Nothing but F-8s, Part 1 - index1.jpg (1/1) [51K]

Paul Elliot wrote:
Enzo Matrix wrote:
CD wrote:
"Netko" wrote in message
x.com...
The pictures in this post consist of nothing but F-8 Crusaders.
Apart, that is, from any A-7s which may have slipped through.

Thanks for the photo series Netko. Though I would Google the F-8
Crusaders for a bit of research and found this interesting story at
wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-8_Crusader

In October 1974 (on the Clemenceau) and June 1977 (on the Foch),
planes from 14.F squadron participated to the Saphir missions over
Djibouti. On
May 7th 1977, two Crusaders went separately on patrol against
supposedly French Air Force (4/11 Jura squadron) F-100 Super Sabres
stationed at Djibouti. The leader intercepted two fighters and
engaged a dogfight (supposed to be a training exercise) but quickly
called his wingman for help as he had actually engaged two Yemenite
Mig-21 Fishbed. The two French fighters switched their master
armament to "on", but in the end everyone returned to his base. This
was the only ever combat interception by a French Crusader.


They went on a training mission with live ammunition? That doesn't
sound like a good idea.

A similar situation led to an RAF Phantom shooting down an RAF
Jaguar on 25 May 1982. The Phantom, XV422 of 92 Sqn, had been on QRA
duties and was fully armed. After being released from Q, the
aircraft was tasked on an exercise sortie as part of Wildenrath's
TACEVAL. Due to the exercise, there were no groundcrew available to
download the missiles and replace them with training rounds, so the
decision was made to allow the flight with live missiles. The aircraft
duly launched and intercepted a flight of incoming
Jaguars. In order to score a "kill" the master arm switch on the
Phantom had to be placed at "Arm" and the trigger squeezed to
activate the gun camera. Of course, all of this only served to
actually fire a live missile! The pilot later freely admitted that
he had forgotten that the aircraft was carrying live rounds.

The aircraft fired an AIM-9G, which shot down Jaguar GR1 XX963/AL of
14 Sqn. Thankfully the Jaguar pilot ejected and was uninjured.

The practice of using live rounds on training missions was not
actually stopped, despite the recommendations of the subsequent
Board of Inquiry, but maintenance procedures were changed to ensure
that the master arm switch was lockwired in the "Safe" position.


So...does the victor have the right to paint an RAF victory roundel on
his plane? ;-)

XV422 was later transferred to 19 Sqn, where it was coded "J". Some wag
later added "aguar Killer" after the tail code! :-D


--
Enzo

I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.