יהלומים כחולים
No. 92 Squadron’s royal-blue Hunter F.6 team, the RAF’s premier display team of 1961–1962, flying sixteen aircraft in formations of nine and seven.
Blue Diamonds: how the team came to be and what it flies today
No. 92 Squadron takes over
When No. 111 Squadron’s Black Arrows stood down at the end of 1960, the RAF’s premier team role passed to No. 92 Squadron. Sqn Ldr Brian Mercer, previously a flight commander and deputy leader of the Black Arrows, built the new team from late 1960 at RAF Middleton St George, and the squadron moved to RAF Leconfield in May 1961. Its Hawker Hunter F.6s were painted royal blue with a thin white flash along the fuselage and modified to produce coloured smoke from the gun packs.
Sixteen blue Hunters
The team flew sixteen aircraft, splitting during the display into formations of nine and seven. It flew at Farnborough and at the Battle of Britain display at Biggin Hill in 1961 and 1962, and in June 1961 the German press at Mönchengladbach called the squadron “Die Blauen Diamanten”. In October 1962 Mercer handed over to Sqn Ldr Paddy Hine, and from March 1963 the squadron converted to the English Electric Lightning, which ended the Hunter team.
Blue Diamonds in numbers
הצוות
- מַעֲרָך
- 16 aircraft
- Nine-ship and seven-ship sections
- No. 92 Squadron pilots
המטוס
- הוטס
- הוקר האנטר F.6
- Hunter F.6 (1960–1962)
בַּיִת
- מבוסס ב
- RAF Leconfield
- RAF Middleton St George until May 1961
התצוגה
- מטוסים בתצוגה
- 16
- עָשָׁן
- coloured, from the gun packs
- מַדִים
- royal blue with a thin white fuselage flash
Every type Blue Diamonds has flown
| כְּלִי טַיִס | שנים | מִספָּר | פֶּתֶק |
|---|---|---|---|
| הוקר האנטר F.6 | 1960–1962 | 16 |
What Blue Diamonds is known for
- Flew sixteen blue Hunters, splitting into nine and seven (AerobaticTeams.net).
- Displayed at Farnborough in 1961 and 1962 (92 Squadron history).
- Named “Die Blauen Diamanten” by the German press at Mönchengladbach in June 1961 (92 Squadron history).
- A twelve-ship RAF Hunter team shared a display with Iran’s Golden Crown in 1961 (IIAF.net).
Who leads Blue Diamonds
- Sqn Ldr Brian Mercer · Leader 1960–1962
- Sqn Ldr Paddy Hine · Leader from October 1962
Blue Diamonds, year by year
Sqn Ldr Brian Mercer begins building the team at Middleton St George.
No. 92 Squadron moves to RAF Leconfield.
Display at Mönchengladbach; the German press coins “Die Blauen Diamanten”.
Farnborough and Battle of Britain displays.
Sqn Ldr Paddy Hine succeeds Mercer.
Conversion to the Lightning ends the Hunter team.
Everything people ask about Blue Diamonds
What aircraft did the Blue Diamonds fly?
How many aircraft were in the Blue Diamonds?
Where were the Blue Diamonds based?
When were the Blue Diamonds active?
Around Blue Diamonds
כל עובדה, נבדקה
- No. 92 Squadron RAF — Wikipedia
- Chapter Fourteen – The Blue Diamonds — 92 Squadron history
- Blue Diamonds — AerobaticTeams.net
- Golden Crown Year by Year — IIAF.net
אומת בתאריך 2.10.2026.