Air Vice-marshal Peter Collins
Exceptional fighter pilot who was instrumental in the development of the supersonic Lightning
AIR VICE-MARSHAL PETER COLLINS, who has died aged 87, had a long career as a Cold War fighter pilot, which included many years associated with the Lightning aircraft.
Collins was already an experienced day and night fighter pilot when he became a member of a five-man team tasked with the introduction into RAF service of the Lightning. The aircraft, with its spectacular rate of climb and performance, offered a major advance in capability compared with previous fighters. Equipped with the latest air intercept radar, it was capable of operations in all weathers.
Collins and his four colleagues joined the Air Fighting Development Squadron based at the Central Fighter Establishment (CFE) in Norfolk in September 1959. This proved to be the beginning of a long association with the fighter capable of flying at almost twice the speed of sound. For the next two years he was involved in the development of the Lightning and its weapon system. At the end of his tour he was awarded the AFC.
His next appointment was to the RAF Handling Squadron at Boscombe Down, where he was responsible for producing pilot’s notes for a number of RAF aircraft, including the first aircrew manual for the Lightning.
After a brief tour at MOD and attendance at the RAF Staff College, Collins resumed his connection with the Lightning when he became the flight commander on No 23 Squadron at RAF Leuchars in September 1966. The aircraft maintained Quick Reaction Alert at 15 minutes’ readiness and aircraft were scrambled on numerous occasions to intercept and escort Soviet bombers entering UK airspace. In February 1967 Collins was given the task of reforming No 11 Squadron with the latest version of the Lightning. During his time as acting CO, the squadron made the first trial flights with external fuel tanks mounted on top of the wing; on one occasion he completed a sortie of eight hours.
After a tour at HQ Strike Command as wing commander air defence, Collins was appointed to command No 111 “Treble One” Squadron, operating the Lightning from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk. At the end of his tour he was assessed as “an exceptional flyer and squadron commander”.
Peter Spencer Collins was born in Dover on March 19 1930 and educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, and Birmingham University, where he read History. He began his flying career with the University Air Squadron in 1948 before doing his National Service in 1951 at the height of the Korean War.
After completing his training as a pilot he remained in the RAF and flew Meteor day fighters with No 63 Squadron before converting to Venom night fighters. He joined No 141 Squadron at Coltishall and in 1957 the squadron became the second to convert to the Javelin.
In April 1958 he joined the Allweather Development Squadron at the CFE as a trials pilot involved in the tactical development of the air-to-air missile-armed Javelin. In 1959 he transferred to the Air Fighting Development Squadron to introduce the Lightning into service.
At the end of his time in command of No 111 Squadron in July 1972 he was promoted to group captain and returned to HQ Strike Command, responsible for air defence. His role was to review the potential vulnerability of the Lines man mediator air defence ground environment. The report of his team led to the implementation of a new organisation for the UK Air Defence Ground Environment.
In the spring of 1974 Collins was appointed the station commander at RAF Gütersloh in Germany, the home of two Lightning squadrons, two helicopter squadrons and two squadrons of the RAF Regiment. Situated near to the Inner German Border with the Warsaw Pact, the Lightning squadrons were tasked with QRA and air defence of the region with other Nato allies.
After attending the year-long course at the Royal College of Defence Studies, Collins was appointed the Senior Air Staff Officer at No 11 (Fighter) Group in March 1981. The Lightning was still in squadron service but it shared its air defence role of the UK with Phantom squadrons. Collins was also to see how his proposals for the air defence ground environment had been implemented and developed.
His final tour before retiring in 1985 was as Director General Communications, Information and Organisation in MOD. He was appointed CB in December 1984.
After leaving the RAF, Collins worked for Marconi Defence Systems in a number of senior roles. He maintained a close link with his squadron associations and was the honorary president of the Essex Wing of the Air Training Corps and vicepresident of the Chelmsford Branch of Royal Air Force Association.
Peter Collins was a strong, kind, thoughtful man with unshakeable integrity. He listed his interests as golf, music and gardening but his greatest love was his family.
He married Sheila Perks in 1953. She died in 2000; their three sons and a daughter survive him.
Air Vice-marshal Peter Collins, born March 19 1930, died April 17 2017