Weren’t they also based at Woodbridge?
Yes, my apologies.
The 78th TFS of the 81st TFW was based at Woodbridge. The Voodoos were never based at Alconbury, which was the home of the 10th TRW.
Just, hopefully, to clarify(!!)
In the mid ‘60s much occurred which was to anticipate the departure of the Voodoo from Europe. The two most significant events were the imminent entry into service of the F-4 Phantom; and the decision by France to remove all foreign armed forces from the country. The disintegration and redeployment of the 66th TRW was one of the results of both these events. Both the 32nd and 38th TRS’ were transferred to the newly formed 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing which was activated on July 1st, 1965 at Toul Rosiere in France. The 32nd had been resident at Toul for a time and remained there; while the 38th remained at Ramstein. Both these units began immediate conversion to the RF-4C. Later in September, 1966; with the withdrawal of all NATO forces from France, the 26th TRW moved to Ramstein.
The 32nd TRS was assigned to the 10th TRW at Alconbury in 1966, although at this time it had no aircraft or aircrew assigned, these having been assigned to the 12th TRS at Mountain Home prior to deployment to SE Asia. The 22nd TRS ceased to be part of the 26th TRW in September, 1966, also joining the 67th TRW at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. The Squadron did maintain a commitment to USAFE however.
On September 11th, 1966 the remaining two squadrons of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, the 17th and 18th TRS’ landed at Upper Heyford.
The 17th TRS converted to the RF-4C and the 18th remained with the Voodoo before returning stateside to Shaw AFB the home of USAF Tac Recce in Sept. 1969; when the 20th TFW moved into UH. The 17th and their RF-4Cs moved to Zweibrucken to join the 86th TFW.
Didn’t they have some based at Alconbury back in the 60’s ?
The F-101As and Cs were based at RAF Bentwaters with the 81st TFW. The RF-101As and Cs were based at Upper Heyford with the 66th TRW which came over from Laon, France as part of a unit shuffle when De Gaulle kicked the nuke based units out of France. The RF-101s were capable of carrying a ‘special weapon’ and the pilots practiced various delivery techniques.
For some detailed info and pilot anecdotes re the RF-101 in USAFE, PACAF, the USA, including Cuba, and Vietnam have a look at my book ‘Tactical Reconnaissance in the Cold War’, published by Pen and Sword 2006. I,think you’ll find it interesting.
Doug Gordon.
Autumn 1956
The Valiant display was part of an Autumn Festival held at Molesworth in 1956, on the 12th and 13th October. That may help. This was part of a fund raising effort of the USAF to raise money for a memorial in St Clements Church to honour US WW2 airmen.
Thanks guys; but sadly the guy who owns the Flickr photos won’t let me use them. He’s a slide collector and didn’t take the photos concerned and doesn’t know who did. He’s worried about litigation if they’re published. A great pity but there you are……Still looking!
Does anyone live near to l’Epopee de l’Industrie et de l’Aeronautique, Albert, France
Thank you very much for your help.
It would be interesting to know if anyone lives near to the museum at l’Epopee de l’Industrie et de l’Aeronautique, Albert, France. to check out 54-2734. Any takers?
For the B-45 try John C Fredriksen’s book ‘The B-45 Tornado’ an excellent book on the type which includes extensive coverage of the B-45s and RB-45s of the 47th BW; and latterly, for the RB-45s, the 19th TRS.
The 20th TFW F-84s have not, as far as I know, been covered in book form. Air Enthusiast published an article of mine on the 20th TFW in Jan/Feb 2001 No 91. This deals with the F-84G in some detail.
I’m shortly to revisit the subject in the not too distant future.
Hope this is of some help.
Doug Gordon
For the B-45 try John C Fredriksen’s book ‘The B-45 Tornado’ an excellent book on the type which includes extensive coverage of the B-45s and RB-45s of the 47th BW; and latterly, for the RB-45s, the 19th TRS.
The 20th TFW F-84s have not, as far as I know, been covered in book form. Air Enthusiast published an article of mine on the 20th TFW in Jan/Feb 2001 No 91. This deals with the F-84G in some detail.
I’m shortly to revisit the subject in the not too distant future.
Hope this is of some help.
Doug Gordon
893 Squadron FAW.2
A photo of Freds Five 766 Squadron taken in July 1962. Photo is copyright “Courtesy of Archives of Captain Allard Guy “Slim” Russell, USN”. Captain Russell spent some time with the RN at Yeovilton and Lossie in mid 1962, flying the Vixen, Scimitar and Hunter. This signed photo was presented to him by the team.
Yes I managed to get some good responses to that plea for help.
here’s another ‘historic ‘ photo; this one with the DH.110 and the Comet.
Photos from BAe Systems.
Here’s a couple more taken at the same time.
Sorry the photos are a bit pixilated. I had to dramatically reduce the file in order to post.
Early days at Hatfield with the USAF’s 92nd FIS lending a hand.
Photos courtesy of BAe Systems.
……..hopefully they won’t have the crazy frog back……
Don’t we have any checks re racist remarks on the forum?
If anyone had referred to a black commentator using the name of Gibson’s dog there would undoubtedly have been outcry. Double standards I think!
Here it is. Also a couple of others