27th Fighter Wing F-111F Ardvark's and and Bomber Wing B-52 Buff's flying from RAF Fairford in 1995 for Exercise "Salty Hammer" and Central Enterprise 95.

The F-111Fs arrived at RAF Fairford as Trend 11-14 and 21-24 directly from the USA  in June 1995 for the "Salty Hammer" exercise and stayed over for "Central Enterprise" that followed. They were from the 27th FW/523 FS at Canon Air Force Base, 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 a constant stream of jets in and out, which was 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 while their new home base was being 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, the USAF's 9th Reconnaissance Wing arrived at RAF Alconbury with its TR-1As (Tactical Reconnaissance), formerly known as U-2s. 

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

In 1995, the USAF relocated the Dragon Lady South to RAF Fairford. With the onset of the Bosnian War, they moved it even further South in 1996 to the Istres airbase in southern France, allowing for more time over the 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 Air Force in 1983. Their serial numbers are 80-1064 and 80-1065, as seen here in May '83.

How long was it deployed to RAF Alconbury?

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

 

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

68-10339, which was used in the US Navy's EPX trials in the early 1970s, was prepared for departure on a mission from RAF Alconbury. It then passed to the 100 SRW in early 1992 and subsequently to the 9SRW in 1976.

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

Great memories of past times.

Happy days!