Coronet Havoc F-117 Stealth jets deploy to Gilze-Rijen 1993.

Central Enterprise 1993 Exercise was again in full swing, and we were back on the road. It was June 1993, and our stereo had blasted out music from bands like New Order, Stone Temple Pilots and Beyond to Shaggy and the Cure as we sped towards the Netherlands; how good could life be? A chance of blue skies?

This Central Enterprise was unique as it would involve F-117As from the 49th FW/415FS Holloman AFB that would be deployed to Gilze-Rijen AFB. We also had the time to take in a couple of top air shows, that of Eindhoven, which incidentally was celebrating the  80th anniversary of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht in the Netherlands and Koksijde in Belgium. 

Not forgetting, of course, that incredible range of beers that we had sampled just for the scientific Knowledge, and those "Moules and Frites", sorry back to the planes...  

"STOP RIGHT THERE"

This was unlike anything we had ever witnessed before. On arrival, it was total chaos; thousands of people descended on Gilze-Rijen. The road under the approach is called the Langenbergseweg; the police seemed to have lost the will to control the massive crowds and keep this road open for traffic, diversions having been hastily arranged.

 The mass of humanity had witnessed the stealthy F-117s from the 49th FW arrive in the Netherlands. None of us was disappointed as just after eight pm, we had four of the black jets landing and followed by another four; this only added to the crowd's excitement. even for us enthusiasts, it was 

an exhilarating moment.

"Coronet Havoc" saw the arrival at Gilze-Rijen of Eight F-117As from the 49FW/415FS.

Deployed between the 8th of June 1993 and the 7th of July 1993.

81-10797,83-0807,83-0808,84-0812,85-0830,85-0836,86-0823,86-0839. 

Arriving as Clan 51-54, 61-64.

  

 The evening missions were to continue with excitement amongst the visiting hordes more likely to be seen at a soccer match than watching military aircraft; there were families with their evening picnics and an air of expectation and excitement during those warm evening missions.

Due to the proximity of the Langenbergseweg road with Gilze-Rijen's runway, there are traffic lights to stop the traffic as low landing aircraft approach the runway for landing. With the arrival of recovering aircraft, people swarmed onto this road, and the police, with their motorbikes, formed barriers to hold back the groups of spectators. At times, the aircraft disappeared into the trench of humanity, all so excited by this alien-looking stealth.  

"Clan 54" 85-0830 F-117A "Black Assasin" launching.

83-0807 F-117A 49thFW/415FS USAF

86-0839 F-117A, 49thFW/415FS USAF, from Holloman Airbase, New Mexico.

"Clan 62" 83-0808 " Thor" F-117A 49th/415FS USAF, Holloman AFB.

"Clan 51" 83-0807 "The Chickenhawk" F-117A  49th/415FS USAF, Holloman AFB.

"Clan 61"84-0812 F-117A 49FW/415FS USAF.

"Clan 63" 86-0839 "Midnight Reaper" F-117A, 415FS, USAF.

"Clan 51" 83-0807 F-117A, 49FW/415FS USAF.

"Clan 51" 83-0807 F-117A, 49FW/415FS USAF mission complete.

"Clan 64" 85-0836 "Christine" F-117A USAF.

C-8 Fokker F-27 300M Troopship 312 sqn is approaching from its home base at Eindhoven and looking good in the evening light.

Can you believe F-117A's arriving at Gilze-Rijen?

"Clan 63" 86-0839 "Midnight Reaper" F-117A, 49th FW/415FS, USAF

Mission over.

83-0807 F-117A shutting down.

"Clan 51" 83-0807 F-117A USAF 49FW/415FS USAF mission complete.

The next stop for us is Eindhoven and the 80th anniversary of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht.

Happy Days, Indeed.

Coronet Bullet and Coronet Shooter 1990 deployments to Gilze-Rijen.

Back on the road, we were heading across the channel for the Netherlands in the Transit (White) van. It was 1990, and the European exercise Central Enterprise would involve 24 F15A/Bs from the 49TFW/7th TFS and 8th TFS from Holloman AFB, all temporarily based at Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands. On top of that, the Koksijde airshow coincided not far away in Belgium.

Coronet Bullet aircraft arrived at Gilze-Rijen AB on the 12th of June 1990 with a couple of diversions to Soesterberg AB.

This first wave of F15A/B is arriving as Devon 11-16, 21-26, all tail-coloured blue from the 49TFW/7TFS 'HO.' Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
  

They consisted of F15A 77-0078,86(multi) 89,91,96,97,99,100,102,148,152, F15B 77-0159 'HO'. 

77-0078 'HO' F-15A (multi) seen touching down at Gilze-Rijen.

I had to include this slide as the guy with the jeans and hair could have been me then. I'm as bold as a Coot today; guess, as they say, you win some and lose some?

Coronet Shooter aircraft arrived on the 14th of June and departed on the 11th of July.

77-0088 'HO' F15A. The 8TFS planes all came calling Konag 51-16, 21-26.

They consisted of F15A's 76-0064, 77-0081, 88,89,114,118,119,120,142,144,149,151.

All aircraft were 49thTFW/8TFS "HO" (Yellow)

77-0148 F-15A 49 TFW/7 TFS 'HO' a Coronet Bullet aircraft.

The weather was not good during our week, but the jets kept coming as the missions continued.

76-0088 F-15A 49TFW/8TFS 'HO' was deployed in the Coronet Shooter exercise.

77-0119 F15A 'HO' 8TFS Coronet Shooter.

Airbrake up 77-0078 F-15A 'HO' 7TFS Blue.

Once again, the weather was dumping as 77-0102 F15A 'HO' 7TFSO lands.

Have you ever noticed how the weather lets you down right at that moment?

77-0086 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS (multi).

77-0148 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS.

77-0078 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS USAF.

77-0078 F15A 'HO' 49TFW/7TFS USAF.

Typical weather.

77-0151 F15A 49TFW/8TFS 'HO' Touchesdown at Gilze-Rijen, Those were the days so low, so close, and so gone...

Any trip in the Benelux Countries would always involve visiting the scrap yard/storage facility at Koksijde airbase close to the Belgian coast.

  

It was always a great place to visit, here Mystere 1VA 191/8-NK and Super Mystere B2 83 in its jungle camo.

Mystere 1VA 191/8-NK formally from the Cazaux French Air Force base.

FX-69 F-104G! Wing Belgian Air Force. Seen behind is the Mirage 5BA's of 3Wing BAF, all cocooned. The complete list consisted of  BA01, 04, 39, 46, 48, 50, 56, 57, 59 and 62.

There was another area on the Eastside that we could not visit for photography, which held a further fourteen F-104Gs, all ex-BAF and one Meteor NF-11 ex-FAF.

The Friday arrivals for the Koksijde airshow produced some lovely RAF Phantoms.

Here XT900/CO Phantom FGR2 228OCU RAF.

XT900/CO Phantom FGR2 228OCU RAF aborts its landing and goes around.

XV582 Phantom FG1 111Sqn RAF.

XV462/G Phantom FGR2 19 Sqn RAFG.

508/2-FE Mirage 2000B EC2/2 FAF.

188746 CF-18A Indian Sqn/1 CAD, CAF.

K-4024 NF-5B 316 Sqn RNAF.

81-0967 A-10A 510TFS/10TFW, there was a pair, the other aircraft being 80-0170.

L-06 PC-7 EMVO, RNAF, was an excellent aircraft in those years.

Finally and sadly missed CS-01 HS 748 21smd/15 wig BAF seen taxiing for departure.

Wow! I have many good memories.

Happy Days!