Not just the F3s. To my memory there have been 3 inadvertent 'tank drops' on the GR force....
- XV(R) Sqn (OCU) staff nav jettisoned the tanks at Lossie (went to close the SJ flap but accidentally hit the button before the stude pilot had put the MASS to standby?)
- Tanks jettisoned on a weapons range (Deci?) by a non-aircrew passenger (rumour at the time was that the practice weapon was going to be 'committed' by the pax in the back seat but the 'lift the flap and press and hold the red button' was mis-interpreted). Pilot was a former XV(R) Sqn staff pilot....
- XIII Sqn live weapons at Garvie - lunchtime (aircrew) turnarounds at a (non Tornado) Scottish base (Machrihanish?) with a standard training sortie in the afternoon (so all live weapons had to be expended). Crew left with 1 live bomb (IIRC the range was closed prior to the end of the slot due to wind direction etc) so wpn had to be jettisoned from the aircraft 'safe'. Unfortunately nav selected 'inboard pylon' rather than 'shoulder' pylon and successfully SJ'd a large tank instead. Re-attack more successful! Photos of the asymmetric aircraft in one of XIII Sqns albums (early 90's). Nav went on to be a staff nav on XV(R) Sqn.
Of course I've never, ever made a switch pigs.....
