Dragons at Wethersfield

[FrogBob]

Whilst scanning some old slides I came across some from Wethersfield when the 100SRW/349SRS deployed 5 x U2C's (66680. 66700.66701.66707 & 66714) in May 1975 to test ALSS. It prompted me to dig out my old log book for the period. The photos were taken on 29 May when there was panic on the base as only 3 of the 4 U2's that left returned. I lated recorded in my log that Captain Terry Rendleman in 66700 'came down' in Hunsruck WG. He was OK but the U2 was buried in a pit in situ. A visit to the base the following week revealed that a replacement (66716) had arrived.
Hope this little bit of history will be of interest to some FC'ers.

Bob.


Scans (75) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr


Scans (74) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr


Scans (71) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80667437@N04/8354206239/" title="Scans (75) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr"><i
Scans (65) by Frog Bob1, on Flickrmg src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8354 ... 808e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="735" alt="Scans (75)"></a>


Scans (63) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr


Scans (62) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr


Scans (59) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr


Scans (55) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr


Scans (58) by Frog Bob1, on Flickr

[Arthur Tee]

OMG !

And the prize for rare shots goes to...

Arthur

[SW Sky Blue]

Great post

[Knife 04]

Post of the month and it is only the 6th January

Thanks for putting on the forum - great to see shots like this from an era long gone

Cheers

[wezgulf3]

Hope this little bit of history will be of interest to some FC'ers.

Errrr Just slightly!!!

Wonderful post would love to see some more or even a little bit of the Log!

Wes...

[Flyingmonster]

Phwoar!!

[paddyboy]

No words, we are not worthy, etc., etc.,

Sooooooooooooooooooooperb

Best regards

Paddyboy

[Maurits37]

Ohohohooo..these are special!

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Maurits

[Proteus]

Holy Cr*p, I think I am hallucinating, Many many thanks.......Regards N.

[shaggie]

Now we are talking ,great shots

[davedubya]

This is amazing. I've seen photos of the U-2 deployments at Wethersfield before, but never as detailed as this.

[ST24]

I can't recall ever seeing a non-official photo of early U-2s, so seeing so many in one place- excellent post- fascinating to see!!!!

[viggen091]

Superb.

Just as matter of interest what scanner are you using.

Excellent shots.

Garry

[FrogBob]

The scanner is a Maplins own Brand. Three in the range and this is the middle reasonably priced model. A few of the LEDs have been uprated along with the scanning quality / saturation levels. Works quite well at under £100 and much better than a lot I have seen and used at twice the price.

Bob

[atech]

Thanks for sharing.

I have a few shots from this deployment, but they were taken from a lot further away than yours

Thanks again, happy memories

Atech

[3Greens]

Nice to see these again. Caught them on return from a long sortie
If he doesn't mind me saying Garry Scott posted some very intesting data on the mission status back in 2010
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=21001&hilit=+U2C#p120385" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
thanks for posting
Keith

[Rainton20]

Just to add to FrogBob's original post here's another photo from the time of the deployment. Unfortunately, I only shot b&w film at the time as I was a poor young lad! 66707 is the background U-2.

[LTFT5]

[quote="FrogBob"]
Hope this little bit of history will be of interest to some FC'ers.

Bob.

That has to be the understatement of the year, these are superb. I have thoroughly enjoyed this post and in the dark winter months will be spending some time to research this deployment.

Andy

[roadrunner46]

I know this post started back in January but I love the shots and am so proud to have been "there" when they all arrived for the deployment..... Pure nostalgia....

[Rainton20]

And if only airfield perimeter fences were still a couple of bits of wire tacked onto three foot upright posts!