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"

TR1A/U-2R operations at RAF Alconbury in the late 80's early 90's.

In 1983, we saw the arrival of the USAF's 9th reconnaissance wing at RAF Alconbury with their TR-1As (Tactical reconnaissance), formerly known as U-2s. 

By October 1993, they had been re-designated as U-2Rs

In 1995, the USAF moved the Dragon Lady South to RAF Fairford, and with the Bosnian war, they moved them even further South in 1996 to the Istres airbase in Southern France, allowing them more time over target. 

Here are some of the images captured during that Alconbury era. 

 80-1065 TR-1B training aircraft arriving at RAF Alconbury was undoubtedly the highlight of my trip.

This airframe was the second of two airframes delivered to the airforce in 1983. Their serials are 80-1064 and seen here 80-1065 shown in the May of '83.

How long was it deployed to RAF Alconbury?

By August 1995, 80-1065 had been re-designated to a U-2S.

 

80-1092 TR-1A preparing to depart RAF Alconbury.

68-10339 Preparing for a mission departure from RAF Alconbury was the airframe used in the US Navy's EPX trails in the early seventies, passing to the 100 SRW in early 1992 and then the 9SRW in 1976.

Sadly, 68-10339 crashed in December 1993 with the pilot's loss during a training flight at Beale Airforce Base. Sad times for all concerned.

Great memories of past times.

Happy days!