FighterControl

Today 55 years ago I was at Metz-Frescaty, France, as part of my summer holidays spotting trip. On my moped, without suspension, together with a fellow hobbyist from Soesterberg, I drove all the way from Soesterberg to Colmar-Meyenheim to do plane-spotting along the route. After visiting Bitburg and Spangdahlem next stop where photographing was possible was Metz-Frescaty as first base in northeastern France. I will add a few pictures from Bitburg and Spangdahlem first. The Phantoms those days looked rather boring without any markings on them. I hope these images are of interest to you.

Spangdahlem 31 July 1967. C-47A O-49295 49TFW by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bitburg 1 August 1967. F-4D 65-0593 36TFW by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bitburg 1 August 1967. C-124C 52-1066 436MAW by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bitburg 1 August 1967. U-8D 57-6038 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. T-33A 51-8820 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. C-45 1383 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. Noratlas 194/62-WL by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. Noratlas Gabriel 39/- by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. Noratlas Gabriel 66/- by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. Flamant 250/- by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. C-47 48978/M-C by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. C-47 76450/316-FO by arnold booy, on Flickr

Metz-Frescaty 3 August 1967. C-47 77011 by arnold booy, on Flickr

Regards,
Arnold

Wow, stunning images from a golden era! Thanks for sharing and please, keep them coming.
Paul

Love them, Love them, Love them all!
I was ecstatic to see the Globie, immensely pleased to see the Seminole then came the other pistons ... fantastic
Many thanks for sharing them

Morning Arnold

Lovely pictures from a bygone era you’ve posted The F4 picture is interesting as I notice it doesn’t have the sensor under the nose.
Cracking set, thanks again

Regards Glenn

Wonderful images from a care-free and bygone time, love those FAF C47's, Flamant and Nortatlas shots. Hope there is more to come, thanks for sharing.

My era, having been to the 1963 Paris air show and RAF Odiham during Farnborough week it stirred my memorises.
Black and white photo was the normal back then. Thanks for posting.

Very nice again Arnold! Must have been a challenge, spotting in France those day's. Fellow spotter called Fred by any chance?

Thank you all for the very kind comments.
jpickers56, there is more to come. I intend to make it a ‘55 years ago’ series with pictures from Baden-Söllingen, Lahr and Colmar-Meyenheim to come in the next days.
Harold, it certainly was stressful in France where plane-spotting was an unknown activity. At Colmar I had to hide, together with my moped, in a cornfield. Only when an aircraft arrived, I went to the edge.
It wasn’t Fred. It was Henk S. (I am not sure I can mention his full name without his permission)
Arnold

Thanks Arnold, once again you've provided us with some excellent shots. Love the C-124 and nice to see the Noratlases. I visited Metz in 1987 and saw a few Noratlas there, it can't have been long before they were withdrawn from service. Please keep them coming!

Wow, these are just awesome, what a great set of photos there,
many thanks for sharing these with us,

Rob

Arnold, what is it about b/w images that just captures the period? Your wonderful images drag us all back to a younger and ,"better"? time. Thank you as always for posting these superb images. Very best regards, Gordon.

Fantastic, I never tire of seeing photos of Dakotas!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snoopy Noratlases - neat!

Hi Arnold

How could those not be of interest to us all

I can just imagine the lovely racket from that C124

Thanks for yet another awesome post

Paddyboy

Stunning Arnold. thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Ranger

Hi Arnold - those are all excellent images, many thanks for showing them to us. I especially like the landing T-33 shot.

I had an "encounter" with the Gendarme at Metz in about 1980 whilst looking at the very same special Noratlas aircraft in your photos - sensitive planes.

Top photos

Stunning images Arnold. Please keep them coming. Like the C-45, only ever saw them on fire dumps!

Great shots Arnold
Thanks

Hi Arnold

Great shots great planes
Echt fantastisch

Great set. Interesting to note that several of these types also feature in my Air Atlantique shows post 36 yrs later!