FJJP
Hope you don't mind an old has-been joining in. (Only 4 years since I took the barrow load of dosh and I don't envy the conditions that you guys are in now)
That must have been a 27 Sqn V-Bomber - well recce in its last incarnation - as the the rest had so many coats of matt paint they couldn't possibly have achieved those dizzy heights. Besides, the 27 MRR version was the only one to be fitted in recent memory with the tubes and other dangly bits for the pressure jerkins needed for sub-stratospheric flight. Made for interesting decomp trg at N Luff, even more explosive than the usual; and the pleasures pressure breathing...aah what a joy.
What I really wanted to add though is a tale from just before the Gulf thing.
RAFG Tonka based sqn invited to UK for weekend flying to work up F3 boys imminently bound for E coast of Saudi. We were to fly a 4-ship up and and down the eastern side of UK between Leeming and the Borders acting as cannon fodder for a bunch of pink fighters. Luckilly we had some real men in F4s as fighter escort to spoil everybody's fun (after they had emptied their CL tanks that is).
When the F3s eventually pounced, after they had been told our position hdg, etc, they were soundly seen off by our escort with much radio blah that was quite incomprehensible to normal people - "pump" "eff-pole" - and wacky manoeuvres such as Polish Heart Attack (or something like that).
Anyway the outcome of one of these melees was the magnificent sight of an F3 being closely pursued by an F4, both in combat, just off the coast of Northumberland. Then the memorable, if imprudent call - "Fox 3 on the F3 over the big church...oops".
This weekend provided more "wish I hadn't...", but not all in one go, eh.
Trust this hasn't been too provcative for a first attempt.
HTB
[This message has been edited by Mister B (edited 17 September 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Mister B (edited 17 September 2000).]