Some more views of RAF Wattisham Phantoms including some close ups of 74 Sqns F4j's inc. ZE361 and ZE362 amongst others, those were the days!...........
My first posting out of trade training was at RAF WATTISHAM, spent just under 5 years working in the Role bay in the armoury and on the odd occasion working in Missile servicing flight, had some great detachments to Cyprus with 56 & 74 squadron, they say the first aircraft you work on you fall in love with! I definitely did with the rooms!! Great to see my old unit again!!
Had the pleasure in the late 80s to be working for a building company that refurbished the base HQ at wattisham. Spent many a dinner break watching the phantastic phantom coming and going. Beautiful aircraft sadly like so many great planes now gone to soon
I did a six year tour at Wattisham between 1984 and 1990. Fond memories of watching the FGR2s of 56 Sqn and F4Js of 74 Sqn plodding around the taxiways and HAS sites. Not a pleasant experience when the Q birds launch in the dead of night when you’ve got an early shift coming up. But hey, a real mans plane.
The first phantoms seen taxiing here were F4M of 56 squadron. You can tell by the red/white chequers on the RWR receiver on the tail, and the phoenix motif. The rest are indeed F4Js, 74 squadron, with their GE J79 engines. I worked at Wattisham from 85 to 89, spent time on working on missile control radar of 56 squadron aircraft. My cousin Paul (above) was also stationed there :) Hi hope you are well.
The Phantom was replaced between 1989 and 1991 by the Tornado ADV. by the time of the first Gulf war I don’t think any were left.... this squadron converted to the hawk I think in 1993/4. By 1991 I think there were 2 phantom squadrons left both air defence and UK based. Hence why Tornadoes where sent to the Middle East.
My first posting out of trade training was at RAF WATTISHAM, spent just under 5 years working in the Role bay in the armoury and on the odd occasion working in Missile servicing flight, had some great detachments to Cyprus with 56 & 74 squadron, they say the first aircraft you work on you fall in love with! I definitely did with the rooms!! Great to see my old unit again!!
Had the pleasure in the late 80s to be working for a building company that refurbished the base HQ at wattisham. Spent many a dinner break watching the phantastic phantom coming and going. Beautiful aircraft sadly like so many great planes now gone to soon
Thanks so much for this. Happy memories of many nights watching the Wattisham Phantoms in exactly that spot. Great times.
Loved watching them Phantoms. When I was a child living with my parents our house was right under the flight path. I loved them days gone!
I did a six year tour at Wattisham between 1984 and 1990. Fond memories of watching the FGR2s of 56 Sqn and F4Js of 74 Sqn plodding around the taxiways and HAS sites. Not a pleasant experience when the Q birds launch in the dead of night when you’ve got an early shift coming up. But hey, a real mans plane.
A fantastic 'workhorse' of a jet!
I've never seen Wattisham before.
Great video! Many thanks. 👍🏻
The Phantom was a BEAST !
Your videos are up there with Jetnoiseforever!! Love them!
The first phantoms seen taxiing here were F4M of 56 squadron. You can tell by the red/white chequers on the RWR receiver on the tail, and the phoenix motif. The rest are indeed F4Js, 74 squadron, with their GE J79 engines.
I worked at Wattisham from 85 to 89, spent time on working on missile control radar of 56 squadron aircraft.
My cousin Paul (above) was also stationed there :) Hi hope you are well.
I was in the Station Armament Section 84-88. 2 Falkland tours and multiple APCs. My favourite aircraft.
Great video. Sorry to be picky the first two F4s are F-4Ks upto 1:50. Spey afterburners & extended nose gear. The rest are F-4Js with J-79s.
When did these retire from service as we never used them in the middle East wars did we? Beautiful aircraft.
The Phantom was replaced between 1989 and 1991 by the Tornado ADV. by the time of the first Gulf war I don’t think any were left.... this squadron converted to the hawk I think in 1993/4. By 1991 I think there were 2 phantom squadrons left both air defence and UK based. Hence why Tornadoes where sent to the Middle East.
I bet those FGR.2 guys got a lot of bullying from the F3 guys 😂
Wasn’t there a one seater phantom?
Nope.
The McDonnell FH-1 Phantom I was single seat
Don't want to like it...... I do but it's got 74 likes and that seems appropriate!