I remember well, RIAT (or just plain common or garden type IAT I think it was then) there back in '83. There was a missing man salute to Douglas Bader and you could have heard a pin drop as the Spitfires came over (well, if they were silent themselves of course). This is a shot I took that day:
The smellies threw paint over the SR-71 too, which didn't go down too well and I remember well, the final tannoy for The Grasshoppers display team to report to their aircraft for their demo, as their whereabouts were unknown. I was in the PS bar at the time, and they were walking along the ceiling. More musings, I remember being on top of an open double decker as the Synchro pair crossed over directly overhead. I can't see that happening now. Someone may correct me on this, but one of (or both of the) vintage pair crashed at the same time. There was a Cpl having a jolly in the back of the Meteor I think.. or that may have been a year or two later. Sorry, senile..
In the early 90's Wittering was under review for closure and Lakenheath was being looked at. Same there.. the cost of converting the 'leccy made a move prohibitive.