KC-135 art work on hangar

[Reach1985]

I have it in my mind that there used to be artwork of a KC-135 on the outside of one of the hangars at Fairford but I can’t find a photo - does anyone have one please? Also when did the artwork get painted over? thanks in advance.

[skyking_comms]

Also trying to find a picture myself for the RAF Fairford History website - I believe it was removed around May 2002

www.raf-fairford.co.uk

[iainpeden]

Put your request into the photo section of UKAR; I am sure someone will find one.
Removal before the RIAT in 2002 sounds right as the show was at Cottesmore in 2000 and 2001 as Fairford was unavailable for taxiway work.

[Rory76]

Try on an Air Tattoo page maybe? Remember it from when I went in the 90s.

[WE.177]

Quick search on Flickr found this:

https://flic.kr/p/2jhGRaT

[exatco]

Nice pic......sports the old SAC band.

[Seacat192]

Think it had ‘European Tanker Task Force’ on another part of the hangar too.

[rva65]

Yes there was a big KC-135 painted on the hangar along with the titles European Tanker Task Force, back in the good old days of the tanker TDY’s between 1978 and 1990.

[mushbuster]

The artwork and titles appeared in 1986/1987 after the buildings on base were repainted from the NATO green scheme to the USAFE cream and brown scheme from 1986. The aircraft was on the hangar currently used for U2 ops (hangar 1205) and was reported as "near full size" and were applied by a well known pub sign painter from the Gloucester area. The ETTF titles were on the other hangar (hangar 1196). IIRC they were painted out around the late 90s although the ETTF markings may have been painted over much sooner.

[Timmo]

Both the KC-135 and European Tanker Task Force markings were still on the hangars throughout 1999 (certainly in the background of many RIAT '99 photos!). Removal occurred at some point in 2000 - 2001 during the airfield upgrade works.

[Reach1985]

Thanks guys for all the info and the photo - I knew I hadn’t imagined it!

[page_verify]

Looking through the history photos.....
In March 1999, the smaller hangar had 'RAF Fairford 424 Air Base Squadron' on it while the 424th was activated in Aug 1994. I have a photo of an OL-UK U-2 parked in front of that hangar with ETTF on it in 1995, so the painting didn't happen that quickly.
In late 2001, the larger hangar still had a KC-135 on it.

[luxto]

Yes there was a big KC-135 painted on the hangar along with the titles European Tanker Task Force, back in the good old days of the tanker TDY’s between 1978 and 1990.

In September'78 there was a 3 week trial, involving 6 TDY KC-135's from Mildenhall, to check out Fairford's suitability as a tanker base but it wasn't until September'79 that it received its first TDY tankers.