RAF flying aerobatic team, The Red Arrows, flew directly over Stourbridge, Hagley, Wordsley and Kingswinford on their way to the Eastbourne Display from the National Memorial Arboretum Flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
The planes were expected to fly over Wolverhampton at 1.08pm before heading to Eckington for 1.14pm, flying over Dudley in between.
However, they actually appeared in the sky an hour ahead of schedule.
Instead, the acrobatic planes were spotted closer to 12.10pm, leaving many residents disappointed to have missed the spectacle.
Debbie Wikins said: “I waited on the Orbital in Cannock from 12.50pm – 1.20pm, based on the original information given so missed them.”
Ste Morries added: “Flown over an hour before schedule!!!! Gutted.”
According to members of the official Red Arrows group on Facebook, which has more than 120,000 members, the flightpath for the Red Arrows was changed at the last minute.
There is a disclaimer that timings and routes followed by The Red Arrows “may change due to weather or other requirements” and it appears, on this occasion, that is what happened.
Although they arrived unexpectedly early, some eagle-eyed residents were still able to catch a glimpse.