I remember driving up the Brue valley near Bruton one Saturday lunchtime, mid to late 80s. First thing that happened was a Swordfish flew overhead and (slowly) disappeared into the distance (must have been on it's way from Yeovilton to somewhere). Then about 5 minutes later 3 Hercules went overhead, low-level, about the same course and height as the stringbag and a lot faster. Then 3 more. Then 3 more.... I think there were 18 in total. I assumed they were heading for a drop on Salisbury plain - and the Swordfish pilot possibly got a bit of a surprise.
(I recall there was a big exercise on at the time, it got mentioned in the local paper after someone drove a tank through a house on a corner on a main road near here).