A unique gathering of NATO and partner fighter jets and their transport support aircraft was about to turn a military airbase in a quiet corner of Somerset into a jet-fighter super base. That base was the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton back in June 1994. This mass gathering was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
Air arms from twelve nations, including as far away as Australia, descended into Royal Navy air station Yeovilton to join the massive flypast celebrating this critical historical moment.
F-14B Tomcat 161599/AG103 VFA143.
Looking back through the many slides I had taken at this unique tribute, I chose this image to open with, as it gives a feel of the weather we all endured both on base and alongside the runway approach. F-14B Tomcat 161599/AG103 VF143 heads into another weather front and encapsulates one of the most diverse flypasts ever seen. The weather, as I said, was genuinely awful. Remarkably, it cleared for the Sunday flypast. Fifty years earlier, D-Day had been postponed 24 hours due to the poor weather.
After months of rumour, exaggeration and disbelief, we gathered along the perimeter fence at RNAS Yeovilton with a good idea of what we expected to see.
The Hellenic Air Force was the first air arm to arrive. We were still determining what aircraft type they would actually participate with. It was a great surprise when the four F4E Phantoms came out of the low-hanging mist for their run and break over the airfield. I can still remember the excitement among the gathered photographers and spotters.
Enthusiasts were strewn across the fields on a cloudy Thursday morning as the first F-4E Phantom approached to land.
68-0445 F-4E Phantom 338 Mira Hellenic Air Force.
68-0440 F-4E Phantom 338 Mira Hellenic Air Force.
68-0444 F4E Phantom 338 Mira HAF is about to touch down at RNAY Yeovilton.
Minutes later, Sea Harriers T.4n, XW268/VL-720, and FRS.2, XZ457/VL-714 were getting airborne followed by 100Sqn Hawk T1A XX352. Their mission was to escort the four Slovak Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrums into Yeovilton; obviously, the language problem back then. The Hawk T.1 served as the photo ship.
7501 MiG-29A 1 SLP/1 Letka Slovak Air Force and 9308 perform a pairs landing.
3911 MiG-29A 1 SLP/1 Letka makes a smokey landing.
4644 MiG-23ML 1 SLP/1 Letka The Budweiser marked aircraft. Arriving from the Czech Republic, who could have imagined MiG-23ML Floggers operating out of Yeovilton?
2406 MiG-23ML 1 SLP/1 Letka looks superb as it lands.
1407, Tu-134AK, 61 DLT/6 ZDL, was the support aircraft accompanying the MiG-23S and a single MiG-29 Fulcrum. The Tu-134 is a great-looking aircraft that I saw when it supported the Czech Republic's MiG-21 Lancers on a mission to Cambrai in Northern France.
Slovak Air Force support arrived with 2506 AN-26 2 ZDLP/1 Letka.
No less than nine Canadian Hornets made an imposing sight as they made the break over the
Somerset countryside. Here, 188781/JE-A/9G-A CF-188A 441 TFS with D-Day stripes and codes matching Spitfires that had served the unit when part of the RAF attack force.
188923 CF-188B Hornets 441 TFS RCAF.
188729 CF-188A Hornet 433 TFS RCAF makes a high-speed approach.
188936, CF-188B Hornet, 421/416, TFS RCAF, the second of two B models, prepares for the touchdown.
144610 CE-144A Challenger 420/434 Sqns, an accompanying second aircraft being 144605, were also joined by a CC-130E Hercules 130332 from 435Sqn.
144610 CE-144A Challenger RCAF Departs.
86-0165/LN F-15C Eagle 493rd FS USAF touches down at Yeovilton.
163840/8G UC-12M NAF Mildenhall was lending logistical support to the US. Navy F-14B Tomcats. Seen departing RNAS Yeovilton.
Friday morning brought another highlight when UH-46D Sea Knight 153405/HW-00 from the replenishment oiler USS Kalamazoo, anchored in the Solent in support of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington. It flew a low approach and held over the runway for a few minutes on its way to Devon.
The host's 899 NAS were very busy. Two of their T.4N Sea Harriers were painted in distinctive Tribute marks.
XW268/VL-720 Harrier T.4N 899 NAS RN, taxiing for takeoff.
ZB603/VL-718 Harrier T.4N 899 NAS RN, Taxiing from the opposite side of the runway.
The weather conditions certainly created a challenge for slide photography. On Saturday, the 4th, Yeovilton opened its gates for a photocall. Sadly, once again, the rain was unrelenting.
ZE690/712 Sea Harrier FRS.2 899 NAS, RN.
ZD615/723 Sea Harrier 899 NAS, RN.
At times, the weather helped to intensify the photographs.
ZD612/724 Sea Harrier FRS.2 899 NAS, RN.
XZ457/714 Sea Harrier FRS.2 899 NAS, RN.
91/12-YO Mirage 2000C, EC1/12 French Air Force, prepares to depart Yeovilton midday on Sunday, the 5th of June, for the commemorative flypast.
The crowds had been gathering all morning around the Yeovilton perimeter fence. The launch was due at 12.00hrs. The excitement was palpable as the hour approached, and the jet engines started to whine and roar as Fifty-six jets and spare aircraft readied for taxi.
THE 56 fast jets had to be airborne in an accelerated, precise procession.
Leaving Yeovilton, they tracked East and then North, arriving overhead Calne airfield in Wiltshire at 12.36hrs, where they formed up and headed due South. Ten minutes later, they passed overhead South Sea common, lined with vast crowds and dignitaries from twelve Nations, turning down the Solent and passing over the two Thousand assembled ships and vessels.
96/12-KK Mirage 2000C EC-2/12 French Air Force.
678 and 680 F-16A Falcons, 331SKV Royal Norwegian Air Force; behind them, you can just see the RAAF C-130E Hercules, 37 Sqn.
44 Super Etendard Flottille 11F French Navy lines ahead of a fellow Etendard, quickly followed by the four Greek Phantoms.
68-0445 F-4E Phantom heads the Greek contingent as it lines up for takeoff.
68-0515 F-4E Phantom 338 Mira Hellenic Air Force.
What an Earth-shaking and decisive moment, as non-stop rolling F-4E Phantoms launch. The air was filled with the wonderful aroma of aviation fuel.
Last but not least, 68-0444 hits the heat haze.
4012 MiG-29A 1 SLP/1 Letka, leads the two MiG-23ML Floggers ahead of the four Slovak MiG-29s they were escorted by ZG711/E Tornado GR1T 13 SQN RAF.
2406 MiG-23 lines up, as 4644 taxes alongside. They turned on the heat, and we could feel it, and so did the cameras as the film burned through them, and following them were the F-14B Tomcats, oh boy! The four Slovak MiG-29s still had to line up. This was fast jets on steroids?
7501 MiG-29A Fulcrum enters the runway; I can hardly see to change the film as my eyes are streaming from the aviation fuel. It's pure magic!
Bringing up the rear is the Slovak MiG-29UB 4401, and like its compatriots, it is within seconds of departure, leaving just a black cloud from the reheat. Behind them are the US Navy F-14B Tomcats.
There are better photographs than this one, but four of the six F-14B Tomcats are on their last chance. Two aircraft are from VF-142 'Ghostriders', and two are from VF-143 'Pukin Dogs'. One spare aircraft from each unit makes up the six visiting Jets.
162926/AG-200 F-14B Tomcat VF-142 (Ghostriders) from the USS George Washington.
(Anchored in Stokes Bay).
(Anchored in Stokes Bay).
161422/AG-101 'Pukin Dogs' sits in the sunshine, and 162926/AG-200 'Ghostriders' lines up in the gloom, and that was how difficult those memorable days were to photograph.
Tomcat 161599/AG-103 gave a wide berth to the heat blast from Tomcat 161442/AG-101, as 162926/AG-200 lined up on the runway. Before powering into the air alongside 163217/AG-210.
Four Belgian Air Force F-16A and B Falcons depart above FA-119, bringing up the rear ahead of no less than eight RCAF CF-188A and B Hornets.
Will we ever see this sight again in Europe?
Game on, rolling takeoffs from the eight flying RCAF Hornets. 188781/JE-A/9G-A CF-188A leads them out, the Sun shining even stronger on those iconic D-Day stripes.
188748 CF-188A Hornet 425/439 TFSs RCAF.
RAF Tornados GR1Ts ZG713/G, ZG725/J, ZG727/L, ZG729/M and ZG711/E 13Sqn.
ZG725/J Tornado GR1A 13 SQN RAF. One of five launchings, the fifth acting as a camera ship.
A long way from home, proudly representing Australia 1/6 Sqns RAAF with their F-111C. A8-146 taxis onto the Yeovilton runway, the last aircraft to get airborne in that stunning and diverse flypast.
Before the Jets returned to Yeovilton, they would fly over other significant D-Day locations along the South Coast from Weymouth to Plymouth, then turn around, heading over Cullompton in Devon, and landing at 13.20hrs.
No sooner have we removed yet another roll of slide film from our cameras than the Jets are streaming back, breaking over us for their landing at Yeovilton, the mission accomplished.
FA-106 F-16A 350Sqn recovers to Yeovilton.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force had five F-16A Falcons, four flying and one spare.
J-138 F-16A.
The same applied to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, five F-16 Falcons. One was a B model.
680 F-16A Falcon mission over.
68-0515 F-4E Phantom Hellenic Air Force.
7501 MiG-29A 1SLP/1 Letka with Special Marks.
2406 MiG-23ML Czech Air Force prepares to land.
If there were an award for the best recovery, this would have to be it. Four F-14B Tomcats overhead at fast speed and then break, with the wingmen breaking right and left with perfect timing.
162926/AG-200 VF142/CVW-7 USS George Washington, pleasing the crowds with a shallow approach.
161422/AG-101 VF143/CVW-7 'The Pukin Dogs' USS George Washington
161599/AG-103 VF143/CVW-7 USS George Washington.
A very British moment, and one that will never be seen again?
ZG711/E Tornado GR1T 13 Sqn (Escort to the Czech and Slovak Air Force aircraft).
A complete checklist of the aircraft I observed on this Legendary anniversary celebration.
Happy Days!
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ZG711/E Tornado GR1T 13 SQN (Escort to Czech and Slovak aircraft)
ZG713/G Tornado GR1T 13SQN
ZG725/J Tornado GR1T 13SQN
ZG727/L Tornado GR1T 13SQN
ZG729/M Tornado GR1T 13SQN
ZG750/Y Tornado GR1T 13SQN
XX176/CK Hawk T1 100SQN (Escort)
XX331/A Hawk T1 100SQN (Escort)
XX352/352 Hawk T1 100SQN (Camera ship)
ZG729/AQ Tornado F3 56SQN (V)
ZB615 Jaguar T2 DERA/ETPS (Touch and go)
Royal Navy and Marines
XZ129/ETS Harrier GR3
XW268/VL-720 Harrier T4N 899SQN (50th Anniversary markings)
ZB603/VL-718 Harrier T4N 899SQN (50th Anniversary markings)
XW266/VL-719 Harrier T4N 899SQN
XZ455/VL-717 Sea Harrier FRS2 899SQN/ OEU
XZ457/VL-714 Sea Harrier FRS2 899SQN/ OEU
ZD612/VL-724 Sea Harrier FRS2 899SQN/ OEU
ZD615/VL-723 Sea Harrier FRS2 899SQN/ OEU
ZE696/VL-712.5 Sea Harrier FRS2 899SQN/ OEU
ZE697/VL-715 Sea Harrier FRS2 899SQN/ OEU
XX234/DV Hawk T1 FRADU
XX165 Hawk T1 FRADU
WT744/VL-868 Hunter GA11 FRADU
WV396/VL-879 Hunter T8 FRADU
ZA295/ZU Sea King HC4 707SQN
ZD626/ZY Sea King HC4 707SQN
XX380/A Gazelle AH1 Royal Marines
Royal Australian Air Force
A97-172 C-130E Hercules 37SQN
A8-146 RF111C 1/6SQNs
Belgian Airforce
FA-88 F16A 350SM
FA-106 F16A 350SM
FA-119 F16A 349SM
FB-10 F16B OU
FB-07 F16B
CF-01 Merlin 111A 21SM
Royal Canadian Armed Forces
188729 CF188A 433SQN
188736 CF188A 421/416SQNs
188739 CF188A 441/416SQNs
188748 CF188A 425/439SQNs
188758 CF188A 419/441SQNs
188780 CF188A 410/416SQNs
188781/JE-A/9G-A CF188A 441SQN(D-Day 50th Anniversary Spitfire markings)
188923 CF188B 441SQN
188936 CF188B 421/416SQNs
130332/332 CC-130E Hercules 435SQN
144610 CE144A Challenger 434/420SQNs
144605 CE144A Challenger 434/420SQNs
Czech Republic Air Force
2406/22406 MiG23ML 1SLP/1Letka
4644/24644 MiG23ML 1SLP/1Letka (Budweiser markings)
4012/320401 MiG29A11SLP/1Letka
1470 TU134AK
French Airforce
91/12-YO Mirage 2000C EC-1/12
117/12-YD Mirage 2000C EC-1/12
94/12-KA Mirage 2000C EC-2/12
96/12-KK Mirage 2000C EC-2/12
French Navy
25 Super Etendard 11Fl
44 Super Etendard 11Fl
17 Super Etendard 17Fl
24 Super Etendard 17Fl
50 Super Etendard 17Fl
66 Super Etendard 17Fl
62 N262D 2ES
Hellenic Airforce
68-0440 F4E Phantom 338Mira/117 Pteriga Makhis
68-0444 F4E Phantom 338Mira/117 Pteriga Makhis
68-0445 F4E Phantom 338Mira/117 Pteriga Makhis
68-0515 F4E Phantom 338Mira/117 Pteriga Makhis
Royal NetherlandsAir Forcee
J-001 F16A 314SQN
J-138 F16A 314SQN
J-365 F16A 314SQN
J-142 F16A 314SQN
J-510 F16A 314SQN
Royal NorwegiaAir Forcece
678 F16A 331SKV
680 F16A 331SKV
681 F16A 331SKV
272 F16A 332SKV
302 F16B 332SKV
Slovak RepublAir Forcerce
7501/26375 MiG29A 1SLP/1Letka (Special marks)
3911/32039 MiG29A 1SLP/1Letka
9308/26393 MiG29A 1SLP/1Letka
4401/30531 MiG29UB 1SLP/1Letka
2506 An26 2ZDLP/1Letka
United States of AmeriAir Forceorce
86-0159/LN F15C 493FS/48FW
86-0165/LN F15C 493FS/48FW
86-0166/LN F15C 493FS/48FW
86-0176/LN F15C 493FS/48FW
United States Navy
163217/AG-210 VF142/CVW-7 USS George Washington
162922/AG-203 VF142/CVW-7 USS George Washington
162926/AG-200 VF142/CVW-7 USS George Washington
161422/AG-101 VF143/CVW-7 USS George Washington
161426/AG-106 VF143/CVW-7 USS George Washington
161599/AG-103 VF143/CVW-7 USS George Washington
163840/8G UC-12M
153405/HW-00/HC-6 UH-46D USS Kalamazoo (Plus 1)
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