Deployment General Information

[sdad]

Fifteen Buffs and five Bones, what was that all about?

[DEREK SMITH]

Hi
So far seen 3 serials listed 60-0012 61-0005 & 18
has a forth a/c arrived or expected still
Many thanks
Regards
Derek

[Mike]

There are 4, serials are all in here :- viewtopic.php?f=441&t=243588

[Nighthawke]

Fifteen Buffs and five Bones, what was that all about?

Kosovo as mentioned in the post above yours.

[luxto]

I must have the c/n wrong, 60-0039 was written off in 1977, crashed in USA on approach in a snowstorm.
Some took off from one base but landed at the other after the Kosovo mission.

I saw all 25 Buffs involved in the Kosovo operation during numerous visits to Fairford, February to June 1999. There were lots of frame swaps and a few were used in a transport role to resupply Fairford with CALCM's from the the US when stocks were running low. From you're May list, 60-0016 should be 61-0016. Although both were initially deployed, by the time of you're visit only 61-0016 remained. 60-0023 should be 61-0023. You didn't note 60-0033/MT which was present on the 7th and 8th - maybe this was you're 60-0032?

[R1nger]

Thanks for the corrections Graham

[Sea Dragon]

Hi,
Any news about the parking spots in use? Are they visible from outside?
Regards

[luke28]

Hi,
Any news about the parking spots in use? Are they visible from outside?
Regards

Looks like bays 46,47,50 and 52. All visible from Marston Meysey and Rhymes Lane.

[Sea Dragon]

Thanks a lot for the info

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

Has anyone picked up any new frequencies that have been used for this deployment?

[Crus8der]

14:30L 05/06/24
60-0012 has engine(s) running - maybe just a test as no box to listen in.
Anyone got comms?

[city42]

Think this week may be going home week

[sdad]

Why?

[marco72]

Think this week may be going home week

They will be at Fairford for sure coming week, is there any news on the flying days next week? (or is this not allowed to ask here?)
I will try my changes on Thursday/Thursday again...

Ciao,
Marco

[luxto]

The brake parachute loading platform, which is normally parked in the bomber area during B-52 deployments, was moved to the East end of the base today, Saturday the 15th. This suggests to me that we won't have the Buffs for much longer.

[Pune]

The brake parachute loading platform, which is normally parked in the bomber area during B-52 deployments, was moved to the East end of the base today, Saturday the 15th. This suggests to me that we won't have the Buffs for much longer.

Good info Graham, just back from North Uist so I think we've missed them again, must reschedule trip next year

[sdad]

Paid a Sunday visit on account of parachute platform info and the good weather. Does anyone know why 037 does not carry MT or a Knighthawks fin band? Also, 012 fin band is yellow, other two are white. Do they actually operate separate squadrons within the wing?

[Vulcanone]

Yes they have 2 Squadrons within the 5th Bomb Wing. The 23rd and 69th Bomb Squadrons, as for the unmarked airframe presumably they haven't got around to painting its markings on yet

[luxto]

Paid a Sunday visit on account of parachute platform info and the good weather. Does anyone know why 037 does not carry MT or a Knighthawks fin band? Also, 012 fin band is yellow, other two are white. Do they actually operate separate squadrons within the wing?

At certain angles and in certain light they do appear to be white but they are actually yellow. When Buffs go into Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) their markings are erased so 037 has probably only recently returned from PDM.

[jigsaw]

Paid a Sunday visit on account of parachute platform info and the good weather. Does anyone know why 037 does not carry MT or a Knighthawks fin band? Also, 012 fin band is yellow, other two are white. Do they actually operate separate squadrons within the wing?

At certain angles and in certain light they do appear to be white but they are actually yellow. When Buffs go into Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) their markings are erased so 037 has probably only recently returned from PDM.

Following up on this, 037 came out of depot refresh last year, and 018/005 just have faded tail markings.