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Lakenheath Rhinos

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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Wigzy
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Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Wigzy » Sun Apr 15, 2018 4:51 pm

In the two years following the departure of their Super Sabres the 48th TFW became a 'hollow unit' with only two dozen F-4Ds on strength and consequently very little flying. In 1974 however when USAF's post-Vietnam Phantom force became more available the Wing quickly built up to full strength with frequent waves of six or more arriving (usually as the light was beginning to fade or it started to rain!) The base began hosting F-4s from other USAFE units on short term visits and the 'last chance' area by the 25 threshold was a good spot to catch them leaving on Sunday afternoons. The base also occasionally handled overnight 'Crested Cap' deployment stopovers from Holloman to Germany which I successfully managed to miss every time..In 1977 the Rhinos went back to the US as part of 'Operation 'Ready Switch' in exchange for the arrival of the ultimate aardvark.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147668976 ... 3593607101

wiggy954 on Flickr

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garyscott
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Location: DONT trust Atoms . . . . they make up everything . .

Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by garyscott » Sun Apr 15, 2018 4:59 pm

Love it!! Cant beat a good load of Phantoms, glory days indeed. :thumb:

MR TERRY GREEN
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by MR TERRY GREEN » Sun Apr 15, 2018 5:15 pm

I wish I could have been standing next to you for all those pictures.Lovely wonderful pictures.

chek16
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by chek16 » Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:18 pm

Great pictures, thanks for posting.

I'd recently had discussions about that bad batch of pea green 30219 tan, and whether the 48th TFW had any LORAN equipped F-4Ds, so your photos are very timely.

rolypoly33
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by rolypoly33 » Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:46 pm

Three outstanding posts john
Richard

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Blue Diamond
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Blue Diamond » Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:52 pm

Superb set.
Fighting 92 - The King Cobras
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The Phantom
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by The Phantom » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:34 am

Cracking stuff :thumbs:

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eagle driver
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by eagle driver » Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:36 am

As others have said Brilliant, fond memory s of running around from base to base as each weekend unfolded

dollar99
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by dollar99 » Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:57 pm

All 3 sets are superb. You now realise, with hindsight, you should have spent more time yourself round those bases, there were some great photo spots to be had.

Phantoms phorever :clap: :clap:

Ian
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herbert
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by herbert » Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:23 pm

Very interesting. I have been trying to plot where the aircraft would have been on th airfield. Presumably the Victor alert shelters were demolished years ago, I don’t think an F-111 would have fitted in.

Ranger
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Ranger » Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:30 pm

herbert wrote:Very interesting. I have been trying to plot where the aircraft would have been on th airfield. Presumably the Victor alert shelters were demolished years ago, I don’t think an F-111 would have fitted in.
At that time there were no HAS at all. It looked like one big ramp with parked F4D's everywhere driving along the base on the A1065. A beautiful sight.

Cheers,
Ranger

Wigzy
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Wigzy » Tue May 29, 2018 7:06 pm

Thanks all for kind comments. For Phans who liked the March 1973 Bitburger shot from The Warren it seems that I overlooked what was standing next to them. The George machine was on loan to the 49th TFW for the latter's CRESTED CAP deployment and had dropped out of its cell on the way home from Bitburg to Holloman. When it did get back there it apparently joined the 7th TFS.

ImageBW1145 transient line Lakenheath 18MAR73 copy copy by John Wigzell, on Flickr

slogen51
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by slogen51 » Thu May 31, 2018 4:55 am

Brilliant pictures

Love those CR phantoms

I didn't start going to Lakenheath until 1976 - lucky to get the phantoms by simply walking along the fences on a Saturday but I so wish I had taken some photos or gone there mid week.

Although thinking about it I didn't have a proper camera - we take digital photography for granted now so your post is of real interest and value for posterity

Photos of Lakenheath phantoms at Lakenheath hardly ever seen to appear

Weazel69
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Weazel69 » Thu May 31, 2018 5:17 am

I started in 66 where in those days you were lucky if you had a camera with telefoto lens, but I do have some slides pre tail code days and even a colored print of a F4C in the original Gull Grey/White scheme taken at a Coltishall BoB Day...Oh the Memories!!!
forewarned is forearmed

Weazel69
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Weazel69 » Thu May 31, 2018 5:44 am

before I get chastized for the above post yes I am aware that my pix are not of LN F4's but I just got carried away because you were talking of the F4..sorry!!!
forewarned is forearmed

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Knife 04
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Re: Lakenheath Rhinos

Post by Knife 04 » Thu May 31, 2018 6:23 am

Dont apologise Weasel - although to make amends what you could do is add more to the thread! :thumbs: :thumbs:

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