RAF Deployment to North Korea

[AonP]

The Times article on the deployment of a VC10 to the area, the first of many perhaps?

UK military aid Korean nuclear investigation - Times Online (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6394392.ece)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

My version says it has gone to Japan.......

[minigundiplomat]

I think one VC10 is representative of what the RAF could field these days. The only things following it that far eastbound will be spares.

[TEEEJ]

Why would it be the first of many? The VC-10 is there for a specific mission as it did after the North Korean nuclear test in 2006.

There is a short video here of the last VC-10 radiation sampling mission from Japan - 2006. One of the pods can be seen under the port wing.

Right click on the video to zoom in.

“úƒeƒŒNEWS24 (http://www.news24.jp/68823.html)

TJ

[brit bus driver]

Erm, I may have been out of the game for a while now, but I think you should pull that post TEEJ.

[TEEEJ]

BBD,

UK plane for nuclear examinations

The Press Association: UK plane for nuclear examinations (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hMvWPoupB7zcTL0H1GDR5sZB4wbw)

'An MoD spokesman said: "Following the recent events in North Korea and to support the international community's efforts during this time of increased political tension, we can confirm that the UK is supporting in the associated verification efforts by deploying a VC10 aircraft to Kadena airforce base in Japan.'

Britain sends aircraft for N.Korea blast probe

Britain sends aircraft for N.Korea blast probe | Top News | Reuters (http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE54T0YM20090530)

2006

France: Claimed N.Korea Nuke Test Failed - washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/11/AR2006101100872_pf.html)

'Britain sent a Royal Air Force VC-10 refueling plane to Japan to help the verification effort under the auspices of the United Nations _ though British officials gave no details.'

An article appeared in Air Forces Monthly during 2006 about the VC-10s role in North Korean nuclear verification.

TJ

[TEEEJ]

BBD,
If you have seen recent footage from Kadena, Japan on BBC/Sky you will also see the US atmospheric collection aircraft. One piece of footage has the VC-10 landing with the WC-135 framed in the foreground.

WC-135 Constant Phoenix,

Factsheets : WC-135 Constant Phoenix (http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=192)

TJ

[XV277]

Looks like the old Vulcan pod.

[thunderbird7]

They might feel a bit lonely (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCmqzrFL26M) out there!

[Wader2]

TEEJ, what you prove once again is that aviation enthusiasts make excellent intelligence officers collating open source material often supplemented with open source available photography.

Just don't do it in Greece :)

[Chris Griffin]

If you're off to Okinawa boys n girls stay safe.

The Orion beer is full of chemicals- stick to G+T.