Apocryphal tale.
This is as I heard it.
A 43sqn. F4 ( resplendent with its fighting cock emblem on the fin ) is out over the North Sea mixing it with other playmates when a problem causes it to divert to the nearest suitable airfield, Wattisham.
The problem is an overnight fix, so the jet is pushed into the maintenance hangar alongside some resident 74sqn F4’s ( resplendent with their tiger head emblems on their fins ) and the crew are suitably entertained by the resident crews in the mess.
Next morning word comes their jet is ready, so the crew are driven to the flight line where their mount awaits them. As well as repairing the problem, the engineers have painted large tiger paw prints along one wing and down the spine, painted out the cockerel, and replaced it with a few floating feathers and a couple of chicken bones. The crew had to fly it back to Leuchars in this state.
Now I think this a great tale whatever, but is it true? You see I vaguely remember seeing a photo of said jet but can’t remember where or when.
Anybody shed any light as to the veracity of this one?