‘Falklands’ thick fog forces two RAF Typhoons and tanker to land in Punta Arenas’

‘Two Royal Air Force Euro Typhoon fighters and their Vickers VC10 refuelling tanker had to land Wednesday afternoon in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, because of adverse weather conditions in the Falkland Islands Mount Pleasant Airport.’ (The aircraft transited via Argentine airspace)

http://en.mercopress.com/2010/06/04/falklands-thick-fog-forces-two-raf-typhoons-and-tanker-to-land-in-punta-arenas

TJ

There was a series of images taken at the time. The only one I can find is the following.

TJ

not that it matters one jot what colour 715 is painted, but the picture in the link of XL164 in 85……pink?

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Air/Handley-Page-Victor/1259853/L/&sid=d29b2c9c71b78b69a35cd0c0ee37d0c9

It is still hemp and not Desert Pink. None of the Victors served in Desert Pink during Operation Granby.

The full XL164 photo search showing image of XL164 taken a few days earlier.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=XL164&distinct_entry=true

Again I’ll stress that I’m not simply being pedantic, but the original statement still has

“After quite a bit of research we discovered that all of these aircraft were painted in ‘Desert Pink’…so the general consensus amongst our volunteers was that ‘Teasin Tina’ should return to her ‘war colours’”

The fact still stands that none of the Victors were re-painted in Desert Pink for Operation Granby. They went off to war in hemp and returned in hemp.

Additional photographic evidence of Victors returning to the UK in 1991, including XM715 and XL164.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20710

Mad Dan wrote

“…Anyway, here is what I have – all were taken in 1991, with XL164, XL231 and XM715 being shot at Marham on the day that several of the Victors came home..”

Additional link from RAF website.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/gulf/victors.html

‘Victor Colours

The eight aircraft of No 55 Squadron deployed to Bahrain during December 1990 and January 1991 to provide AAR for RAF and other coalition aircraft. They remained in their overall Hemp scheme, but had a variety of nose art, largely featuring a variety of ladies with the 55 Squadron emblem, a spear, added in theatre by the Squadron artist.’

This is an Historic Forum. As long as everybody keeps a level head, with no personal attacks, then there is no need to stifle or curtail debate on the subject.

TJ

Obviously it is a contentious issue. Hats off to all who keep these aircraft alive. The issue is that the new colour is being attributed to ‘war colours’. XM715 nor any other Victor participated in Operation Granby in anything other than hemp.

“After quite a bit of research we discovered that all of these aircraft were painted in ‘Desert Pink”.

Posters have brought up the issue of other simply being pedantic, but the above statement is simply incorrect. That research requires to be highlighted if history is to be re-written. Not even the RAF website on Op Granby colours states anything other than hemp. The photographic evidence of Op Granby shows all Victors operating in hemp.

XM715 in hemp going home from the Middle East – copyright John Cotterill

Direct link

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/pics/gulfwar/victors/Victor%20K2%20XM715%20going%20home.jpg

From

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/pics/gulfwar/gwraf.htm

http://www.raf.mod.uk/gulf/colours.html

‘The Nimrods, Victors and VC10s remained in their overall “Hemp” schemes, but several of the Tristar tankers were given a coat of “Desert Sand” on thier fuselages.’

Direct links to Op Granby images showing Victors in hemp.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/gulf/gallery/3types800.bmp

http://www.raf.mod.uk/gulf/gallery/dbvicbuccs800.jpg

The following is a link to the history of one of the other Victors during Operation Granby XH672 from the RAF Museum.

Jan 91 ‘Involved in Desert Storm operations against Iraq. Operated from Muharraq in standard hemp and light aircraft grey colour scheme’

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/collections/aircraft/aircraft_histories/1995-1001-A%20Victor%20K2%20XH672.pdf

Additional points have been added to the UKAR thread.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23255

TJ

The first image of 159899

http://cgi.ebay.com/USN-A-6-Intruder-VA-165-USS-Constellation-8×10-Photo-/270573671988

‘Photo Description: An overhead right side view 8×10 photo of a United States Navy (USN) A-6E Intruder aircraft (BuNo – 159899) assigned to Attack Squadron 165 “Boomers” (VA-165) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) on 15 February 1990. Note the non-standard camouflage paint. In the background is a Lockheed S-3A Viking (BuNo 160578) from anti-submarine squadron VS-33 Screwbirds. Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) for a voyage aboard Constellation from San Diego, California, to Norfolk, Virginia, around Cape Hoorn from February to April 1990.

Photo Credit: DoD/PH3 Dewitt
Photo Date: 15 February 1990
Photo Location: USS Constellation (CVN-64)
Photo ID: 810-A60013′

TJ

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?p=541529

‘Here’s what was written on VA-165’s camo experiment in the Summer 1990 edition of The Hook magazine (used here by permission of The Hook magazine)

BOOMERS IN CAMOUFLAGE
In a ComNavAirPac approved project, the Boomers of VA-165 painted some of their livery in temporary browns and greens and flew them at Red Flag and during their around-the-Horn transit in Constellation. The paint used is waterbased, can be quickly applied over existing paint and (most important) can be quickly removed using normal aircraft wash procedures.
The project was developed by LT Mike Overson and LCDR Graham Gordon of VA-165’s maintenance department with the intent of using the aircraft color scheme to tactical advantage during Exercise Red Flag 89-5 at Nellis AFB. LT Overson had previously worked for Boeing Aerospace co. and discovered the alkaline-based emulsion used to protect parts during manufacturing there. After gaining permission for the test in early August 1989, the Boomer corrosion control work center, under the supervision of AMS1 Richmond Voss, applied the two-tone brown paint overnight to two A-6E aircraft. Details such as simulated canopies painted on the undersides of the aircraft were added. Tactical use of the scheme brought positive results during numerous Red flag missions. Once back at Whidbey, the paint was removed.
Phase II of the test took place at sea in Connie in winter 1990. The coating was tested for resistance to sea spray and catapult steam as well for resistance to visual acquisition over different terrain. Phase III is scheduled for fall 1990 and includes mixing of separately stored pigments and adding them to a neutral base to crease the desired color.

*****

It’s not known how Phase III turned out. In the article, there’s one color inflight shot and one b/w flight deck shot of the camo birds.’

TJ

On the face of it the AIM-P Sidewinder seemed a capable missile but the RAF and FAA didn’t use it until much later than other countries.

The AIM-9B was used in the 1960s by the FAA.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1055799/

AIM-9Bs on Scimitars

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/scimitar/pictures.php

The stockpiles of AIM-9Bs were passed onto the FAA Buccaneers.

http://www.blackburn-buccaneer.co.uk/Pages1_files/Self-Defence_Index.html

TJ