Anyone interested in military aircraft in the United Kingdom will have visited RAF Mildenhall, the massive airbase operated solely by the United States Air Force, which includes a United States Naval Facility. The opportunities are excellent, whether for their renowned airshow or a day's aircraft spotting or photography.
The following photographs were taken from Farmer John's field, now the campsite, Folly Road and the "hump", as we used to call it.
The following photographs were predominantly taken from the last spot.
65-0966 WC-130H. 53rd WRS USAF Mildenhall 1978: the sighting of a WC-130H back then was often associated with an 'impending' Coronet exercise. They would fly missions over the Ocean following the planned deployment route while monitoring the weather conditions the fast jets would encounter flying to their destination.
141023 C-131F Samaritan USN NAF based at Mildenhall.
141023 C-131F Samaritan USN NAF.
58-0089 KC-135Q 100th ARW based at Beale Air Force Base and used for refuelling SR-71s. It was also capable of refuelling all the aircraft types that A models could, and was often deployed for that reason; consequently, it was not always an indication that an SR-71 was in the area.USAF Mildenhall 1978.
58-0112 KC-135T USAF Mildenhall 1978.
74-1690 C-130H USAF Mildenhall 1978.
116749 CF-116 'CF-5A' RCAF Visits Mildenhall while on attachment at Solingen airbase in West Germany, 1978. The Northrop CF-5As of 434 Sqn RCAF were rarely seen across Europe unless involved in an exercise. Their task in these exercises was usually to reinforce NATO's Northern flank.
French Air Force Beech 18S and a T-33A, probably 14086, parked at the back of Mildenhall airbase. Sadly, I do not have the Beech 18S's serial number. A few years after seeing this French Air Force T-33A, I was lucky enough to see two more examples as they refuelled at the old Jeddah International Airport in Saudi Arabia. They were delivered to Singapore as ex 117414 to 908 and ex 117497 to 376.
22+11 F-104G MFG1 Lunchtime visitor Mildenhall 1978.
59-1520 KC-135T USAF Mildenhall 1978.
64-14849 RC-135U OF Mildenhall 1978.
68-10338 U-2R USAF at Mildenhall, September 1978.
64-0652 C-141B 437MAW departing Mildenhall, this airframe was W/O 31-08-1982.
58-0095 KC-135T 100th ARW departing on a local mission from Mildenhall.
N801EV DC-8-52 Evergreen International, the Trooping flight, prepares for departure.
59-1485 C-135E WI ANG I saw it again some years later, flying with the NJ ANG.
62-4474 CT-39A went on to become N510TC to XB-GDV.
69-0027 C5A Galaxy was such a monster and an exciting aircraft to see taxiing back in those days, and is now sadly in-store with the 309th AMARG in Arizona.
Next stop, RAF Bentwaters.
