Kemble 1990

[Sparky 119]

This is what FC is all about, sharing information, thanks to all who have posted from my original pictures

[bnaf]

Who else remembers these at Kemble.

To Moroccan Air Force

[DanBeeden]

Very interesting thread. I have a vague memory of seeing a C-23, A-10 and F-5 one afternoon at Kemble but was very young at the time. I didn't realise F-111s went in and especially not EC-135s from the Hall - now that would have been something to see.

[Sparky 119]

Amazing how some of these airframes move around the world, nice update.

[acw367]

In Feb-Mar 1991 at Kemble I noted WC-130H 65-0967 based with the Keesler AFB 53rd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron being painted from Weather Grey into Lizard. My understanding that four from the Sqn were painted at Kemble into Lizard. But that scheme for these was short lived and all were back into Grey at Keesler by around 1998 when this same frame visited Mildenhall.

[graham luxton]

In Feb-Mar 1991 at Kemble I noted WC-130H 65-0967 based with the Keesler AFB 53rd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron being painted from Weather Grey into Lizard. My understanding that four from the Sqn were painted at Kemble into Lizard. But that scheme for these was short lived and all were back into Grey at Keesler by around 1998 when this same frame visited Mildenhall.

Think that was the only one that they did.

[Blackboxromeo]

I believe that '967 came in for repair of battle damage, and other Herks included all of 435TAWs from Germany for mods in the late 80's. 67SOS's aircraft were 'serviced' as well.
Ex.Alconbury F-5Es were processed prior to delivery to Morocco and Tunisia, and 4 which were air-freighted in from the US.

[graham luxton]

I believe that '967 came in for repair of battle damage, and other Herks included all of 435TAWs from Germany for mods in the late 80's. 67SOS's aircraft were 'serviced' as well.
Ex.Alconbury F-5Es were processed prior to delivery to Morocco and Tunisia, and 4 which were air-freighted in from the US.

Also saw 7thSOS 63-7814 on maintenance there but the squadron's MC-130's were maintained elsewhere. Regarding the 4 that were airfreighted in - These arrived at Fairford on Wed 19th April'89 on board 60thMAW C-5A 70-0449, which had flown in from Elmendorf. They were all former 26thAS a/c based at Clark AB in the Philippines. I watched them being off loaded on a parking spot near the control tower and later in the afternoon 2 were roaded out of the Concorde car park for delivery to Kemble. The remaining 2 followed by road the next day.

[Imac]

nice catch and interesting 'potted' history of Kemble from the guys. I never knew USAF were there. Thanks for sharing.

[dragonchaser]

I believe that '967 came in for repair of battle damage, and other Herks included all of 435TAWs from Germany for mods in the late 80's. 67SOS's aircraft were 'serviced' as well.
Ex.Alconbury F-5Es were processed prior to delivery to Morocco and Tunisia, and 4 which were air-freighted in from the US.

Also saw 7thSOS 63-7814 on maintenance there but the squadron's MC-130's were maintained elsewhere. Regarding the 4 that were airfreighted in - These arrived at Fairford on Wed 19th April'89 on board 60thMAW C-5A 70-0449, which had flown in from Elmendorf. They were all former 26thAS a/c based at Clark AB in the Philippines. I watched them being off loaded on a parking spot near the control tower and later in the afternoon 2 were roaded out of the Concorde car park for delivery to Kemble. The remaining 2 followed by road the next day.

Of interest Graham, which four were they please?

[graham luxton]

I believe that '967 came in for repair of battle damage, and other Herks included all of 435TAWs from Germany for mods in the late 80's. 67SOS's aircraft were 'serviced' as well.
Ex.Alconbury F-5Es were processed prior to delivery to Morocco and Tunisia, and 4 which were air-freighted in from the US.

Also saw 7thSOS 63-7814 on maintenance there but the squadron's MC-130's were maintained elsewhere. Regarding the 4 that were airfreighted in - These arrived at Fairford on Wed 19th April'89 on board 60thMAW C-5A 70-0449, which had flown in from Elmendorf. They were all former 26thAS a/c based at Clark AB in the Philippines. I watched them being off loaded on a parking spot near the control tower and later in the afternoon 2 were roaded out of the Concorde car park for delivery to Kemble. The remaining 2 followed by road the next day.

Of interest Graham, which four were they please?

72-01388, 75-0612, 75-0613 and 75-0617 - I needed them

[dragonchaser]

Many thanks as always Graham, I would have needed those as well.

[AshBailey]

My frequent lunchtime at Kemble in the late 80's brought...


A-10A 77.0250 /AR/gy
A-10A 80.0159
A-10A 80.0160
A-10A 80.0179
A-10A 80.0183
A-10A 80.0217
A-10A 80.0231
A-10A 80.0274
A-10A 80.0276
A-10A 80.0277
A-10A 81.0950
C-23A 84.0472
C-130E 63.7885
C-130E 64.0527
C-130E 64.0550
C-130E 68.10938
C-130E 69.6582
C-130E 70.1260
F-5E 72.01388
F-5E 74.01532
F-5E 74.01534
F-5E 74.01549
F-5E 74.01551
F-5E 74.01553
F-5E 74.01554
F-5E 74.01569
F-5E 75.0612
F-5E 75.0613
F-5E 75.0617
F-15C 81.0027 /CR/o

Good old days by the bacon-sarnie wagon!

[acw367]

Wed 11 Oct 1989 Kemble
63-7861 Lockheed C-130E Hercules United States Air Force

Thu 09 Nov 1989 Kemble
68-10935 Lockheed C-130E Hercules United States Air Force
68-10947 Lockheed C-130E Hercules United States Air Force
80-0231 Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II United States Air Force
XW301 British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5 Royal Air Force - all on Det to be nearer to Welsh low level areas.
XW359 British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A Royal Air Force
XW370 British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A Royal Air Force
XW410 British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A Royal Air Force
XW434 British Aircraft Corporation Jet Provost T.5A Royal Air Force

Thu 21 Feb 1991 Kemble
65-0967 Lockheed WC-130H Hercules United States Air Force

Sun 15 Sep 1991 Kemble
69-5827 Lockheed HC-130N Hercules United States Air Force

[Sparky 119]

There was also a JP detachment in Feb 90 with the following noted,
XW305,XW374,XW323,XW363,XW422.

I have photo’s if anyone is interested.

[bnaf]

[Knife 04]

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 Sembach CH-53's plus Woodbridge HH-53's

I have been passed the below by Mark Service, the 67th SOS Squadron Historian, who has been assured this was taken at Kemble in 1987 and asked me to add to the thread. Checking the interior of the hangar in the below shot and comparing it with the exterior of the hangar in the background of the 2nd F-5 shot in the thread they are pretty much consistent with the windows and the curvature of the roof

A Woodbridge HH-53C of the 67th ARRS and Sembach CH-53C of the 601st TCW undergoing works - hope you find of interest (original photographer unknown)

HH-53C & CH-53C - Kemble 1987 by Darren Currie, on Flickr

[dragonchaser]

The H53’s is a great shot, they are certainly a very imposing sight when in flight.

[3Greens]

This has been a very interesting article. I had no idea that Kemble had played such an important part in the USAFE repaint programme. It was on that point that I realised that I still had in my files a copy of the full dimensional repaint specification for an A10 from the initial grey into 'Lizard' scheme. It had been passed to me by my brother in law who was in the Fire Service at the time stationed at their UK Training School at Moreton in the Marsh. They had been invited on a visit with the USAFE Fire Dept. at Kemble. As I was a keen modeller at the time he obtained for me several patches and the paint specification. That certainly bettered the ESCI model instructions I was using at the time !
It is in a larger than A4 US format - I'll see if I can post it up for anyone interested

3Greens

[ajaxfever]

not 1990 but back in 1988 (july the 31th) my brother and I saw inside one of the hangars HC-130N 95827 while on a "self arranged tour"

sweet memories ....

peter