returning F3s
 

Just watched three F3's return from the Gulf on Sky news, bloody dull colour scheme they got, look like they have just been delivered from the manufacturers in grey primer undercoat.
They could of least have stuck a go faster stripe on em.
Now them Yanks know how to paint a airyplane.
;)

PS,Well done chaps.

Probably a darn good reason why they look like they're painted in light grey undercoat. Could paint them bright red, to match the red arrows, but that may defeat the point...

should probably on gaffes thread, however...
as F3's broke into circuit - sky news woman asked "is that them showing off then?" that Tusa chap replied "who wouldnt after an 8 hr flight".

Rumour is..we are pulling out early to avoid further casualties from US Patriot Battery's and "Blind Pew" A10 & F15E crews:mad:

Besides..Gordon Browns budget has resulted in a cash flow problem for the MOD...we cannot afford war's of more than 3 weeks duration anymore:hmm:

Saw the 'mighty' F3 return to the UK when there is still a job to be done.

Bloody typical, they return home basked in glory when they didn't do anything towards the effort. On night one BOMBERS and TLAMs took out the Iraqi airfields and hence neutralized the threat from the Iz Air Force, after that fighters weren't needed.

People should not be under the illusion that the F3 helped in the achievement of Air Supremacy. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2940231.stm

When did the F3 last shoot something down?

Not fair, GR4 thingy.

Everyone knows the limitations of the F3. It is a classic committee-designed aircraft. But the fact remains that those crews spent many hours in a hostile environment (and even the mighty US kit has suffered some losses) where they were away from their families, and at risk from enemy air defences as well as accidents.

Good on you lads. Nobody belittles the poor brave sods who died in unsuitable machines early in WW2, and in the same way we should be proud of the F3 crews.

Granted they did go across the border and fly some long missions. But I think you will find that they didn't actually achieve a great deal. They spent most of the time doing 'goal keeper' CAPs just north of the Saudi Border whilst the Yanks were CAPing near Baghdad.

You'll also find that the GR4 had to put up with all those things and more by flying into Missile Engagement Zones (MEZs) to employ their weapons, a much more dangerous job.

After night one they were basically oxygen stealing and getting in the way of the people who REALLY helped win the war - the Bombers.:ok:

That argument is at the level of my old school playground.

They are on the same side aren't they? If it had all been Air Defence with no need for mud moving, would the AD people have been entitled to sneer at the MMS?

Silly.

Hey Gr4 mate, have you got a spoon?

At least the F3s didn't shoot down any allies - unlike our Allies!

Er, sorry GR4; you might have been glad to have them there if the Eye Racks had got a MiG or two off a highway strip. They also serve ..... ?

pointless $hit
 

Dear GR4TELICMATE

'....When did the F3 last shoot something down?.....'

We seem to do fairly well against you lot in OTA C.

But seriously, if the level of posting here is limited to 'we're better than you', then I'll bite. The F3s in TELIC did a lot more than you're giving them credit for or even know about. The reason the Iraqi Air Force didn't come up was because if they had they'd have been overwhelmed by the coalition AD assets protecting your a$$es. In the build-up to Telic before the airfields went they had plenty of opportunity to come up but didn't. Have a guess why you pointless $hit-thrower.

I cannot fault the job the GR4 did during TELIC, because although I was there I don't know about everything you did and I therefore feel I am unable to comment. You should do the same or run the risk of letting everybody else know you're an ignorant c***.

'...On night one BOMBERS and TLAMs took out the Iraqi airfields and hence neutralized the threat from the Iz Air Force, after that fighters weren't needed...'

I think you'll find the Iraqis had aircraft capable of launching at all times and still do. Are you suggesting we should have let the GR4s go in on their own after the first night when they'd obviously hit EVERY aircraft and EVERY runway/road/taxiway and defeated the opposition Air Force single-handed?

SHUT UP! YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE REST OF YOUR FLEET.

Dear GR4TELICMATE,

"Saw the 'mighty' F3 return to the UK when there is still a job to be done.

Bloody typical, they return home basked in glory when they didn't do anything towards the effort. On night one BOMBERS and TLAMs took out the Iraqi airfields and hence neutralized the threat from the Iz Air Force, after that fighters weren't needed.

People should not be under the illusion that the F3 helped in the achievement of Air Supremacy."

Point 1 - The F3 job finished over a week ago when it became obvious the air threat was eradicated. The first F-15s went home before the F3s.

Point 2 - On night 1 the DCA was already up there, well before the TLAMs and bombers went in - and when I say DCA, I include the F3s.

Point 3 - Coalition DCA (F-15s, F-3s and F-18s) achieved Air SUPERIORITY a few days before the first strikes went in - Air Supremacy came later.

Point 4 - At no time has the F3 manned a 'goal keeper' CAP on the border (there was no such thing) - the F3s CAP'd where the Eagles did, and I know for a fact that an F3 escorted a GR4 directly over Baghdad. Check the ACO and any ATO you like if you don't believe me.

So please get your facts right - you strike me as being (perhaps understandably) bitter and twisted about still being stuck in Ali Al while others have been sent home. However, your flatulant diatribe against fellow RAF aircrew (many who HAVE spent plenty of time in the SuperMEZ ID'ing what turned out to be friendlies) is a disgrace. Unlike Fox-1, I don't regard you as a 'disgrace to the intelligence of the rest of your fleet' - I suspect the rest of the GR4 fleet consider you a pathetic little c**t just as we do. I look forward to meeting you in OTA C, or preferably in a bar somewhere so I can punch your lights out. I respect your buddies - you, I hold in contempt.

Nonetheless, fly safe you ignorant ****.

GR4telicmate - I am neither an F3 nor a GR4 mate, but I have been a single-seat fast-jet mate for several decades. Apart from fun banter in the bar, I have never heard such blatant ****e from someone who should know better. I agree with all of the other posters giving you a hard time and you should be ashamed of your pi$$-poor attitude to colleagues who do and have done a fine job. Try to remember that everyone has a place and a job to do in the RAF and we are all on the same side --- except perhaps you!!! Now grow up!

PS: - if this is a wind up then I bit! And I always will when faced by such utter claptrap!

FOX 1 2 3,
PM me, I'm just up the road in RIY. If they let you off the base I can arrange for a nights refreshments:ok:

GR4 T'mate.

How can one with such little knowlwdge, such a big mouth and so little grace have the nerve to share oxygen with the rest of us?Having spent dozens of hours over Iraq, never on goalie cap and always prepared to go "high risk" for your mates, our collegues and in all probability YOU I can only say that I would do it again, any time.
However if I ever meet you in the bar I will happily drop you. You are a disgrace to your service. I am ashamed to serve with you.

Dunno if they actually needed to do it during Telic, but weren't the F3s standing by to contribute to another, more frightening (or at least more alarming) role? ;)

J
Nice fishing!:cool:

I don't know what you mean. Or what I mean. Plus ca change.....

This entire fracas must be blamed on Tony Draper, typical, ring the doorbell and run like hell...;)