HAS site at Boscombe Down
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HAS site at Boscombe Down
Can anyone tell me why Boscombe Down has a HAS site? Was it a designated bolt hole for someone? I don't recall any front line units being based there in recent times.
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I was at Boscombe 1986-90 and the FB11s would have a 4 week detachment there annually. I can't remember the units involved but they were as bad as we were going to Akkers.
Don't know where they picked the weapons up from though.
Don't know where they picked the weapons up from though.
Yes, it was F-111s. I thought it was the F-111D.
They would have deployed, back in the day, from Cannon NM.
Now the TAC F-111D would have started off conventional.
If the situation ramped up, then would have gone to sun buckets.
Probably stored at another USAFE base.
They would have deployed, back in the day, from Cannon NM.
Now the TAC F-111D would have started off conventional.
If the situation ramped up, then would have gone to sun buckets.
Probably stored at another USAFE base.
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From Wiki:
In October 2007 it was announced that RAF Boscombe Down would become a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) airfield from early 2008, offering round-the-clock fighter coverage for the South and South West of UK airspace.[5] Contrary to media reports QRA aircraft will only be based at Boscombe Down if and when a specific threat to the region is deemed to exist.[
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I believe the weapon loads would have been delivered from Welford... the 'Works Unit' access eastbound on the M4 between J14-13.
Allways made me laugh trying to make it a works exit then paint it in MOD red.
Somewhere to park Aurora?
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Originally Posted by billynospares
I could tell you but there would be no point as I would then have to erase your memory
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Seem to recall they only came twice in my time, first time the site wasnt finished so they operated from our line with 18 F-111's from Cannon for a month, seem to recall it was exercise 'coronet hammer' , got the patch somewhere, recall them coming again and using the site a couple of years later , dont recall it being as many a/c ? perhaps someone else has a better memory !
Roadster280,
Except that Fairford is NOT closed...
U2's rotate through it on a regular basis and only last week there was a USN EP-3 based there for a while.
Except that Fairford is NOT closed...
U2's rotate through it on a regular basis and only last week there was a USN EP-3 based there for a while.
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For an Exercise no
The Sites were built towards the end of the Cold War as the location for the F111D's out of Cannon. They had recently been allocated as A USAFE reinforcement unit in the early 80's and NATO paid for the HAS Farm. The fact that they only deployed once or twice (not sure) and then the wall came down and they retired the D's is one of those Cold war things.
Last edited by trap one; 4th Oct 2013 at 06:34.
We used to deploy extra controllers from Farnborough to Boscombe for these dets.
When Experimental Flying Wing moved from Farnborough to Boscombe, they were initially allocated some of these HAS'; they said they were in a terrible state of repair with leaking roofs and aircon inoperative.
When Experimental Flying Wing moved from Farnborough to Boscombe, they were initially allocated some of these HAS'; they said they were in a terrible state of repair with leaking roofs and aircon inoperative.