26 years ago today, the F-111E's finished in the UK

[vark 1.1]

Sad to remember, but the base was a Big part of life in North Oxfordshire with the USAFE.

So some images of a type very much missed.

670120-20thFW-HAS-Area by Richard Parker, on Flickr

680007-27-Hold by Richard Parker, on Flickr

680055-UH-55th-AMU-27-Hold by Richard Parker, on Flickr

Base-Sign-20th-FW by Richard Parker, on Flickr

'Vark 1.1 flight' runway 27 in use.

[Blackcat1]

Awesome aircraft! Used to see them low level in even the worse weather through the valleys of Wales.

Thanks for posting

[F3]

They were a common sight in North Yorkshire too, and regular customers of the Bombing Range @ Cowden where one crashed back in the mid '80s. I saw one over the North York Moors whilst on a drive out on my B'day the previous month which was the last one I ever saw.

[paddyboy]

Hi Richard

That's the way to brighten up a dull Sunday

Some swinger shots

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[The Phantom]

Super images

[Knife 04]

Brilliant post Richard - one of my favourite airframes of all time and a great place to visit

Thanks for posting - great quality scans as well

Darren

[Seahawk 11]

Very good set of photos there, I used to go to Upper Heyford quite a lot, love the F-111, great to see these,

Rob

[Pune]

Great images, went to a superb air-show there but can't remember what year sadly, I remember Thunderbirds were there, and I was introduced to Sloppy Jo in a bun, happy days.

[Blackcat1]

Never mind guys there's always F35! .

[roughcutter]

Cracking images taken from Ardley (via the farm), of my favourite airbase, greatly missed

[Mike]

Great images, went to a superb air-show there but can't remember what year sadly, I remember Thunderbirds were there, and I was introduced to Sloppy Jo in a bun, happy days.

I agree, they are wonderful shots.

That sounds like the airshow in 1971 :- https://www.scramble.nl/?option=com_sho ... GB&id=2627

Here's a scan of a slide I took that day, sorry about the quality - this was before the based aircraft were coded 'UH'.

[Mike]

It's quite sad looking at how many F-111Es and crew were lost in the UK during their time here, have a look at the 68-0001 - 68-0084 section at the start of Joe's site :- http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1968.html

[graham luxton]

It's quite sad looking at how many F-111Es and crew were lost in the UK during their time here, have a look at the 68-0001 - 68-0084 section at the start of Joe's site :- http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1968.html

Entry for 68-0082 needs correcting - accident was at Fairford not Upper Heyford.

[eLaReF]

Entry for 68-0082 needs correcting - accident was at Fairford not Upper Heyford.

Joe is very good at responding to correctional emails and taking action if you email him
OK with one exception - I sent one with info about 100 T-33s - He finally replied about 18 months later, having finally got the job done! - But otherwise, I usually get a reply within 2 weeks or so

[F3]

Great images, went to a superb air-show there but can't remember what year sadly, I remember Thunderbirds were there, and I was introduced to Sloppy Jo in a bun, happy days.

The Thunderbirds performed there in '84 + '91. Here's a few pics of their '84 display.

UH '84 - T - Bird spit + polish by Michael Britton, on Flickr

UH '84 - T - Bird 5 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

UH '84 - T-Birds by Michael Britton, on Flickr

UH '84 Flying display - Thunderbird by Michael Britton, on Flickr

UH '84 - T - Birds (2) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[graham luxton]

Entry for 68-0082 needs correcting - accident was at Fairford not Upper Heyford.

Joe is very good at responding to correctional emails and taking action if you email him
OK with one exception - I sent one with info about 100 T-33s - He finally replied about 18 months later, having finally got the job done! - But otherwise, I usually get a reply within 2 weeks or so

Thanks - he does a great job considering the enormity of the task.

[SW Sky Blue]

Happy days Rich

Kev

[graham luxton]

Happy days Rich

Kev

Very true Kev

Graham

[graham luxton]

Here's a scan of a slide I took that day, sorry about the quality - this was before the based aircraft were coded 'UH'.

The original tail code allocation for the Upper Heyford F-111E's was UR (79TFS), UT (77TFS) and US (55TFS). All the 79th a/c got coded UR and a couple of the 77th's UT before the prefix was changed to J in early Jan'71, which was some months before the full complement of a/c had been delivered. If memory serves me correctly the UR/S/T may have conflicted with units in South East Asia.

[Mike]

Thanks for that Graham, they were certainly all coded JR, JS & JT (apart from 3 or 4 that were uncoded) at the June '71 show.