page_title: No. 74 Squadron RAF
section_title: Meteors, Hunters and Lightnings
hierarchical_section_title: No. 74 Squadron RAF / History / Post-War / Meteors, Hunters and Lightnings
caption_attribution_description: English: 74 Squadron Gloster Meteor F.8 based at RAF Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, visiting RAF Hooton Park, Cheshire
context_page_description: Number 74 Squadron, also known as "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger-head motif, was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s, and then trainers until its disbandment in 2000. It was the Royal Air Force's member of the NATO Tiger Association from 1961 until the squadron's disbandment, it has since been replaced by No. 230 Squadron.
  Forming in 1917 as No. 74 Squadron, the unit began life as a training squadron. Sent to the Western Front in 1918 as No. 74 Squadron, the unit quickly developed a fierce reputation during the First World War due to its pilots having an aggressive 'Tiger' like spirit. With many aces amongst its ranks, Mick Mannock, Taffy Jones and Sydney Carlin, No. 74 Squadron managed 225 victories in only 7 months at the Front. Disbanding shortly after the war, 'the Tigers' returned during the 1935 Abyssinia Crisis, being reformed by the combination of numerous squadron detachments who were aboard a troopship heading to Malta. In the Second World War, No.
context_section_description: Upon arrival back to England, No. 74 (F) Squadron converted to their first jet aircraft – the Gloster Meteor F.3, being based at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire. The Squadron soon moved to RAF Bentwaters before finally settling at RAF Horsham St Faith in August 1946. While here, as one of the first adopters of the Meteor F.3, the Squadron formed the first all jet fighter wing with No. 616 Squadron and No. 504 Squadron. 'The Tigers' had a brief stay at RAF Lübeck between July and August 1947. From December 1947 onward the Squadron began to re-equip with Meteor F.4s completing conversion by March 1948. In October 1950 the Squadron received the much improved Meteor F.8. From 1954 onward the Squadron's Meteors began to be camouflaged in Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey, this coincidentally marked the return of "tiger stripe" markings on the Squadron's aircraft – something not seen since the Gloster Gauntlets. After 12 years of flying Meteors, No. 74 (F) Squadron converted to the Hawker Hunter F.4 in March 1957. The Hunter F.4s wouldn't be operated for long as the Squadron started to re-equip with Hunter F.6s in November 1957 with the Hunter F.4s being phased out by January 1958.
  On 8 June 1959, the Squadron, under the command of Squadron Leader John "Johnny" Howe, moved to RAF Coltishall for re-equipment with the English Electric Lightning F.1 in June 1960; this was the first Squadron in the RAF to receive the Lightning. In 1962, No. 74 (F) Squadron formed an aerobatic display team – 'The Tigers', replacing No. 92 Squadron's Blue Diamonds as the RAF's official display team. On 2 March 1964, the Squadron moved up to RAF Leuchars in Scotland before getting the Lightning F.3 in April. While based at RAF Leuchars, No. 74 (F) Squadron held their first Tiger Meet between 5 and 9 July 1966, having joined the NATO Tiger Association at its inception in 1961. 'The Tigers' upgraded to Lightning F.6s in November 1966, with the last Lightning F.3s remaining up until January 1967. The Squadron moved to RAF Tengah in Singapore in June 1967, where it operated alongside No. 20 Squadron, which flew Hunters, and No. 81 Squadron, which flew Canberra PR.9s. In June 1969 while based in Singapore, four Lightning F.6s flew a distance of 2,000 miles from RAF Tengah to Darwin, Northern Territory in Australia, setting the longest non-stop flight made by a Lightning. In 1971 the Squadron flew its Lightning F.6s to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus to hand them over to No. 56 (F) Squadron, who were flying Lightning F.3s, and then disbanded on 25 August 1971.
caption: No. 74 (F) Squadron Gloster Meteor F.8 (WL164) wearing "Tiger Stripes" at RAF Hooton Park, 1955.
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