June 1995, CC F-111s and LA B-52s visit Fairford

[Stroudy]

Being a local and an F-111 lover these shots are brilliant. Haven't seen a decent set on that deployment like this yet and good to get lots of background in as well.

There is a CC F-111 framed photo on the wall by the bar in the Marlborough Arms pub in town (amongst other deployed aircraft pictures) signed by various crew from that deployment.

I agree that spotting was much more laid back then. The hysteria and competition now is comical. I'm just a 'looker', not a number taker or photographer, as I like to go and properly see it, through my actual eyes, and soak up the view. The way spotters sometimes look at me for turning up without a camera (what ever next) often makes me laugh

[andrewn]

I think the Cannon F-111s were the D mark- never saw any regrettably.
Roger.
p.s. quality pictures indeed.

They were definitely ex-Lakenheath F-111Fs which replaced the D models at Cannon. You can see the Pave Tack pod that the F model carried in it's bomb bay deployed under the fuselage of a couple of them.

Rob

I made it down too, this is my log from the 20th June:

B-52H 60-0013, 61-0013, 61-0019 all 2BW 'LA', flew as "Doom 01-03"
B-52H 61-0024/LA 2BW on ground
F-111F 70-2391, 70-2382, 70-2406, 70-2392, 70-2414 & 70-2419 all CC 523FS, flew as "Saber 11-16" (AM sortie)
F-111F 73-0715/CC 523FS, plus 2382, 2406 & 2392 all flew PM as "Saber 21-24"
F-111F 70-2404/CC 523FS on ground, special marks for "523FS" commander
U-2R 80-1066 flew with Senior Span pod fitted, 80-1092 flew & 80-1080 on the ground, all 9RW "BB"

Happy Days

[DanBeeden]

Brilliant shots from a fantastic deployment - thanks for sharing these. I was 15 at the time and begged Dad to try to get the day off work (which he duly did!) so we could spend a day watching the action. At the end of the day we were let onto the base and bussed across to the ramp where all 8 Varks and the Buffs were parked up. All the crew were there too, chatting to visitors, selling patches and photos. I filmed it all (rather bady by today's standards!) and have it on a VHS somewhere.

Towards the end of the deployment one of the F-111s did a low flyby of the ramp where the rest of the jets were parked, followed by a pull up and roll. Tower gave him a right bollo**ing saying "Sabre 11, you have been disapproved for your flyby of the ramp. Don't do it. Copy?" I've got it and the accompanying R/T audio on video. Happy days indeed.

[Maurits37]

lovely stuff.