I remember vividly watching the crash. I was in one of the UASs based there and a group of us were watching the practices. As the F-4 started its practice, there were some ribald comments about how they were going to have trouble matching the F-16 that had been on just before - followed by some banter as the jet appeared to 'push' at the top of the loop to gain height... all silenced immediately when the jet flew into the ground, the fireball silent until the crump of the impact reached us at our distance.
I learnt something about flying that day - I never knew the guys concerned and won't speculate what was going on - but we were reminded that this isn't just a game.
Later, the (engineer) stn cdr decided (too late) to close the bar - as young students, we felt a certain kudos showing Tomcat crews, still in their flying suits around the fleshpots of Oxford....