80s Air Exercises @ Binbrook

[F3]

The two Danish F104s are each carrying a single Sidewinder acquisition round which enable the pilot to lock on to an adversary and on getting the right 'tone' could thereby claim a kill. On one notable occasion on an exercise in RAF Germany a Phantom crew went a stage further and inadvertently pulled the lever releasing a missile and downed a Jaguar, which led to a much publicized court martial!

[jem60]

By the way of a coincidence, a 17 year old youngster that used to fly with me in my PPL days, entered the R.A.F, flew F.4s, and was the 'Prisoners Friend' at the aforementioned Courts Martial. Now at Patuxent River as a Wng Cmdr, and about to retire. Wng Cmdr. Tony Wheeler. How quickly time passes!!.
A cockpit switch that should have been taped over, and wasn't, allowed the event to happen.

[pauljos2001]

Many thanks for sharing F3 !!
Was this at the event of an exchange between the Dutch Air Force 311 Squadron based at Volkel AB, flying the F-104G and the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron based at Binbrook flying the Lightning from 21 till 30 March 1980 ?!?

[F3]

Hi pauljos. No - the F104G was taken on Ex Elder Forest '84 and was from 313 Sqn. 'Bonzos'.

[pauljos2001]

Thanks a lot F3!!
And my appoligize for this very late response..........