Eldorado Canyon - 14th April 1986

[Latics1]

Superb tribute. Hard to believe that it was 34 years ago tonight. I remember it well...

[reaperops]

34 years ago this evening - where has all that time gone?

Hi Darren,

Nice tribute. I remember standing at the waterworks entrance at the 11 end, West Row with my little 110 camera, watching the KC-10's launching and seeing F-111's getting airborne across the road. Can't believe this was 34 years ago. Have you read the book by Col Robert E. Venkus on how the raid was planned and executed.??

Found these over the weekend in the Fandango Files, taken a few years ago on visit to the old 495th TFS/ 56th RQS Complex. One of the PAS's still carried the name of the Pilot of 'Karma 52', who was from the 495th TFS. The F-111F identified on the PAS is not the one lost during the mission. Believe that was 70-2389. Also found an image on an F-111F with '1986 Ribbons' and the plaque in the Heritage park at RAFL.

All the Best

Gary.

[paddyboy]

Hi Daz

34 years indeed

Still got my
Lakenheath
Is
Bombing
Your
Ass
T-shirt bought at Air Fete soon afterwards

Still fits, before you ask

See ya soon buddy

Paddy

[grumpy616]

Nice one Darren.

Pete

[Alf]

"Have you read the book by Col Robert E. Venkus on how the raid was planned and executed.??"

======================

Thanks for that, have just ordered the book from Amazon… looks good… was at Fairford on the 14th when the KC-10s departed then over to LN and Mildenhall very early on the 15th when things returned.. was that really 34 years ago!!

[Knife 04]

Thanks for the comments all

Hi Darren,

Nice tribute. I remember standing at the waterworks entrance at the 11 end, West Row with my little 110 camera, watching the KC-10's launching and seeing F-111's getting airborne across the road. Can't believe this was 34 years ago. Have you read the book by Col Robert E. Venkus on how the raid was planned and executed.??

Found these over the weekend in the Fandango Files, taken a few years ago on visit to the old 495th TFS/ 56th RQS Complex. One of the PAS's still carried the name of the Pilot of 'Karma 52', who was from the 495th TFS. The F-111F identified on the PAS is not the one lost during the mission. Believe that was 70-2389. Also found an image on an F-111F with '1986 Ribbons' and the plaque in the Heritage park at RAFL.

All the Best

Gary.

Cheers Gary - Saw your other F-111 and KC-10 shots over on Flickr - great stuff! Got any more as there dont seem to be that many of that evening around? Must have been great to see them. Yes I do have a copy of 'Raid on Qaddafi' and it is a great read

Glad the 'Fandango Files' are that comprehensive. I hope that site over on the old 495th ramp will be preserved with the current construction works. The F-111F tail number on the shelter is not the one which did not return and I also have 'Karma 52' as 70-2389. Cannot see 70-2404 on the list of aircraft that participated. That image of the tail will clean up nicely

All the best and hopefully catch up when I can get back up there after this crisis - Stay safe

Darren

It may interest you to know that the F111 in RAFmuseum Cosford is one of the aircraft that took part in this operation. The ground crew left a little reminder of this in the front undercarriage compartment, a little painted image of bombs going into a swimming pool together with the name and date of the op.

Thanks Steve - The F-111F at Cosford, 74-0177, flew as Jewel 63 against the Sidi Bilal Training Camp and bombs destroyed frogman training pool* - will remember to have a look for that when I visit

* - Credit - F-111 Aardvark by Peter E Davies & Anthony M Thornborough

[JASTREB]

You've got the sticker - I've got an original mug. Its been used but it's still intact.

[Knife 04]

You've got the sticker - I've got an original mug. Its been used but it's still intact.

Sticker? Thats what I posted - mugs and T shirts as well but no shots of them to post. For one T-Shirt my brother and I had to follow a trail to the supply hangar as not sold on the flight line - asked 'why are you here?' We would like the Gaddaffi T shirts - there you go and no charge! Also got a 494th Jacket - gave my address and size and thought nothing of it and to be honest forgot about it - 6 weeks later a bundle arrived and still have it today with my name on

T Shirt needs pressing!
Eldorado Canyon - 1986 by Darren Currie, on Flickr

[JASTREB]

You might have the sticker, but I have the mug, as used by the crews from Lakenheath.

[T_J]

F-111F Pilot interview. Call sign Puffy 12.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6nox5_QStw

This short episode focuses on the experiences of one of the Air Force pilots who took part in the raid, and it not intended to be a documentary of any description. Rather, it is intended provide an extremely rare first-hand retelling of the raid, spoken by someone who was there.

This is rare – it may even be the first time that the story has been broadcast using the voice of one of the Air Force participants – because all of the Air Force participants decided to remain anonymous after the event. They may have told friends and family, but they have never gone public.

The man I interviewed was the pilot of F-111F call sign Puffy 12. He told me that I could reveal his identity if I wished. However, I have chosen not to. The act of going public must be his to take, not mine.

From.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKRC6h ... hMA/videos

[Knife 04]

Good evening

Thought it pertinent to resurrect this thread - 36 years after the raid this evening. At this time (21.30z) the guys who participated would now be refueling and getting ready to go in

We will remember this, those that participated and those who did not return - God Bless and RIP

48th TFW - 'Missing Man' by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Eldorado Canyon 86 by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Lujac 21
F-111F - 72-449 / LN - 'Lujac 21'- 493rd TFS, 48th TFW, RAF Lakenheath by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Eldorado Canyon Sticker by Darren Currie, on Flickr

[paddyboy]

Nice one, Darren

We will remember them

Paddy

[22A]

30 years ago. OMG. I remember driving up to the Hall about midnight to watch the tankers. Cleared a few KC10's that night.
Great tribute .

One TV reporter stated "we knew something was up because local aircraft spotters reported many extra tankers there".
Getting up the next morning and turned on the TV news to see these F111s and the announcer saying "The first bombers are just coming back now". All I could think was OMG, where have they been?

[Philwinward]

I remember arriving at Mildenhall for my regular Saturday visit,was amazed by the number of tankers there and they kept arriving during the day. Also, you could hear the F111’s at Lakenheath doing engine runs, that was very unusual as Lakenheath was normally shut down on a Saturday. Now of course we know why.
Went back the following Saturday and had a struggle parking, not because of the number of spotters, but MOD police and Suffolk police were patrolling the outside of the fence moving everybody on and not allowing anyone at the fence., quite understandable in the circumstances.

[KevinJ]

I remember visiting the old "C5" shop at Heathrow where they had a board with movements on and saw that 6 KC-10s were in Mildenhall. Went up there the Sunday with a mate and as we drove towards the base saw the last of them landing and all you could see was KC-10 tails! That Sunday was very quiet with I think only a Starlifter movement in the afternoon. Another mate who didn't go Sunday wanted to go so we set off after work on the 14th from London and got there to find a lot of engines running! It wasn't that busy at the crash gate at the 11 end which surprised me as we started to see tankers taxiing, and nooticed both Blackbird sheds open. I had my AOR2001 scanner on the car roof but everything departed in radio silence and after the first few KC-10s took off the F-111s appeared from 24, this continued with KC-10s, KC-135s and groups of four F-111s. It was surreal, we knew for sure something serious was happening and bone chilling to think that one of those F-111 crews would not be returning. Got home and watched he news, nothing about them launching. Later left the radio on and in the early hours LBC News started reporting the attack. It was an odd feeling knowing beforehand they were going that day. A day I'll never forget.