Spanish F-4 Phantoms on the Bardenas Reales under fire from EdA EF-18Ms.

We were on our way to the Bardenas Reales, Europe's largest desert and a significant bombing range used by the Spanish Air Force. Ground targets on this range include some EdA Phantoms, which I hoped to photograph. 

Regarding these beautiful jets, it would seem rude not to start with a Spanish Air Force RF-4C Phantom, seen on a better day, before we discover the fate of the F-4 Phantom targets. 

What follows is a little sad if you were a fond lover of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom.

CR12-55/12-64 RF-4C Phantom EdA departing the 1996 International Air Tattoo held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. 

CR12-55/12-64 RF-4C Phantom EdA pouring on the power.

CR12-55/12-64 RF-4C Phantom departing for its home base at Torrejon de Ardoz. By 2002, it would become one of the preserved RF-4Cs at Torrejon.

Now we can examine the Bardenas Reales firing and bombing range, and the EF-18Ms unleashing 'hell ' on the ground targets.

The Bardenas Reales is a semiarid nature reserve. In fact, Europe's largest desert, known as the 'Bad Lands,' covers an area of 42,500 hectares. It is an excellent destination for its Flora and Fauna, offering a unique experience of travelling on sand-compacted tracks through a highly weathered landscape. 

With its exceptional Biological importance and highest levels of environmental protection, the last thing you might imagine is a firing and bombing range at its centre.

For the unexpected, the first inkling is the signs.  

  

I have travelled to the Navarra region for many years, photographing the wildlife.

The Spanish Air Force units use the range nearly daily. We have seen Eurofighters, AV-8s, and F-18s, and during the 2015 NATO exercise 'Trident Juncture,' numerous NATO aircraft were seen firing at targets. Most USAFE units, including Phantoms, A-10s, and F-16s, have bombed it.

CR.12-50/12-59 RF-4C Phantom EdA. 

CR.12-41 RF-4C Phantom EdA.

C.14-17/14-11 Mirage F.1M EdA. (Nearly dead but not quite).

CR.12-50/12-59 RF-4C Phantom with a target tank beyond. 

Ancient armoured personnel carriers rusting in the landscape.

The group of six Phantoms lie North of the dummy runway.

In no particular order:- C.12-04/122-02, C.12-09/12-06, C.12-14/122-07, C12-23/12-18,c.12-30/122-15, and C.12-40/12-32.

 

The rear F-4Cs have what appears to be a bomb casing in the gypsum.

Closer view of the front three in the group.

View the runway and the 6xF-4C, 1xRF-4C, and the lone Mirage F-1M.

Shortly after this photo, we had to leave the immediate area for safety reasons.

Sadly, we were stuck looking towards the sun, but it was exciting and noisy when three A-15 EF-18Ms, fully armed, arrived from their Zaragoza airbase.

 

C.15-14/15-01 EF-18M Ala 15, with its Nato Tiger tail and live weapons.

C.15-14/15-01 EF-18M Ala 15, bomb away.

C.15-24/15-11 follows up with its nose-mounted 20mm Gatling gun, working hard.

C.15-14/15-01 returns using the M61A2 Vulcan gun.

C.15-24/15-01 climbs from a staggeringly low flight and rolls over. The inert bomb hooking device is seen underneath.

Heading for the target.

C.15-14/15-01 follows C.15-24/15-11.

C.15-30/15-17 EF-18M EdA climbing for the dive.

It's all over. With the jets departing for their home base, a Griffon Vulture passed through the now silent desert. 

 Twelve F-4Cs and one RF-4C are listed as stored here. 

I need to find out where they are if they are on the Bardenas...

Spanish Air Force RF-4C Phantoms visited RAF Honnington in June 1993 during an exchange visit with 13 Sqn RAF. To see more, use the link below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2019/08/spanish-f-4cs-arrive-at-honington-and.html

Thank you for taking the time.