Dragon21 80-1067/BB RAF Fairford 27/04/16

[MacksAviation]

Missed the earlier arrival DRAGON86

So here is DRAGON21 arriving earlier this afternoon







Cheers

[Yunglee]

Superb images, love the second one.

[Skywatcher]

Hi,
Smashing images of our second visitor today ,just woundering is there a meaning behind the four cross style markings on the top of the tail fin?(mission markings maybe) seen it a few times on U-2s ,was woundering if their was any meaning behind it or if they are really just markings.
Anyway great images and thanks for sharing
All the best
Max

[H.A.Bucken]

Something to do with what was the "9th Strat. Recon. Wing" (now 9 RW) badge. When the 100th ARW became absorbed into the 9th SRW while based at Beale, Ca., its KC-135Qs also carried the four Maltese crosses in a yellow fintop band. (It was these a/c which first used the "Quid" c/s when they were detached to Mildenhall as part of DET4/9 SRW- SR-71 refuellers).

[mushbuster]

Hi,
Smashing images of our second visitor today ,just woundering is there a meaning behind the four cross style markings on the top of the tail fin?(mission markings maybe) seen it a few times on U-2s...Max

Hi Max, from wicki history of 9RW

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Recon ... ing#Emblem
crest depicted here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Recon ... Emblem.png

The crest and motto were approved for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing on 1 July 1952 upon its inherited lineage of the 9th Bombardment Group. The shield, in black and green, represents the old colors of the Air Service parted by a wavy line representing the Rio Grande and the 1st Aero Squadron's operations in 1916. On the gold band are four black crosses representing four World War I offensives, Aisne-Marne, Champagne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, and St. Mihiel, in which squadrons later assigned to the 9th Wing fought. The crest recalls the service in Mexico of the 1st Aero Squadron.

[paddyboy]

Sweet pics

V-e-r-y n-I-c-e

Thanks

Paddyboy

[Skywatcher]

Many thanks all for the info on the markings on the top of the tail fin:)
All the best
Max

[MacksAviation]

Thank you for the comments

[Chris Procter]

very nice images well done