FighterControl

The German Navy was a significant operator of the IDS Tornado which equipped two Wings, MFG 1 @ Schleswig-Jagel and MFG 2 @ Eggebeck. They transitioned to the type from the F-104G, MFG1 in the early '80s and MFG2 a few years later. At first instantly recognizable by their smart grey and white colour scheme they were later hard to distinguish from their Luftwaffe counterparts when they adopted a low vis all grey scheme in the 90s. Altho' it was almost impossible to see them in their natural environment I came across a long forgotten strip of negs taken from the beach @ Bridlington during a family holiday and as soon as I got them in the scanner recognised one as a distant view of a MFG1 Tornado. Made my day.
Tornado IDS 43+71 MFG 1 Lakenheath '88 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS 43+69 MFG1 Air Fete c. '85 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS 43+57 MFG 1 Air Fete c.'86 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS 43 +57 MFG1 Mildenhall c. '85 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS 46+10 Air Fete '92 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS 45+27 MFG1 Finningley '94 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS pair MFG 1 Cottesmore '98 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Tornado IDS German Navy Bridlington (1) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Thanks for posting, loved the Grey/White scheme, but must say what a family holiday snap.
Rob

Hi Mick

Look at those grey/white beasties

Pity about the background activity in No.3

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

Fab set just loved the old grey and white scheme.

Always enjoy photo’s of the Tornado and particularly nice to see some in MFG markings , great set thanks for posting.

paddyboy wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 08, 2019 5:04 am

Hi Mick

Look at those grey/white beasties

Pity about the background activity in No.3

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

And to think I chose that one just for you Patrick, as a little bird told me you were a big Grasshoppers fan!

Really like the Bridlington shot for some reason, very evocative of a much missed era of interesting low level fast jets!

Thunderbolt II wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 08, 2019 5:10 pm

Really like the Bridlington shot for some reason, very evocative of a much missed era of interesting low level fast jets!

Thanks very much. I was really chuffed to find that strip of negs and then discovering it was German Navy instead of RAF like another on the strip was a real bonus.

Always likes the grey/white Kriegsmarine scheme. I think the Bridlington shot is a cut above the normal holiday snap.