Coronet Bullet and Coronet Shooter 1990 deployments to Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands plus the Iconic Koksijde airshow in Belgium

for usz

Back on the road, we were heading across the channel to the Netherlands in the Transit (White) van. It was 1990, and the European exercise Central Enterprise would involve 24 F-15As/Bs from the 49th TFW/7th TFS and 8th TFS, all temporarily based at Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands. Additionally, the Koksijde airshow took place nearby in Belgium.

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

The first wave of F-15A/Bs is arriving as Devon 11-16, 21-26, all tail-coloured blue from the 49th TFW/7th TFS '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 June 14 and departed on July 11.

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 favourable during our week, but the jets continued to arrive as the missions progressed.

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' 7TFS 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' Touchdown 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 of the 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 was a pair, with the other aircraft being 80-0170.

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

Finally and sadly, for us, CS-01 HS 748 21smd/15 wing BAF was seen taxiing for departure as we are.

Wow! I have many good memories.

Happy Days!

Tiger Meet (mini) RAF Fairford 1991 I.A.T.

RAF Fairford and the International Air Tattoo hosted a mini Tiger meet twenty-nine years ago. This may be an opportune time to reflect on happier days.

The show's central theme was 'Salute to Gulf War,' which occurred since our last visit to RAF Fairford. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 NTM scheduled for Beja airbase in Portugal, and the cancellation of the World's most significant military airshow at Fairford in the United Kingdom, I thought this was an appropriate post.

The hosts were 74 (F) Squadron Royal Air Force.

They deployed to Fairford with seven Phantom FGR2s from their home base at RAF Wattisham, much further east across the UK.

J-004 and J-012 are both F-16As of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The previous year, 313Sqn, based at Twente Airbase, changed its squadron badge to focus on the Tiger and became an NTA member in October 1990.   

Another keystone member attending Fairford was the Belgian Air Force's 31squadron (Tigers), with their F-16As

The 53rd FS USAF originated from the 36th TFW, based at Bitburg, Germany, with its F-15C/Ds. The TFW had been flying these variants since 1977, when the Eagles replaced their  F-4E Phantoms.
   

EC-12  of the French Air Force arrived with their Mirage F-1C, 16/12-YH being their specially marked aircraft.

Mirage F-1C, 5/12-YQ FAF.

In 1968, 502 squadrons of Jaguares were created at Nacala, Mozambique (airbase 5), with their G-91s.

As the Portuguese retired from Africa, the Ginos were seen replacing the Republic F-84Gs at Montijo airbase, South of Lisbon, and forming 62 Squadron. This was further imposed by the arrival of 202 (Escorpiões) from Tete and 502 Squadron (Jaguares).

That period marked the beginning of the 'Jaguares' name and patch that we use today. In 1978, they became the 301 Esq.

They have gone on to win the Silver Trophy both in 1980/1985.

The 439th Fighter Bomber Squadron was formed on December 31st, 1947, at Wellingore, England. During the Second World War, they relocated their base multiple times across Europe.
They returned to RAF Luffenham in the UK following the war before departing for France.
From France, they moved again, this time to Lahr in West Germany. Their final European base was established in 1971, when they transferred to CFB Baden-Soellingen, operating the CF-104. In 1985, a change of aircraft saw them commence operations with the CF-118.
Sadly, they disbanded in Europe in 1993 and returned to Canada.

Consistently strong in the enthusiasm of their Tiger squadron's specially adorned aircraft.

Tornado GR1A ZG714/H, 13 Sqn RAF, was also present, as was ZG726/K.

The Royal Navy Flying Tigers.
In 1938, they operated with Swordfish, followed by various aircraft types, including the Firefly, Avenger, and Gannets.
In 1960, they transitioned to helicopters, firstly the Whirlwind, followed by the Wessex.
By 1970, they operated the Seaking helicopter with its airborne passive sonar role capability.

1 Letka (CskAF) was welcomed as an external participant with their MiG-29 Fulcrums.

Tiger tails.

In 1970, the 79th switched bases, arriving at RAF Upper Heyford and converting to the F-111E.
January 1991 witnessed them at Incirlik AB in Turkey, taking part in "Proven Force", a joint task force supporting "Desert Storm." The "Loco squadron flew two hundred and three missions without losses.

The 79th FS was inactivated in 1993 and reactivated at Shaw Air Base, South Carolina, in January 1994.

MM6764/53-04 F-104S ItAF.

The 21st Squadron has a long history dating back to 1918. As a Tiger Squadron, it was in 1968 that its F-104s achieved the prestigious status of NATO Tiger member.
As a footnote, they flew a staggering 82,000 hours with the "Starfighter."

In 1962, the 79th TFS at RAF Woodbridge invited all NATO Tiger squadrons to participate in the then-newly formed Tiger Meet.
Although JaBoG 43/1's squadron symbol was clearly a Fox, the pilots decided to bluff that it was actually a mysterious "Bavarian Tiger", and to underline this, their motto became
"Believe it or not, this is a tiger."
By 1980, their G-91s were being transferred to the Portuguese Air Force, and they received the new Alpha jet. The pilots considered this an inferior aircraft, but they were always impressed with their flying skills.
Unfortunately, 1992 saw the disbandment of JaBoG 43.

They participated at Fairford with Alpa Jets  40+57 and 41+63.

65-5911/9-911 TF-104G TuAF ex 27+82 WGAF.

"Also has to be one of the best-looking aircraft ever built".

No other aircraft could match the sound emitted as they were downwind for landing.

A Tiger on their patch since 1950, in 1980, 192 squadrons became NATO Tiger members with their squadron F-104Gs. They also became a NATO "all-weather" squadron assigned to NATO command. In March 1993, they transitioned to the F-16C/D at Balıkesir Air Base. 

The French Air Force GI-312, based at Mont-Marsan, arrived with four CM-170R Magisters: 572/312-AD, 509/312-AC, 529/312-AX, and 544/312-TM.

142 Squadron of ALA 14 emerged in 1980 with the delivery of Mirage F1 fighters to the Los Llanos airbase close to Albacete. They became members of the NTA while participating in the 1986 Nato Tiger meet at BA103 Cambrai in France.
   

The 1 Letka (CskAF) supported the meeting with Mig-29 5616 and 7501 and their L-39ZAs 2430 and 2436.
They also arrived with MiG-23ML 4644 from 2 Letka, which was supported by AN-12 2105 from 1 DROPRAVNI  and TU-134A 1407 from 3 DROPRAVNI.

572/312-AD CM-170R GI-312 FAF seen departing Fairford.

572/312-AD CM-170R GI-312 FAF

544/312-TM CM-170R GI-312 FAF.

A sight that would not be repeated again as the three CM-170R Magisters of the French air force depart from the Mini NTM, 

544, 312-TM, GI-312 FAF showing the spirited Tiger spirit.

  

336 Sqn RNorAF depart home with F-5As 132, 222, and 909 F-5B.

222,132 of 336 Sqn. RNorAF.

Previously, observers at NATO Tiger Meet 1991 saw Fliegerstaffel 11 become a full member with their F-5Es. Three aircraft arrived. I recall they were late and parked outside the hangar area at Fairford all weekend. It was certainly great to see them; it was just a shame that no one aircraft carried individual 'Tiger' marks.

63-7037/9-037 f-104G 192 Filo departing the 1991 Tiger meet.

65-5911/9-911 TF-104G heading home on Monday morning.

Flottille 11F of the French Navy is the oldest and most prestigious Squadron of the French Marine Nationale.

In 1967, they departed their base at Hyères in southern France for Landivisiau in northern France, where they have remained their home to this day. In 1978, they bid farewell to the "Etendard" and began missions on the "Super Etendard."
Their Tiger heritage is quite distinct and well-deserved. The "Clemenceau" aircraft carrier held the Tiger crest from which they were assigned in 1960.
When the "Clemenceau" aircraft carrier was retired in 1997, it was allowed to retain its NTA status.
"Having shown true Tiger spirit."

MM6764/53-04 F-104S departing for home.

2436 (232436) 1SQN 11W seen departing RAF Fairford.

The hosts, 74 (F) Squadron RAF, with their Phantom FGR.2s, line up to depart.

Number 74 (F) Squadron operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s and became an NTM member in 1961 when it joined the B2 Super Mystères of EC1/12, the French Air Force, at RAF Woodbridge, alongside its hosts, 79TFS USAF, with their F-100 Super Sabres. 

Number 74 (F) Squadron operated an aerobatic team with Lighting F. 1s between 1962 and 1963. The nine jets, named the "Tigers," made them the World's first Mach 2 team.

Here, Phantom FGR.2 XT895/Q departs for its home base.

"Tiger Tiger"