F16 deployment to Fairford

[Pauld339]

Yesterday's excitement at Fairford brought back memories of the last time I saw a deployment of (8??) F16s to Fairford - the Illinois Air Guard. I was very young at the time, and have only patchy memories of the day. But I do remember a very long wait (no FR24 or facebook those days!), much excitement when someone with a massive HF radio heard them on their way, and then them arriving late in the day on R27 just as the sun was getting on the nose. Someone can no doubt remember when this was and what the exercise was called? Some of my Dad''s photos attached (scans from slides taken with a very basic camera, so apologies for the quality).

IMG_6525 by Paul Darlow, on Flickr

IMG_6739 by Paul Darlow, on Flickr

[Mustang531]

Those were the days, no electronic devices to look at and find out what was happening, all word of mouth and phone calls using landlines. I can't remember seeing the Illinois aircraft, nice shots and thanks for sharing these with us. But I remember seeing an F-16 deployment to Fairford, possibly Oregon ANG machines. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Also remember some Maryland ANG A-10s operating from Lyneham.

[Pauld339]

I have some shots of those A10s at Lyneham, will dig them out and post them on this thread. That was the one and only time I've ever heard a farmer actually say "gerr off moi land" in real life!

[Pauld339]

Maryland ANG A-10s as mentioned - 1996 I think? We lived In Wroughton at the time and somehow (don't remember the details) we found out they were leaving. So ensued a mad dash over. I seem to recall it was a Sunday morning, and we got there with about 10 minutes to spare!

What on earth were A10s doing at Lyneham, does anyone remember?!?!

Lynham96'683'(3) by Paul Darlow, on Flickr

Lynham96'082'(1) by Paul Darlow, on Flickr

Lynham96'086'(1) by Paul Darlow, on Flickr

[Thunder]

Your F-16’s were from 1994, 30th April to 15th May

4x KC-135s from the Illinois ANG
8x F-16A 182FG / 169FS Illinois ANG

Exercise Resolute Response/Coronet Nova

Those were the days when these type of deployments were frequent

[Pauld339]

Thanks Thunder. The above photos were taken on the arrival day (it was the only day we went out) so must have been 30 April 1994. That makes me 14 at the time....

[Mustang531]

Nice to see the A-10s and thanks for sharing them with us. Also for the additional information, great days.

[XX105]

For information the Lyneham deployment in Aug/Sept 96 also included Maryland ANG C-130's

A-10 "MD"

78-0683
78-0693
79-0082
70-0086
81-0985
82-0649

C-130

64-0510
64-0521
64-0526

[XX105]

The Ilinios ANG deployment

KC-135

57-1480
58-0003
58-0068
59-1487

F-16A "IL"

80-0556
80-0587
80-0591
81-0741
81-0762
82-0916
82-0917
82-0923

[capercaillie]

I was there, remember it well, and I think the only time I photographed a DC-8! Nice memories.

[luxto]

The Ilinios ANG deployment

KC-135

57-1480
58-0003
58-0068
59-1487

F-16A "IL"

80-0556
80-0587
80-0591
81-0741
81-0762
82-0916
82-0917
82-0923

On Sat 7th May we got 2 more Illinois KC-135E's when they did a frame swap. 58-0003 "CODER71" and 58-0068 "CODER72" returned to the US while coming in the other direction was 58-0057 "CODER65" and 57-1458 "CODER67".