QRAs and Intercepts - The View From the Intercepted

[Warmtoast]

All this excitement about QRA’s and intercepts of potentially hostile aircraft had me rummaging around in my album for photos taken in 1980 of what is seen of the interceptor from the intercepted aircraft.

There we were trundling along at 20,000 ft over the middle of the Indian Ocean miles from anywhere, en-route from Sri Lanka to Seeb (Muscat) when an American voice came over the UHF emergency frequency asking us to look out to our left. Sure enough we’d been intercepted by a couple of F-14s and F-4s from the USS “Coral Sea”.

Having identified us as RAF, we had a friendly chat and wondered why the intercept? Seems they were on constant readiness and all unknown aircraft approaching their battle group was deemed to be hostile until proven otherwise, hence the intercept. The hostage crisis of U.S. Embassy staff being held by the militant followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran was in full flow and the USS Coral Sea was on station in the northern Indian Ocean / Gulf of Oman area monitoring the situation.

Given all the current hoo-ha surrounding the confrontations between the Bears and Typhoons, I wonder do the Russian Bear crewmen take photos and adorn their crew-rooms with photos taken of the intercepting aircraft?

Anyway a couple of photos taken at the time when being intercepted by US Navy fighters are attached.

Hope this post works OK as this is the first time when attaching photos hosted on PhotoBucket.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Herc7Medium.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Herc6Medium.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Herc5Medium.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Herc4Medium.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Herc3Medium.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Herc1Medium.jpg

[Pontius Navigator]

Happened to us over France in a Vulcan.

We had filed as OAT and a 4-Jet. The French asked for our aircraft which of course was forbidden under the existing EMSec. 4-jet we responded.

After a few more word games that asked us if we were Vulcan X-ray Mike 6 4 7. :eek:

Then the co said we had a pair of RCAF F104 on our starboard wing tip. The Boss then said that's not all, we have a pair of Mystere on the port.

[BOAC]

I wonder do the Russian Bear crewmen take photos and adorn their crew-rooms with photos taken of the intercepting aircraft - well, back in t'old days, I must have been on some Russian crew-room board as I occasionally saw the Bear rear blister man with his camera. It was difficult getting the hair combed in a Frightening, and getting the mask off for that steely grin was risky.:)