The Lightning was a high performance supersonic interceptor designed to defend Britain against nuclear armed bombers. They began entering service in 1960 and were phased out between 1974 and June 1988.

The first operational version of the Lightning was the F.1.

Only 28 were produced before production moved on to more advanced versions.

Most served with 74 Squadron in the early 1960s before being dispersed to smaller units for other uses.

Many early Lightning squadrons were based at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk near the East Anglia coast. The Target Facilities Flight was formed there in March 1966 using some old Lightning F.1 and F.1As as controlled air targets for the resident fighter squadrons.

This model represents Lightning F.1 XM144 when it was operated by the Wattisham Target Facilities Flight in the late 1960s.

Trumpeter 1/72 kit with Model Alliance decals. Completed in June 2009.