F-111Ardvark's and B-52 Buff's operating from RAF Fairford 1995 Its Exercise "Salty Hammer".

Trends 11-14 and 21-24 arrived at RAF Fairford from CONUS in June 1995 for the exercise.

 "Salty Hammer" and staying over for "Central Enterprise" that followed. They were from the 27th FW/523 FS at Canon Airbase, New Mexico. All eight aircraft were F-111Fs or, as we would say to each other back then, "Swingers".

 

Serials are 70-2382,70-2391,70-2392,70-2404,70-2406, 70-2414,70-2419, and 73-0715, all "CC" Blue (Crusaders).

Central Enterprise also saw the arrival of Four B-52Hs from the 96BS/2BW at Barksdale.

Their serials are as follows: 60-0013, 61-0013, 61-0019, and 61-0024,

The following collection of transparencies was captured during the deployment. 

F-111F 70-2144 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped at Tucson by HVF West.  

F-111F 73-0715 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2382  "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2391 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 73-0715 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2391"CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2391"CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2392"CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 73-0715 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

A three-ship launch lineup on runway 09.

F-111F 70-2391"CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 73-0715 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2406 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

F-111F 70-2414 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

What a superb-looking aircraft.

F-111F 70-2406 "CC" Blue (Crusaders) 523FS USAF. Status scrapped.

A daily sight as another "Buff" gets airborne from 09.

B-52H 61-0024 "LA" 2nd BW USAF. Status current.

B-52H 61-0024 "LA" 2nd BW USAF. Status current.

It's always nice when they run the entire length of the runway.

B-52H 61-0019 "LA" 2nd BW USAF. Status current.

B-52H 61-0013 "LA" 2nd BW USAF. Status current.

B-52H 61-0013 "LA" 2nd BW USAF. Status current.

B-52H 61-0013 "LA" 2nd BW USAF. Status current.

In quieter moments, some crews found time for a few touch-and-go's. 

At other times, it was jetted in and jets out, high action indeed.

 

A three-ship run and break.

F-111F 70-2392 making a low pass.

U-2 80-1080 "BB" 9RW 

Having been relocated from RAF Alconbury, the U-2s operated from RAF Fairford whilst their new home base was upgraded at the French Armée de l'Air Base BA125 at Istre/Le Tubé in Southern France.

 "Happy Days"

NATO Tiger Meet 1996 Beja Portugal.

Our plane touched down at Lisbon International Airport, and within a short time, we were heading towards Alverca with its OGMA aircraft facility and visiting exotic C-130 Hercules that pass through this facility, many coming from African nations.

Later that evening, we made a night stop in the evocative town of Evora; our hotel had far-reaching views over the Alentejo, with its rolling plains filled with cork and olive trees and regimented rows of vines. At a little restaurant that evening, we learnt that the meat, wine, and cheese had all come from this landscape. The following day, with thick heads, we set out across Portugal's breadbasket to another vital principal town and our destination, Beja.

On 25 May 1996, the  Força Aérea Portuguesa opened its gates to photographers and enthusiasts. I hope the following transparencies portray what an extraordinary day we had.

 An unfortunate moment occurred on the 26th when Hawk XX302 (TI) of 74 (R), Sqn RAF, was written off after being hit by a Portuguese F-16.

Thankfully, the Hawk pilot bailed out safely, and the F-16 landed back with tail damage.

This, however, caused the cancellation of a second Hollaman-based F-117 flying in from Mildenhall to carry out an aerial demonstration; there were three examples at Mildenhall for the Air Fete over the same weekend.

I still think of this as one of the most outstanding and exceptionally well-organised NATO Tiger meets, "What was that year again?" 1996...

Sadly, we will never see this again as serial 1926 T-33A heads a ten-lineup.
Força Aérea Portuguesa T-33A's.

Six T-38As lined up and beyond  New Jersey ANG KC-135E 57-1431 141stARS Tiger Squadron.

Mont-de Marsan Mirage 2000C 80/330-AS French Air Force reminds us of the year.

Outside Beja airbase, the photography was challenging. However, the participants were very rewarding.
Here, 46+45 Tornado ECR JBG32 prepares to land.

"The Last Starfighter" MM6716/53-21 F104.ASA-M 21 Gruppo Italien airforce. Three other Starfighters were present, needing clarification about who owned the title.

37+76 F4F JG74 West German airforce.

503/33-FF Mirage F1B EC03.033 French airforce.

87/33-FR Mirage F1C EC03.033 French airforce.

119 DH82A Tiger Moth  Força Aérea Portuguesa. W/O 10 Dec 2004.

T-37C 2419  Força Aérea Portuguesa, today stored at Alverca.

3480 Do-27A-1, stored at Alochete. 

9218  SE3130, preserved at the base museum, previously registered 75+15.

1335 DHC-1-200 Chipmunk Esq802 active.

1930 T-33A-1-LO Base Museum ex Belgium FT-30. 1979, I photographed FT-28/29, both visiting the International Air Tattoo at Greenham Common. See the link below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2019/04/greenham-common-international-air.html

908 F-5B RNorAF 336 Skv. Today, it is stored at Bodo.

46+45 Tornado ECR JBG32 is one of the best-marked aircraft.

MM6716/53-21 F-104-ASA-M 21Gruppo was photographed from the other side to appreciate the Tiger ducking in and out, as seen in the abovementioned landing photograph.

15244 Alpha Jet A, Ex WGAF 45+18.

15515 A-7P, sadly, today it is scrapped, and the remains were sent to Arranho.

15118 F-16BM Esq 201/301.

XX250 (CS) Hawk T1 100 sqn. RAF.

XX187 (TN) Hawk T1 74 (R) Sqn. Behind XX302 (TI) 74 (R) Sqn before its infamous demise.

ZA934/BZ Puma HC.1 27 (R) Sqn RAF.
  

530/12-YA Mirage 2000B, EC01.012 today it flies as 115-OL EC-02.005.

A small part of the main Tiger Ramp.

                                                                                                                              

19201 Super Lynx MK95 EsqHelMarinha fronting the Força Aérea Portuguesa static ramp and, of course, the B-52H11th BS also visiting for Sunday's public airshow.

11404 TB-30 Epsilon Esq 101. Today, this aircraft is to be seen in a grey scheme.

16502 Casa 212-100A, formerly operated by Esq 502, was scrapped in Tucson (AZ).
  

16524 Casa 212-100B Esq 501, today it is at Sintra with the Museu do Ar.

3706 CeFTB337G Esq 505.

19368 SE316B Esq 552 .

19505 SA330L Esq 751. Today, it is stored at Alverca.

2603 T-38A, anybody travelling through Lisbon International Airport has probably seen this aircraft where it is preserved.

1918 T-33A-5-LO is now at the Monte Real Museum.

1929 T-33A-5-LO. Stored at Beja.

5454 G-91R/3 was also preserved at the Monte Real base museum in its complete Tiger scheme, ex 32+62.

TE-12B-41/79-94 Casa 212 Ala 79 Spaf.

ET207 F-16B Esk 727.

CF-04 SA226T Merlin 21 Sm.

86-0823 HO F-117A 9th FS 49thFW (red) USAF.

86-0823 HO F117A 9th FS (Red) Hollman airforce base. Sadly, due to the Hawk crash, the aircraft to carry out the flying demonstration turned back to Mildenhall, where three examples were based on the Air Fete 1993. They were 81-0797, 83-0807, and 84-0809 (Red).

61-0039 B-52H 11th BS USAF.

Another two aircraft were up at Mildenhall for its Air fete 1993 60-0001 and 60-0062.

15234 Alpa Jet-A. Now W/O ex 41+00.

15237 Alpha Jet-A. Ex 41+18

15229 Alpha Jet A. Rumoured to be a Beja gate guard, ex 40+91. 

Happy Days Indeed!