.O. Nicholls RAF who served from 1944 and did his full term till the early 1970's.

[@user-th5se8en2j]

Thank you so much for uploading this. My Dad, Jim Gilray came across this purely by chance earlier today. Imagine his surprise to see himself recovering the lightning brake chute. He joined up as a boy at 16, was 19 when this was filmed and celebrates his 80th birthday later this year.

[@TomEagles]

Nice :) Glad he found it!

[@meertenwelleman6249]

This is exceptional footage, ladies and gentlemen, please show your appreciation!

[@grahamrsnowdon5877]

I was a close neighbour of Vaughan's (he was a year or two older than me) when our respective families lived in Ellers Avenue, Bessacarr, Doncaster.

[@TomEagles]

Hi Graham, thanks for the comment, hope the video was enjoyable, this was three years before I was born. Jill lives in North Devon now besides Saudi, Devon was their home during his Post RAF service time.

[@LarvaeLightening]

Thank you so much for uploading, what a privilege to finally see such rare footage of the legendary Vaughan Radford. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories from my grandfather who was good friends with him during his RAF years. I’ve always wondered what Jill looked like too.

[@tiffcat1100]

@@LarvaeLighteningI have a photo somewhere of the family. Vaughan very kindly gave us a painting afternoon c1974 in Al Khobar/Dhahran; we loved it and the theme was a jungle by night. Jill must have been in UK with the family at the time. Will be sorting through photos this autumn/winter. (Future me: I didn’t!) Vaughan did some fab cartoons & sketches which grace several walls of my father’s home (I took photos of those too, being an archivist at heart!).

[@TomEagles]

@@tiffcat1100 sorry I have only just seen this reply, any chance you could get some scanned and emailed to me if at all possible?

[@tiffcat1100]

@@TomEaglesCan you send me your email address?

[@nervo6321]

Fantastic video

[@TomEagles]

Thanks! 😃

[@meertenwelleman6249]

Who is the presenter? And 'pop' ofcourse.

[@tiffcat1100]

The charming & fascinating Vaughan Radford! ❤ (5:30)

[@TomEagles]

Yup taken way too young, was my hero growing up, the best Uncle anyone could wish for.

[@tiffcat1100]

@@TomEagles They & my parents were good friends in UK & in Saudi Arabia. There are those who aspire to climb the ranks & those who want to fly (& keep flying!) ;)

[@TomEagles]

Vaughan was too unconventional to climb the ranks. His Obituary has some crazy stories from his time in Saudi, link is in the Description of the Video@@tiffcat1100

[@tiffcat1100]

@@TomEagles I read it one day but could do with a re-read. Would love to know more of your recollections of him :) ps have re-read it, especially love the yellow beetle story! 🪲

[@jackplug9586]

I can see the airfield from my bedroom window. Worked on the camp for several years as a “Civvi”, (early 1990s-closure 2007), enjoyed it very much indeed, the RAF personnel were wonderful. Still miss the Jaguars flying over the house.

[@bertiewooster3326]

The old 1960s RAF frontline pilot combat ready age 23.The modern RAF front line pilot 30years old due to appalling training system and dreadful leadership .