More reminders came back, not wanting to hijack the thread, but!
Ark put into Valetta Harbour around 1973 or 74, with a USMC F4 that was very reluctant to go back to Forrestal. Since Mintoff had recently kicked out the USN, the F4 was stowed in the lower hangar, in amongst the Buccs, for the first few days whilst various visitors were on board. It was then put into the F4K's in the upper hangar, and worked on in more ways than one.
Came time for ground runs, and the US markings were covered in brown paper, and it sat resplendant amongst all the 892 F4K's, with a shiny new paint job on the fin.
Eventually made it back to the USA with an 892 fin, and it was the bosses aircraft
