On 23 October 2024, Mal Grosse, a well-known ex-RAF Hunter, and Buccaneer pilot, and now a talented artist, presented the RAF Club with three paintings of formation aerobatic teams to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Red Arrows. The paintings were of the ‘Yellowjacks’ flying Gnats, the ‘Red Pelicans’ flying Jet Provosts, and the first ‘Red Arrows’ team flying Gnats.

The Yellowjacks had been formed in 1964, and in 1965 their Gnats were repainted Red and became the first Red Arrows Formation Aerobatic Team. The Red Arrows was chosen as the title, for several reasons. The ‘Red’, reflecting the new colour of the aircraft, followed on from the Red Pelicans, and the ‘Arrows’ was a tribute to the first official RAF aerobatic team, the world-famous, ‘Black Arrows’, who flew Hunters, and were famous for a world record 22 aircraft loop at the Farnborough Air Show, a record that stands to this day.

The presentation was hosted in the 601 Squadron Room by Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards, representing the RAF Club Arts and Heritage Committee. In addition to the captivating paintings, Mal also presented medals commemorating the Yellowjacks, signed by the late Henry Prince, a prominent member of both the Yellowjacks and the Red Arrows Gnat teams, who sadly passed away in 2024.

Mal Grosse’s artistic contributions to the RAF Club extend beyond this presentation. He is the talented creator behind the miniature collection of paintings displayed outside the Running Horse, representing a century of aviation history depicting the 220 aircraft operated by the RAF from 1918 to 2018.

We are appreciative to have more of Mal's wonderful paintings displayed within the Clubhouse, honouring the Red Arrows in their diamond anniversary season and celebrating the aerobatic teams that paved the way.