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The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

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Ian in Leeds
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The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Ian in Leeds » Sun Apr 23, 2017 1:46 pm

Held between 21-24th (Monday-Thursday)April 1986 and BAR states that the weather was somewhat showery however photography was permitted between the showers.

The aim of the exercise was to test the ability of the RAF to defend the UK against sustained air attack with some 1100 sorties being flown against missile sites, radar stations, ranges and airfields.
The hope was that most attackers would be intercepted before they reached the targets however they would still proceed to attack their targets which were predominantly on the East Coast or in Scotland and upon completion of the attack would rtb home base or lunch stop or night over at a UK base.

The major attraction according to BAR were two RCAF CF-18`s which were based at Binbrook for the exercise however this would be the last exercise that the mighty F-104 would participate in.

During the Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday morning there were numerous attacks by Coltishall Jaguars and Tornados from Marham & Honington and Wattisham was particularly busy with airfield attacks.

Below gives a basic overview of how busy these exercise were and credit to BAR for the below records.

21/4
Binbrook - Early evening 1st CAG CF-18A`s 188734 & 188741 arrived for duration of exercise.
Kinloss - 335Skv Mystere 20ECM`041 & 053 arrived for duration of exercise.
Leeming - 1TWU Hawk XX159, 188,192,194,196,197,218,315,317 and 318 arrived and XX319 arrived on 22/4. XX220 & 316 arrived on 22/4 and on the 23/4 XX193 arrived. XX192,318,193,196,218 & 317 deployed to Wattisham whilst the rest rtb Brawdy.
Leuchars - 100Sqn Canberras WP515,WT509,519, WJ756, WH972 and 983 and WK127 arrived and stayed until 25/4.
Leuchars - 338Skv F-5`s 130,131,135 & 242 arrived and stayed until 25/4 although 131 went u/s and was present until 28/4.
Lossiemouth - 334Skv F-16 658,660 & 663 noted along with 331Skv F-16 678,681 & 682 who were on a Sqn exchange with 208Sqn.
Wittering - KLU detachment of NF-5`s and noted was K-4028.
Wyton - 1TWU Hawk T1.A deployed for whole exercise were XX190,280,301,261,339,350,351,198,199 & 321. XX190 went u/s on 22/4 and was replaced by XX319.
Wyton - 71 GruppoPD.808 MM61959 & 61960 deployed for the whole exercise.

22/4
1035hrs - 42Sqn Mirage VBR`s BR07 & BR26 attacked Midenhall and lunch stopped at Binbrook.
1045hrs - JBG-41 Alpha Jet 41+75 diverted into Finningley with a problem whilst the rest of the 8 ship (see 1130hrs) attacked one of the ranges. 41+75 was a solo rtb to Germany later in the day.
1059hrs - 20Sqn Tornado ZA456,452 & ZD893 attacked Binbrook and then lunch stopped at Coningsby.
1115hrs - JBG-43 Alpha Jets 40+11,40+57,40+95 & 41+43 landed at Linton-on-Ouse for lunch stop (see 1625hrs).
1127hrs - 2Sqn Jaguar XZ113 attacked Binbrook and then lunch stopped at Finningley.
1130hrs - JBG-41 Alpha Jets 40+15, 40+26,41+31,41+33,41+72,41+73 and 41+74 landed at Finningley post attack at unknown range.
1150hrs - 31Sqn Tornado ZD747 attacked Binbook.
1204hrs - Two unidentified JBG-31 Tornado (see Cottesmore below) attacked Binbrook.
1205hrs - EC-12 Mirage F.1C 36,22,33 & 273 along with EC-11 Jaguar A103,A145,E19 & E20 attacked Coningsby prior to lunch stop at Waddington.
Shortly after midday 8 x RDAF F-16`s arrived at Coltishall and comprised of E-185,600,602,605,604,607, ET-210 and 614.
Shortly after midday JBG-31 Tornado 44+06,44+23,44+28 & 44+34 landed at Cottesmore.
Lunch stop at Leuchars by 332Skv F-16 284 & 299 who departed to Waddington later in the day and stayed at Waddington overnight and then conducted two missions before lunch at Leuchars.
Lunch stop at Lossiemouth by 338Skv F-5`s 130 & 242 who were operating out of Leuchars.
Lunch stop at Marham by 14Sqn Tornado ZD707,710 & 846.
Lunch stop at Waddington by EC-12 Mirage F.1C 36,22,33 & 273 and EC-7 Jaguar A25,A38,A34 & E11 along with EC-11 Jaguar A103,A145,E19 & E20 (see 1205hrs).
Lunch stop at Wittering by 316Sqn NF-5 K-3017,3023,3054 & 3065 who all conducted two missions each day until rtb on 24/4.
Lossiemouth - 121TFS/Columbia ANG F-4D`s 67531,67561,67661 & 67722 which arrived from Keflavi, night stopped and flew a mission the following day.
Coningsby - AKG-52 RF-4E`s 35+36,35+42,35+67 & 35+77 arrived for lunch stop.
Afternoon - 5Sqn Lightning F.6 XR771, XS897,935 & 903 landed for short stop at Wattisham.
1523hrs - 20Sqn Tornado ZA456,452 & ZD893 attacked Binbrook and then rtb Laabruch.
1537hrs - 6Sqn Jaguar x 6 attacked Coningsby and included XZ400, XX733 & 955.
1535hrs - AKG-52 RF-4E`s 35+42 & 35+77 attacked Binbrook and then rtb Leck.
1558hrs - F-16`s E-185,600,602,605,604 & 607 attacked West Raynham whilst the two F-16B`s rtb after above lunch stop.
1545-1555hrs - EC-12 Mirage F.1C 36,22,33 & 273 and EC-7 Jaguar A25,A38,A34 & E11 along with EC-11 Jaguar A103,A145,E19 & E20 out of Waddington attacked West Raynham and then Wattisham.
1620hrs - CF-18`s 188734 & 188741 attacked Leuchars.
1625hrs - JBG-43 Alpha Jets 40+11,40+57,40+95 & 41+43 out of Linton-on-Ouse attacked Binbrook (same profile on 23rd).
1645hrs - JBG-41 Alpha Jets 40+15, 40+26,41+31,41+33,41+72,41+73 and 41+74 departed Finningley and were due to attack Binbrook at 1715hrs but due to Lightning F.6 XS903 making an emergency landing at Binbrook the attack was scrubbed.
Late afternoon - 42Sqn Mirage VBR`s BR09 & BR13 arrived from Binbrook and night stopped at Finningley (see 1035hrs).
1716hrs - JBG-31 Tornado 44+06,44+23,44+28 & 44+34 out of Cottesmore attacked Coningsby and rtb Germany.

23/4
Alconbury - JBG-36 F-4F 37+49/38+37 & 38+74 were noted but not 100% sure whether related to exercise.
Binbrook - 42Sqn Mirage VBR`s BR07 & BR26 lunch stopped and landed at Finningley in the afternoon.
Binbrook - shortly after lunch several A-10`s & F-111`s attacked although these are believed to have been in conjunction with the USAF `Hammer` exercise.
Coltishall - F-16`s E-598,599,600,602,605,604 & 607 arrived and both 600 & 605 went u/s and night stopped.
Coltishall - 20TFW F-111E x 8 including 80052,80070,80073 & 80082 conducted airfield attack at Coltishall.
1102hrs - 20Sqn Tornado ZA456,452 & ZD742 & 893 attacked Waddington before recovery at Coningsby and barring 456 who went u/s and night stopped and the rest attacked Waddington again after departure from CBY.
1110hrs - 54Sqn Jaguars x 6 attacked Binbrook and included XX955,720,146 and XZ392.
Shortly before midday JBG-43 Alpha Jets 40+11,40+14,40+57,40+80,40+95,41+34,41+43 & 41+63 landed at Finningley (see 1715hrs).
1114hrs - 31Sqn Tornado ZD748 & 790 attacked Leuchars.
1127hrs - 2Sqn Jaguar XZ106 & 113 attacked Binbrook and lunch stopped at Finningley.
1143hrs - EC-11 Jaguar A100,A115,A123 & E16 attacked Binbrook and then lunch stopped at Waddington.
1146hrs - 31Sqn Tornado ZD715 & 738 attacked Leuchars.
1204hrs - JBG-31 Tornado 44+06,44+23,44+28 & 44+34 attacked Binbrook and then lunch stop at Cottesmore - same profile as 22nd
1208hrs - 6Sqn Jaguar x 6 including XX970 & XZ398 attacked Leuchars.
Lunch stop at Coningsby - AKG-52 RF-4E`s 35+39, 35+42, 35+66 and JBG-36 F-4F`s 37+33,37+65 & 38+45
Lunch stop at Leuchars - 332Skv F-16 284 & 299 who had night stopped at Waddington and conducted two missions before the lunch stop and post lunch departed back to Waddington.
Lunch stop at Lossiemouth - 338Skv F-5 130,135 & 242 who are operating out of Leuchars.
Lunch stop at Lossiemouth of 57FIS F-15 00030 & 00035 who arrived from Keflavik.
Lunch stop at Linton-on-Ouse - JBG-41 Alpha Jets 40+31,40+43,40+79 & 41+40 (see 1625hrs).
Lunch stop at Marham 14Sqn Tornado ZD710 & 842.
Lunch stop at Waddington - EC-7 Jaguar A25,A38,A34 and E11 along with (see 1553hrs).
Lunch stop at Waddington - KLU F-16 J-635,638,194,617,622,623,873,879,223,229,244 & 219.
Lunch stop at Wittering - KLU NF-5 K-3004,3039,3062 & 3025 (see 1530hrs).
Noted at Wyton were 2TWU Hawk T1.A XX283 & 329.
1530hrs - 332Skv F-16 284 & 299 seen overhead Binbrook on rtb for Waddington following lunch at Leuchars.
1530hrs - KLU F-16 x 4 including J-194 & 617 out of Waddington attacked Binbrook.
1530hrs - 6 of the 8 NF-5`s operating out of Wittering atatcked Wattisham.
1536hrs - Two of above RF-4E`s attacked Binbrook before rtb Germany.
1545hrs - A&AEE Hunter FGA.9 XE601 carried out a simulated chemical attack at Coningsby.
Mid-afternoon KLU F-16 J-223,229,244 & 219 landed at Lakenheath from Waddington and night stopped.
Afternoon - 121TFS/Columbia ANG F-4D`s 67531,67688 from Keflavik landed Lossiemouth and stayed until 26/4 and also 67693 & 68821 who stayed until the 27/4.
1550-1610hrs - 8 x Jaguar of 6&54 Sqns attacked Leuchars and included XX974.
1553hrs - EC-7 Jaguar A25,A38,A34 and E11 out of Waddington attacked Wattisham.
1620hrs - CF-18`s 188734 & 188741 attacked Leuchars.
1620hrs - EC-11 Jaguar A100,A115,A123 & E16 out of Waddington attacked Wattisham.
1624hrs - 31Sqn Tornado x 4 which included ZD748 & 738 attacked Leuchars although likely the 4 ship were the same that attacked at 1114 & 1146hrs.
1625hrs - JBG-41 Alpha Jets 40+31,40+43,40+79 & 41+40 out of Linton-on-Ouse attacked Binbrook (same profile on 22nd).
1628hrs - 6Sqn Jaguar XX725 attacked Waddington.
1715hrs - JBG-43 Alpha Jets 40+11,40+14,40+57,40+80,40+95,41+34,41+43 & 41+63 out of Finningley attacked Binbrook.
1716hrs - JBG-31 Tornado 44+06,44+23,44+28 & 44+34 out of Cottesmore attacked Coningsby and rtb Germany same profile as 22nd.
Coningsby - 74Sqn F-4J`s ZE350 &355 along with 56Sqn FGR.2 XV500 landed in the early evening.

24/4
Cottesmore - JBG-31 Tornado 44+28 & 44+34 landed and departed after lunch.
Coltishall - In for lunch stop were F-16`s E-604,607 and ET-210 & 614.
Coningsby - AKG-52 RF-4E`s 35+36, 35+42, 35+72 and 35+77 arrived during the morning along with JBG-36 F-4F`s 37+33,38+45 and 38+53.
Coningsby - 20Sqn Tornado ZA396,452,463 & 493 and all departed later with 456 who went u/s day before.
Honington - 17Sqn Tornado ZD793,720 & 717 arrived after morning mission.
Waddington - KLU F-16 J-635 & 638 for lunch stop.
Wittering - KLU NF-5 K-3004,3039,3062 & 3025 for lunch stop.
Noted at Wyton were 2TWU Hawk T1.A XX281 & 334.
Leuchars - KLU NF-5`s K-3039, 3062 and 3025 landed Leuchars.
Leuchars - 1TWU Hawk XX348 was a divert into Leuchars.
1243hrs - 41Sqn Jaguars x 5 including XX842, XZ117 & 363 attacked Waddington.
1300hrs - 27/617Sqn Tornado x 6 attacked Binbrook and only serial identified were ZA541 & 600.
1302hrs - 27/617Sqn Tornado x 6 attacked Waddington and only serials identified were ZA541 & 600.
1440hrs - 234Sqn Hawk T.1A`s XX193 & 218 attacked Binbrook and at some point during the day overshot at Coltishall.

As you can see these exercises were quite busy and the above doesn`t touch the surface on how busy they actually were. Although I didn`t drive then I was a serious scanner monitor and you didn`t stand a chance of logging everything when one of these exercises was on.
You would hear CAP`s all up the East Coast, within the LOTA`s and mud movers going L/L all over the place and then hitting the various targets.

Cheers

Ian in Leeds

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tim_raper
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by tim_raper » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:21 pm

mods - the 'heritage' section? Just saying :whistle:

pg1610
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by pg1610 » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:35 pm

Excellent , it used to drive you mad trying to work out the times between attacks/lunch stops and then PM attacks to try and get between as many bases as possible
couldn't be done these days with the speed restrictions in force or the amount of drivers on the road
nothing like trying to get from Wittering to Coningsby in under an hour via Cranwell or Binbrook to Coningsby via Waddington in a similar time frame

and that`s after starting at Finningly or Alconbury to pick up what ever has night stopped

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Tiger 1
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Tiger 1 » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:47 pm

Wow... Thank you very much for taking the time to put this up...fantastic reading, very informative and very helpful.

Looking forward to reading more....oh for a time machine.

T1

LuckyJim1001
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Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by LuckyJim1001 » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:57 pm

Was lucky enough to be stationed at RAF Spadeadam (721SU) from 84 - 87.
I was on 'Smokey Sam' duty for the Elder Forest 86, possibly the best job I have ever done. Actually no possible about it.
EF was a truly epic affair that went some way to simulating what an attack on the UK would look like.
Saw most of the types listed above and in a couple of memorable moments even some AD aircraft, RAF F-4's and US F-15's, that were chasing the ground strike aircraft as they 'bombed' the fake airfield at Prior Lancy.
I think the AD units were meant to stay out of LFA13 but I guess a few of them had their 'Fangs Out'.
USAF F4-G's were most impressive. 1 would go high to attract threat radars and the other would be fast and low, then pop up to perform an attack on the threat radars dotted around the site.
The irony of the posting was as a Scopie I trained to work in the AD radar role. But at Spade we dealt with mostly 1 Group cabs.Even got to see the Buccaneer before it was retired.
Small intro to Smokey Sams:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTR-18_Smokey_Sam

TS010
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by TS010 » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:52 pm

They were superb Exercises to be part of. I was based at Binbrook 83 - 87 and for someone with an interest in Military Aviation there was no better place to be. I would usually cop for guard duty somewhere, OTR'S or exercise exempt for any jets that needed an air test. Best place for guard duty at Binbrook was the top of the water tower as you could see the raids coming in from miles away.
Last edited by TS010 on Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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The Phantom
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by The Phantom » Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:54 pm

Amazing lists. This truly was once in a lifetime :Wow:

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Blue Diamond
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Blue Diamond » Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:27 pm

Great days to be a "plane spotter." Impossible to do it all but was great fun nevertheless.
Fighting 92 - The King Cobras
http://www.92squadron.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Supra
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Supra » Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:47 am

Great job reproducing this snapshot of what really was 'the good 'ol days'!
Thanks also to LJ1001 for the personal insight. I've never heard of the 'Smokey Sam' until now. Probably no greater risk using those than for low-level bird-strikes eh?? :whistle:

3Greens
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by 3Greens » Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:20 pm

Excellent coverage Ian. A great memory as I lived only a short distance from Binbrook under the approach to Rwy21. As there was no Internet and no mobiles it was amazing how the 'jungle drums' did get the word out and we got to the various airfields, usually in time.
Thanks for the memory

best regards
Keith (3Greens) :thumb:

Ian in Leeds
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Ian in Leeds » Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:27 pm

Hi Keith

My pleasure and enjoyed reminiscing myself.

Cheers

Ian in Leeds

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Blackcat1
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Blackcat1 » Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:59 pm

Brilliant Foil and Invader were also great exercises in the Southwest. This is great to read but also depressing!! How times have changed!
Gareth

6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.

Unknown74
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by Unknown74 » Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:52 pm

Once tried to go to Leuchars for an Elder Forest, can't remember which one but unfortunately for me I picked the worst day Weather wise, I was on School Holiday for 1 day - A Monday I think it was - So due to horrid Weather never got up. :(

AndrewBarclay
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Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by AndrewBarclay » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:24 am

LuckyJim1001 wrote:Was lucky enough to be stationed at RAF Spadeadam (721SU) from 84 - 87.
I was on 'Smokey Sam' duty for the Elder Forest 86, possibly the best job I have ever done. Actually no possible about it.
EF was a truly epic affair that went some way to simulating what an attack on the UK would look like.
Saw most of the types listed above and in a couple of memorable moments even some AD aircraft, RAF F-4's and US F-15's, that were chasing the ground strike aircraft as they 'bombed' the fake airfield at Prior Lancy.
I think the AD units were meant to stay out of LFA13 but I guess a few of them had their 'Fangs Out'.
USAF F4-G's were most impressive. 1 would go high to attract threat radars and the other would be fast and low, then pop up to perform an attack on the threat radars dotted around the site.
The irony of the posting was as a Scopie I trained to work in the AD radar role. But at Spade we dealt with mostly 1 Group cabs.Even got to see the Buccaneer before it was retired.
Small intro to Smokey Sams:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GTR-18_Smokey_Sam
I was one of the "Thursday Boys". Thursday was when the French Mirage 1V Nuclear Bombers flew FRAs at Spadeadam. EF was certainly interesting, but for volumes of aircraft "Salty Hammer" was superb 150 aircraft in one sortie 24 F111s 6 EF 111s being chased by RAF F3s this action taking place north of HOPEALONE Mast, F4s F5s F15s F16s. Salty Hammer was for USAF aircraft in the European Theatre, unfortunately for the USAF most of them were intercepted by RAF F3s from RAF Leeming, Coningsby and Leuchars they flew a CAP (Combat Air Patrol) along the whole of the Eden Valley which was the IPs into D510 Spadeadam. Those were the days.

LuckyJim1001
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Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: The 80`s part two - Elder Forest

Post by LuckyJim1001 » Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:22 pm

Supra wrote:Great job reproducing this snapshot of what really was 'the good 'ol days'!
Thanks also to LJ1001 for the personal insight. I've never heard of the 'Smokey Sam' until now. Probably no greater risk using those than for low-level bird-strikes eh?? :whistle:
I think they were designed to be low level friendly. They were really light but at 450 Knots I bet they would still have made a mess.
We had 'rules of engagements' but they were not,ahem, always adhered to.
Apparently the Aircrew loved them as it gave them a physical response to a weapon launch on their threat warnings.

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