NAS Miramar '74 - part 4

[eLaReF]

Getting to the finish straight now. Still more of those Fantom thingies and a few odds‘n sods, including the Blue Angels who we had just seen a few days before at El Toro!! At least we had seen Fat Albert this time

155899 McDonnell F-4J Phantom VF-121 NJ179 by eLaReF, on Flickr

155900 McDonnell F-4J Phantom VF-121 NJ180 by eLaReF, on Flickr

157242 McDonnell F-4J Phantom VF-114 NH200 by eLaReF, on Flickr

157243 McDonnell F-4N Phantom VF-114 NH201 by eLaReF, on Flickr

157255 McDonnell F-4J Phantom VF-121 NJ101 by eLaReF, on Flickr

157497 Vought A-7E Corsair II VA-192 NH311 by eLaReF, on Flickr
This A-7 was showing the effects of being in a salt-water environment
157497 Vought A-7E Corsair II VA-192 NH311 Rivet Detail by eLaReF, on Flickr


I hadn’t realised that TA-4J’s were, or could be, armed. Note the wing-root muzzle showing
158456 Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk VF-126 NJ610 by eLaReF, on Flickr

For me, this was probably the star of the visit (Sorry all you Famtom Fans ) - I had only ever seen one other just a few days before at El Toro and it had been on the far side
158547 Grumman EA-6B Prowler msn P-25 VAQ-136 NH612 by eLaReF, on Flickr
158547 Grumman EA-6B Prowler msn P-25 VAQ-136 NH612 Detail by eLaReF, on Flickr

158621 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ400 by eLaReF, on Flickr

158624 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ404 by eLaReF, on Flickr

158626 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ406 by eLaReF, on Flickr

158627 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ407 by eLaReF, on Flickr

158631 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ413 by eLaReF, on Flickr

158632 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ412 by eLaReF, on Flickr

158722 Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk Blue Angel 7 by eLaReF, on Flickr

159003 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ423 by eLaReF, on Flickr

159006 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ421 by eLaReF, on Flickr

159021 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-124 NJ431 by eLaReF, on Flickr

159270 Vought A-7E Corsair II VA-192 NH313 by eLaReF, on Flickr

159282 Vought A-7E Corsair II VA-195 NH401 by eLaReF, on Flickr

59-01595 Northrop T-38A Talon Top Gun 17 by eLaReF, on Flickr

59-1594 Northrop T-38A Talon Top Gun 13 by eLaReF, on Flickr

59-1598 Northrop T-38A Talon Top Gun 16 by eLaReF, on Flickr

66-0194 Lockheed C-141A Starlifter 437MAW by eLaReF, on Flickr

Blue Angels Line-Up by eLaReF, on Flickr

Miramar VF-121 Line-Up 1 by eLaReF, on Flickr

TA-4J Line-Up by eLaReF, on Flickr

VF-121 Flight Line Area with 155565 F-4J VF121 NJ151 at front by eLaReF, on Flickr
I waited for this shot to set up, having been watching a series of Skyhawks taxiing out for take-off
VF-194 Vought F-8J Crusader's 150660 NM207 & 150328 NM206 by eLaReF, on Flickr

I mentioned in part three that there were 3 of us. I actually had the other B&W camera and was taking alternate shots generally with the interesting ones on both, whilst my buddy did the writing. So these photos are just over half of those I took! Once again the Cry - 'If only I'd had a DSLR' - I was still being careful with film so as not to run out.

And that was us finished. We had had a great tour, the likes of which can never be repeated. If we ever could, it would just be wall to wall grey Hornets. I never even got to photograph the gate guards. (Same story when I passed in 2014!)

Then we were off to North Island. Unfortunately, there, we were given a Personnel type to show us around, rather than an F-4 driver, so most of it was off-limits as far as he was concerned!!

[iainpeden]

Love the asymmetric wing fold on that Phantom - and the puzzled looking crew.

[eLaReF]

That was 155573 but no other pix of it.

[paddyboy]

Another sublime post of superb airframes

I spy gorgeous little Northrops

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[SpilsbyPete]

Part's 1 to 4
This has been "Pure Porn"

Fantastic

[BlueBoy67]

What a really great series of posts. Thank you.

[dollar99]

Gorgeous series

We got the none photo tour in 1981 when there were still RF-8s on the ramp which was a bit of a bummer, also got the N Island no you can't photograph or make notes tour but we will drive you all the way round!

VC-7 had gone by the time I visited but VFC-13 had moved in instead and The Bandits TA-4s were in a variety of aggressor colour schemes rather than training command colours. I did catch the last of the Phantoms there but they were all toned down, should have visited earlier but you live and learn

Thanks again for a fantastic set of nostalgia.

Ian

[Punkrunner62]

Thanks eLaReF, absolutely brilliant stuff, i was 12 in 74, so a period of aviation history that passed me by, great to have it brought to life with you great posts.
Cheers Mike.

[eLaReF]

We got the none photo tour in 1981 when there were still RF-8s on the ramp which was a bit of a bummer, also got the N Island no you can't photograph or make notes tour but we will drive you all the way round!

I'd heard they had gotten all 'antsy' later about tours and pictures! Glad I went when we did

As to

should have visited earlier but you live and learn

I've said that about many places and we probably all have

My list starts with Abbotsinch, followed closely by MASDC - MASDC was the raison d'etre for this trip but I missed 1000 B-47s and many other nice things by less than 5 years!

[DanBeeden]

Amazing series of images - can only imagine how colourful these jets must have been. Thanks for sharing.

[MR TERRY GREEN]

We have been truly spoilt what a great selection.

[warferry]

Thanks for a great collection still like the mono shots and well done for taking the time to load them all.