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 Exercise ‘Excalibur’, a joint Royal Air Force [RAF] and United States Air Forces in Europe [USAFE] Training Exercise, took place at the Wainfleet and Holbeach air weapons ranges on the East Coast of Lincolnshire over a three day period, August 17, 18 and 19 2005. The exercise, a bombing and strafing competition, provided an opportunity for aircrew from the two nations to test their skills and combat capabilities against each other, as they are ‘put to the sword’! Aircraft participating in the exercise included two Squadrons of Sepecat Jaguars, from number 6 and 41 Squadrons based at RAF Coltishall, Panavia Tornados from number 9 Squadron at RAF Marham, USAFE Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles based with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, USAFE Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Force Base [AFB] in Italy and the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AFB in Germany, and four USAFE Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolts also from Spangdahlem. |
| Fighter Control’s photographic editor James Shelbourn, visited RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, home of the 48th Fighter Wing, on August 17-18, where the USAFE contingent involved in the Exercise, were operating from, together with photographic assistance from another member of our editorial team, Stuart Freer, who visited departures day on August 20. |
| Origins:
Exercise ‘Excalibur’ was originally established to foster friendly relations between USAFE and NATO, to increase |
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  | ‘Esprit de Corps’ between the respective pilots and to show basic visual bombing and strafe skills. In the ‘good old days’, back in the 1980s, an earlier and similar version of Excalibur used to be a very large exercise, involving a number of USAF Fighter Squadrons based in Europe. However since the Cold War has ended, seeing the withdrawal of a number of USAF Fighter Squadrons in the UK and Europe, the latest Excalibur exercises now only see limited participation from the USAF. Arriving at RAF Lakenheath on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 16 to join the resident F-15Es of the 492nd ‘Madhatters’ and 494th ‘Panthers’ Fighter Squadrons, were six USAFE Lockheed F-16s operated by the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano AFB in Italy. They included three airframes, each from both resident Squadrons at Aviano, |
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| the 510th ‘Buzzards’ and the 555th ‘Triple Nickel’ Fighter Squadrons. These were followed on Wednesday August 17, by the 52nd Fighter Wing machines from Spangdahlem AFB in Germany, which were five F-16s operated by the 22nd ‘Stingers’ Fighter Squadron, three F-16s operated by the 23rd ‘Hawks’ Fighter Squadron and four A-10’s operated by the 81st ‘Panthers’ Fighter Squadron. It is believed that the 52nd Fighter Wing aircrew flew a mission direct to the East Coast ranges from Spangdahlem, before recovering to RAF Lakenheath on Wednesday. The 31st Fighter Wing F-16’s and resident 48th Fighter Wing F-15E’s flew bombing missions direct from Lakenheath during the afternoon of Wednesday 17 August. | ||
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| Elements:
Thursday August 18 saw all the visiting aircraft deployed to RAF Lakenheath, flying bombing missions in addition to the resident F-15Es, which were also participating. During the exercise, aircrew operated in teams of four. Their aircraft took off from their respective bases [RAF Coltishall and Marham were also in use, in addition to Lakenheath] and each aircrew first had a half-hour slot booked at RAF Wainfleet where they completed several passes of high-dive onto the range’s bombing targets. On completion of the Wainfleet part of the exercise they then transited directly to RAF Holbeach, approximately 15 miles south, where they next completed the low level bombing section of the exercise. When the bombing was complete, the aircrew then moved on to the strafe element. On completion of the two range details, all scores were faxed from the ranges to the exercise organisers at Lakenheath. The scores were collated in accordance with the contest rules, to enable the final league table to be produced at the end of the competition. Competition events were limited to practice bombs and strafe in accordance with Ministry of Defence [MoD] regulations. |
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| End Ex:
Exercises such as Excalibur provide an opportunity for US and International forces to fly and fight together. The trust, relationship and co-operation USAFE forces have established with its NATO allies, sister services, host nations and emerging partner nations is integral to USAFE’s ability to perform its mission. This was the second time in the last two years that this version of Excalibur had been held, the inaugural exercise having taken place in August 2004. Friday August 19 saw more missions being flown for the exercise during the morning from RAF Lakenheath. The 81st FS A-10s then departed home back to Spangdahlem AFB and a presentation was held at RAF Lakeneheath for the winning aircrew. General Robert Foglesong, Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe, flew into Lakenheath on August 19, in one of another pair of visiting F-16s, from the 31st FW at Aviano AFB, to perform the presentation and announce the competition winners. Awards were presented for top-scoring pilot, aircrew and aircraft in individual events and the top-scoring flight and wing. Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Midthun, Operation Group Deputy Commander for the resident 48th Fighter Wing at Lakenheath was the exercise co-ordinator. He commented that next year's event promises to be bigger and better, with invitations being sent to other NATO allies, to participate. The aim for the future is to make ‘Excalibur’ a European version of the famous ‘Red Flag’ exercises held at Nellis AFB in Nevada, USA, with many other NATO allies participating. Now wouldn’t that be something to witness? |
| Competition Results: |
| 45 Degree High Altitude Release Bomb: |
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| 1st place: 23rd Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Major Rich “Chewie” Murray 2nd place: 41 Squadron - RAF Coltishall, UK Flight Lieutenant Mike “Sooty” Sutton [RAF] 3rd place: 22nd Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Captain Sam “Vandal” Mann |
| 30 Degree Dive Bomb: |
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| 1st place: 492nd Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK Major Trent “Bobby” Hill & Captain Christian “Juice” Burbach 2nd place: 555th Fighter Squadron - Aviano AFB, Italy Lieutenant Scott “Worm” Tregaser 3rd place: 555th Fighter Squadron - Aviano AFB, Italy Captain Johnny “Vegas” Vargas |
| 20 Degree Low Altitude Load Drag: |
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| 1st place: 492nd Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK Major Trent “Bobby” Hill & Captain Christian “Juice” Burbach 2nd place: 492nd Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK Lieutenant Pete “Cash” Yule & Captain Ken “Meso” Harney 3rd place: 492nd Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK Captain Bill “Sandman” Lujan & Captain Manaal “Pipper” Ibrahim |
| 10 Degree Low Altitude High Drag: |
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| 1st place: 41 Squadron - RAF Coltishall, UK Flight Lieutenant Alex “Tenno” Tennent [RAF] 2nd place: 555th Fighter Squadron - Aviano AFB, Italy Major Paul “Dino” Murray 3rd place: 81st Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Captain Jason “Bagger” Jensen |
| Low Angle Strafe: |
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| 1st place: 22nd Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Captain Sam “Vandal” Mann 2nd place: 555th Fighter Squadron - Aviano AFB, Italy Lieutenant Brian “Moses” Perkins 3rd place: 22nd Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Captain Tim “Spike” Pesek |
| Top Gun: |
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| 1st place: 23rd Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Major Rich “Chewie” Murray 2nd place: 494th Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK Captain Dan “Curly” Rauch & Captain John “Vinnie” Powers 3rd place: 494th Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK Captain Robert “Farmer” Hines & Captain Chris “Spliff” Russel |
| Top Flight: |
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| 1st place: 22nd Fighter Squadron - Spangdahlem AFB, Germany Captain Sam “Vandal” Mann, Captain Matt “Romil” Speer Major John “Boom Boom” Vincent & Captain Tim “Spike” Pesek 2nd place: 494th Fighter Squadron - RAF Lakenheath, UK 3rd place: 555th Fighter Squadron - Aviano AFB, Italy |
| Top Wing: |
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| Winners: 31st Fighter Wing - Aviano AFB, Italy
Runners Up: 48th Fighter Wing - RAF Lakenheath, UK |
| Details of Overseas USAFE aircraft deployed to RAF Lakenheath for Exercise Excalibur 2005: | |
88-0413/AV [purple/white] USAFE/31st FW/510th FS F-16CG [Marked '510 FS'] 89-2049/AV [green/purple/white] USAFE/31st FW/510th FS F-16CG [Marked 'USAFE'] 90-0796/AV [purple/white] USAFE/31st FW/510th FS F-16DG |
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87-0350/AV [green/white] USAFE/31st FW/55th FS F-16CG 87-0359/AV [green/white] USAFE/31st FW/555th FS F-16CG 89-2016/AV [green/purple] USAFE/31st FW/555th FS F-16CG [Marked '16 AF'] |
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81-0945/SP [yellow/black] USAFE/52nd FW/81st FS A-10A 81-0951/SP [yellow/black] USAFE/52nd FW/81st FS A-10A 81-0956/SP [yellow/black] USAFE/52nd FW/81st FS A-10A 81-0976/SP [yellow/black] USAFE/52nd FW/81st FS A-10A |
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91-0337/SP [red/white] USAFE/52nd FW/22nd FS F-16CG 91-0340/SP [red/white] USAFE/52nd FW/22nd FS F-16CG 91-0343/SP [red/white] USAFE/52nd FW/22nd FS F-16CG 91-0344/SP [red/white] USAFE/52nd FW/22nd FS F-16CG 91-0391/SP [red/white] USAFE/52nd FW/22nd FS F-16CG |
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92-3918/SP [blue/white] USAFE/52nd FW/23rd FS F-16CG 96-0082/SP [blue/white] USAFE/52nd FW/23rd FS F-16CG 96-0083/SP [blue/white] USAFE/52nd FW/23rd FS F-16CG |
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| I would like to extend my thanks to the 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office, United States Air Forces Europe, Ministry of Defence and to my good friend, Mr. Andrew Chaplin, for making this report possible. |