Kemble 1990

[Sparky 119]

Who else remembers these at Kemble.

Kemble 1990 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143986630@N03

Kemble 1990 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143986630@N03

[graham luxton]

Me.

[Knife 04]

Nice post - F-5s at Kemble! Do you have any others from around that time? - F-4s, A-10s etc

Me.

Was going to suggest you Graham!

[Seahawk 11]

Good photos there, I also remember them there very well,

Rob

[SW Sky Blue]

Me to, as I was standing next to you

[Sparky 119]

[paddyboy]

[Sparky 119]

Who else remembers these at Kemble.

Kemble 1990 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143986630@N03

Kemble 1990 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143986630@N03

[Sparky 119]

The only A10 shot I could find at Kemble, 80-0156 which incidentally was written off in 1997.


A10 Kemble 1990 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143986630@N03

[Ferrari]

What were they doing there?

Thanks,
Ferrari

[Sparky 119]

Kemble was used by the USAF for reworking such as corrosion rectification initially on the A10’s then later on other aircraft such as the F5’s.

[graham luxton]

The A-10 is a nice addition Sparky.
Kemble's paint shop had a reputation for being one of the best, if not the best in USAFE and as a result resprayed a number of types in addition to the A-10's and F-5's. These included Keflavik, Bitburg and Soesterberg F-15's, Hahn F-16's, Spangdahlem F-4's, Alconbury RF-4's, Sembach OV-10's and CH-53's plus Woodbridge HH-53's and even a few Upper Heyford F-111's. Work was also carried out on Mildenhall's EC-135H's and HC-130's from Woodbridge as well as C-130E's based at Rhein Main. In addition there were the daily (Mon-Fri) C-23 flights in and out. Timed right Kemble could be an interesting place to visit.

[roughcutter]

When did USAF take up residence at Kemble and how long were they there for? I know that Kemble was home to the Reds for a while. Wouldn't mind betting that there's quite some material for a potential book there?

[graham luxton]

When did USAF take up residence at Kemble and how long were they there for? I know that Kemble was home to the Reds for a while. Wouldn't mind betting that there's quite some material for a potential book there?

USAF 1983 to 1992. Plenty of history for a book.

[roughcutter]

I knew that USAF had moved into Kemble in the 1980's, in fact in October 87 while returning home from a trip to Fairford, I very briefly stopped off there out of curiosity. There were a couple of the former 527th F-5Es stored outside(I think they were destined for Morocco or Tunisia?). I know that the A-10s were repainted at Kemble, but never realised that there was so much more going on there. Fascinating.
I recall that there was a preserved Meteor on the main gate

[Sparky 119]

I recall that there was a preserved Meteor on the main gate.

Well remembered roughcutter,preserved at Jet Age Gloucester.

Kemble Gate Guard by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/143986630@N03

[Ferrari]

interesting responses - thanks

Ferrari

[roughcutter]

That's the baby, I think Corgi produced a diecast of that one

[iainpeden]

The A-10 is a nice addition Sparky.
Kemble's paint shop had a reputation for being one of the best, if not the best in USAFE and as a result resprayed a number of types in addition to the A-10's and F-5's. These included Keflavik, Bitburg and Soesterberg F-15's, Hahn F-16's, Spangdahlem F-4's, Alconbury RF-4's, Sembach OV-10's and CH-53's plus Woodbridge HH-53's and even a few Upper Heyford F-111's. Work was also carried out on Mildenhall's EC-135H's and HC-130's from Woodbridge as well as C-130E's based at Rhein Main. In addition there were the daily (Mon-Fri) C-23 flights in and out. Timed right Kemble could be an interesting place to visit.

A bit of a story about the Kemble paintshop. In the early/mid 1980s (possibly '84)there were 3 USAF F-4Es at the Alconbury airshow, 2 from Seymour Johnson and 1 from Spang. It was about the time the gray/green/green scheme was taking over from the SEA one. However, the dark gray on the SJ birds was rough and charcoal like while the SP a/c was smooth and close to RAF dark sea grey. However both grays were meant to be the same colour (color?)

I did some digging and eventually got in touch with the chief painter at Kemble who confirmed they were repainting SP Es and said they prided themselves on the work they did; his explanation of the very different paint finishes was simply (?!) that the paints were sprayed at different pressures - resulting in the different finishes.

PS having made about 200 1/72 Phantoms I do get a little obsessive about these things.

[Nighthawke]

The SJs at Alconbury show were in 1983 - 2 on static and I also logged another 2.