The Lightning Boys

[Duncan112]

Just reading this book and there is reference in it to a Lightning shooting down a "stolen" C130.

Whilst there are references to this on the net, briefly what happened as related by a Lightning Pilot is that he was on QRA and was told with a few minutes notice that he was being relieved by an American exchange Officer and was to report to the Mess.

A few minutes later he heard a Lightning take off, on its return the Lightning was taxied over to the missile loading bay and then returned to the QRA hanger. The British Pilot was then told to resume his duties.

Anyone shed any further light on this? Googling the tail number of the stolen Hercules 63-7789 produces a lot of supposition.