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 in a heatwave with temperatures sizzling, the grass had been burned brown by heat and drought, hosepipes banned, etc. The heat of May, followed by the heatwave's return during 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 and still to come, Spanish F-4 Phantoms, French Air Force and Lakenheath F15s all deploying.

At this time, though, it was also hugely busy with its own Squadrons of RAF Tornados, and below, I have selected a day in its operations.

Many of the Tornados were still carrying equipment that featured for 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. Aircraft was W/O 23/04/2013 at RAF Manston.

Happy Days!

Invasione italiana di Tornado at RAF Honington July 1993

The first deployment of twelve aircraft arrived on the twelfth of July 1993, four from 6 Stormo at Gedi and eight from the 36 Stormo at Giola del Colle. They included aircraft from 156 Gruppo Autonomy.

I spent some time up there hoping to catch some of the action.

Sometimes, there is little to say about a great few days out. Obviously, they were more prolific in years gone past. I came across them recently. They are all from slide film, 64 ASA Kodachrome.

I spent some time up there hoping to catch some of the action.

The ground crews ate and drank most evenings in the local Bury St Edmunds public houses. The consensus regarding the food was that the Lasagne was far from how Mama made it...   

MM7068/36-46 and MM55010/36-56, Itaf Tornados arriving from 36 Stormo at Giola del Colle.

MM55010/36-56, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7024/24, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7018/6-02, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf from Brescia/Ghedi.

MM7033/6-03, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf. 

MM7063/63, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM55011/36-55, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf. I believe this aircraft to be W/O 6-6-07.

MM55011/36-55, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7034/6-34, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf.

MM7063/63, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7070/70, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7024/24, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM5011/36-55, Tornado Itaf leads out a three-ship. 

MM7068/36-46, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7062/62, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7018/6-02 Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf from Gedi.

MM7029/6-25, Tornado 6 Stormo Itaf.

MM7068/36-46, Tornado 36 Stormo Itaf.

MM7055/55, this aircraft is not listed as part of the deployment, I presume it, and 66 below are visitors I was unaware of at the time.

MM7066/36-30, Tornado 36 Stormo presumed visitor as the only replacement aircraft was MM7053/53, arriving on 19/7/1993. That may have been to replace MM7056/36-52, the single aircraft I appear to have yet to record.

I had better crack on and produce the photos of the RAF Tornados captured in the same period.

Happy Days!