Spanish Air Force F-4Cs arriving at RAF Honington 1993

When this squadron exchange with 13 Sqn occurred in June 1993, most of us were informed of the arrival times for the two RF-4C Phantoms of the EdA.

With the public relations officers at RAF Honington also up to speed and knowing there would be a gathering of enthusiasts alongside the approach fence (incidentally, it was just a timber post-and-rail fence in those days). We all appreciated the PR officers for their updates on the Spanish arrivals. When the Phantoms entered the airfield circuit, a considerable crowd was gathered in the farmer's field. The farmer himself had also ensured that no one walked on his crop.

The air was charged with excitement as we all took up our positions. I used my Canon F.2.8 300mm for a longer panning frame. 

CR-12-47/12-56 RF-4C Phantom ALA 12 Torrejon EdA.

CR-12-47/12-56 RF-4C Phantom of the EdA directly approaches RAF Honington.

CR-12-47/12-56 RF-4C Phantom EdA.

CR-12-47/12-56 RF-4C Phantom EdA prepares to land at RAF Honington.

CR-12-45/12-54 RF-4C Phantom EdA approaching RAF Honington June 1993.

CR-12-45/12-54 RF-4C Phantom EdA is about to touchdown at RAF Honington.

Local, ZA613/N Tornado GR.1 RAF.

91-0328/LN F-15E 494th "Panthers" 48th Fighter Wing USAF.

After the Spanish Phantoms had landed, I headed back down the road to Lakenheath. Much was the same as today. Only thirty years have passed?

91-0319 F-15E Today flies with the 391st Fighter Squadron MO.

The best arrival of the afternoon.

057 (67-057) DHC-6-100 Royal Norwegian Air Force.
Fate to the civil Reg as N157KM.

66-0037/UH F-111E (Aardvark), 20th TFW, USAF overshooting.
Finally scrapped 5th Jan 2012.

37+57 F-4F German Air Force, late afternoon arrivals.

Happy days!

RAF Lakenheath closed, F-15s deployed to RAF Honington 1995

 RAF Lakenheath had closed for runway works, with many of the based F-15s being transferred to RAF Honington.

By early July 1995, Britain was gripped by a heatwave, with temperatures sizzling, the grass burned brown by heat and drought, and hosepipes banned. The heat of May, followed by the return of the heatwave in July, turned East Anglia into a scene more reminiscent of central Europe.

Honington also offered a change of backdrop and the closeness of airfield activity, all gratifying, albeit that the F-15s had not been at RAF Lakenheath that long as to have become commonplace by 1995.

While scanning these slides, I found it incredible that I captured them twenty-four years ago!  

It could have been today at Lakenheath?

86-0171/LN and 86-0166/LN "48 OG" F-15Cs 493rd "Grim Reapers" line up on runway 27.

91-0327 F-15E 494th Squadron "Panthers" 48th Fighter Wing USAF.

Run and break.

91-0313/LN "3rd AF" and 91-0327/LN F-15E 494th "Panthers" Pairs landing runway 27.

86-0171/LN F-15C 493rd "Grim Reapers."

91-0313/LN "3rd AF" F-15E 494th "Panthers."

91-0303/LN F-15E 492nd "Bolars."

86-0182/LN F-15D 493rd "Grim Reapers"  aircraft W/O 8/10/14.

86-0154/LN F-15C 493rd "Grim Reapers."

86-0166/LN F-15C 493rd "Grim Reapers."

91-0602/LN F-15E 494th "Panthers."

91-0313/LN "3rd AF" F-15E 494th "Panthers."

86-0178/LN F-15C 493rd "Grim Reapers" approaches Runway 09.

86-0171/LN F-15C 493rd "Grim Reapers."

91-0332/LN F-15E 492nd "Bolars."

91-0604/LN F-15E 493rd "Panthers."

86-0182/LN F-15D 493rd "Grim Reapers" aircraft W/O 8/10/14.

91-0332/LN F-15E 492nd "Bolars."

91-0315/LN F-15E 494th "Panthers."

91-0604/LN F-15E 494th "Panthers."

86-0154/LN F-15C 493rd 'Grim Reapers."

All the aircraft here, except 86-0182 F-15C, were still active with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath until 2022.

Happy Days!

A Tornado Mecca RAF Honington in the early Ninties.

In the early nineties, RAF Honington was a super base with many deployments, as I have previously published: Italian Tornados, Spanish F-4 Phantoms, French Air Force, and Lakenheath F-15s all deployed there.

During this time, it was also hugely busy, with its own 13 Squadron, 15Res, and 27 Squadrons all operating the Tornado, and below I have selected a day from its operations.

Many of the Tornados were still carrying equipment used during Desert Storm.

I hope you will enjoy a bustling past.

ZA563/TC Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA554/TR Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA606/F Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA559/TB Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA608/TK Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA447/JH Tornado GR.1 27 Sqn.

ZA490/JM Tornado GR.1 27 Sqn.

ZA450/JC Tornado GR.1 27 Sqn.

ZA473/JJ Tornado GR.1 27 Sqn.

ZG750/Y Tornado GR.1A 13 Sqn.

ZA399/AJ-G Tornado GR.1 617 Sqn.

ZA613/N Tornado GR.1 617 Sqn.

ZA399/AJ-G and ZA556/AJ-C Tornado GR.1s 617 Sqn.

ZA563/TC and ZA608/TK Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA563/TC Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn rolling.

ZA595/TV Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn.

ZA563/TC Tornado GR.1 15 Res Sqn prepares to land back at RAF Honington.

ZA367/AJ-Y Tornado GR.1 617 Sqn makes a practice arrestor landing.

ZD704 BAe125 CC3 visits Honington. The aircraft was W/O 23/04/2013 at RAF Manston.

Happy Days!