Visiting F-111's at RAF Upper Heyford Airshow August 1983

[LecLightning56]

One for the more elderly amongst us enthusiasts, but I recall a couple of visiting US-based F-111's at the RAF Upper Heyford Airshow held in August 1983, possibly 'MO' code but not quite sure. Usual trawl through the resources (BARG, Scramble, Midland Counties) has revealed nothing. If anyone has any record in their logs for this airshow of these aircraft, then please let me know.

[graham luxton]

I went to that show Lec - unfortunately there were no visiting F-111's, unless you count the Escape Module of former 48TFW F-111F 73-00714. which was on display in one of the former open ended `Victor` alert barns. My notes say this was the F-111 involved in a mid-air collision with 70-2369, also 48TFW, over the Tain range on 20 April'79.

cheers,
Graham

[LecLightning56]

There may be a reason for this on account of the fact that I believe the aircraft made a departure fairly early on in the airshow proceedings. I remember this because I was cycling to the event at the time and noted the unusual tail codes and also recall being informed of their presence upon arrival. I do not believe that they were intended airshow participants, merely visitors passing through (unfortunate for those arriving later! ).

[slogen51]

Even more unfortunate for those that saw them but didn't log them

Nothing on the Scramble show reports

[graham luxton]

I arrived at about 0930L on the day of the show and nothing departed until the flying display started at about 1230L. I'd been there the previous day as well and there were no visiting F-111's present......

[LecLightning56]

I arrived at about 0930L on the day of the show and nothing departed until the flying display started at about 1230L. I'd been there the previous day as well and there were no visiting F-111's present......

I may need to do my research a bit better. I was not so much into logging aircraft for the sake of it at that time, merely an enthusiast, but I hope that I am correct in thinking this was the year when the Luftwaffe displayed Alpha Jets and flew in the schwarm (finger) formation, a bit dodgy apparently because this was one of their historical formations from WWII!

[LecLightning56]

Even more unfortunate for those that saw them but didn't log them

Nothing on the Scramble show reports

Agreed! Not that I was a keen spotter at that time, just an interested observer, but my memories don't deceive me and I remember things well. Could be I have got the year wrong but largely negated that on grounds of this being the year when the German Alpha jets displayed. If anyone can point me at another year when the Alpha Jets were flying at the airshow, then please let me know. I remember the (almost obligatory) flypast by a C-5A that year.

[slogen51]

Were the Thunderbirds present at the year in question.

Scramble show reports is always worth checking.

[plmc135]

The only F-111 deployment I can find a record of for 1983 was from 8th to 22nd September. This was eight F-111D's from the 27 TFW at Cannon AFB to Boscombe Down. Well remember the mad thrash down from LHR where I worked to Boscombe making it just as the first flight were turning finals. Those were the days.

By the way should this request not be transferred to Old Serial Tie up Area as this section is for current airshows.

[slogen51]

It's an interesting subject during the hiatus after the recent frenzied activity at Lakenheath.

Were the F-111s camo or bluish like Ravens- weren't there some CC EF-111 about in the 80s

[LecLightning56]

The only F-111 deployment I can find a record of for 1983 was from 8th to 22nd September. This was eight F-111D's from the 27 TFW at Cannon AFB to Boscombe Down. Well remember the mad thrash down from LHR where I worked to Boscombe making it just as the first flight were turning finals. Those were the days.

By the way should this request not be transferred to Old Serial Tie up Area as this section is for current airshows.

Note to the Administrator: please will you transfer this post to the Old Serial Tie-Up since I believe it is out of context with current airshows as well as being not directly related to the airshow participants as the organisers had intended.