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Need pix of or descriptions of the tail flashes they used in the mid-late 80's, i didnt used to use a camera when i was a kid so i cant remember and i cant find my A-10 book

The tail flashes im referring to if you need to know where painted on the tip of the plan and im sure there was a chequred one ?

Thanx in advance

Wolf

Ah, the 81 TFW, the largest tactical fighter wing in the free world! I was there 82-84 and have some crummy 110 pics I could scan in. From what I remember, besides the 'WR' tail code, some (not all) planes had colored stripes for their squadrons, but I thnk that was the exception and not the rule. Of courset that changed with time.

Here are some pics (not mine)...

<img src="http://bentwaters.org/images/from/gp/15.jpg" border=0>
A-10As (inc. 79-0123) touching down at Bentwaters 2 September 1980. New final check ramp under construction (this is the tail markings I remember from the early 80s).

<img src="http://bentwaters.org/images/from/gp/14.jpg" border=0>
A-10A (77-0235/WR) 81st TFW has final checks on ramp before take off. Still in original grey colour scheme, before camouflage was brought in. Bentwaters May 1979.

<img src="http://bentwaters.org/images/from/gp/19.jpg" border=0>
A-10A (82-0655/WR tail markings on commander's aircraft, with four sqd colours at top fin/rudder. Bentwaters 5 September 1992.

<img src="http://bentwaters.org/images/from/gp/16.jpg" border=0>
A-10A (81-0977/WR) 92nd TFS taxis out for take off at Bentwaters 3 March 1989.

All these were stolen from http://bentwaters.org/. I will see what I can find in my photo albums.

Cheers! M2

Forgot to add that I have the USAF book from the early 80s that I can check as well. I think it lists the colors for each squadron.

Also, contact Jon Saunders (Hovawart) at bonnechance@tesco.net, he lives in Martlesham Heath and is working on the Twin Bases museum.

Cheers! M2

Thanx for this im actually working on the WR skin for LOMAC

Here is my progress please ignore that the camo is wrong and the badge on the engines

<img src="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kismet.hardy/lomac/ScreenShot_009%20(Small).jpg" border=0>

Its gettin the their

No joy on the pics or the book. I could only find one album that really didn't have any good pictures in it (I think the others may be in storage in the States), and in the USAFE book the 81 TFW is the only unit that <b>dind't</b> have the tailflash colors listed. In addition to Jon, you might want to contact Linn Barringer at http://bentwaters.org/contact.htm

Cheers! M2

I was stationed at Bentwaters from 84-89, don't ever remember any checkerboard tail flashes. Up until about 1986, there was no color on the jets at all, only camo. Then we started the "Project Warrior" and the jets acquired colored stripes on the tail and canopy rails, not the usual caps like we use now (picture 3 and 4, really stupid looking, in my opinion). They may have started using colored caps in the early '90's, but I wasn't there. The colors, as I remember were:

78 TFS: Red (Woodbridge)
91 TFS: Dark Blue (Woodbridge)
92 TFS: Yellow (Gold)
509 TFS: Grey
510 TFS: Maroon
511 TFS: Light Blue

Coach

This is funny,

I was looking for pics of my jet (80-278) and I happened upon one with it in the Camo and "WR" tail flash. I'll post the pic when I get a chance (and when I'm on the right comp).

"If all the commercials say: 'An Army of One', why am I surrounded by the fools!?"

_________________
3 Branches down... 2 to go!
Put on your tinfoil hats, the black choppers are coming, and I'm calling them in.
Former DCC OA-10A T/N 80-278

I forgot to mention, I also do not recall ever seeing a checkerboard flash on any aircraft at Bentwaters/Woodbridge. I wouldn't even know what it would signify. The only checkerboard that I can remember from the early-to-mid 80s was one of the EF-111s we had at Mountain Home at the 390 ECS. It was part of the Tactical Air Warfare Center (TWC) at Eglin (a test bird) and the aircrew had checkered scarves. I know, I have one. But I have no recollection of any plane/aircrew wearing anything checkerboard at the 81st.

I know a lot of people like colors on the jets they create in LO-MAC, but I agree with Coach that the better looking schemes are the purely camo'd ones like the first two pics. Also, don't forget to change the tail number!

Cheers! M2

Just spotted this....

82-0665 the last A-10 to be built, passed through Moody while prkiii and I were there and now at DM.... see, see, I do know my A-10 history! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://bentwaters.org/images/from/gp/19.jpg" border=0>

The 510th was purple. The upper stab cap was painted the squadron color (purple). The pilot's name on the left side of the canopy was stenciled in white on a field of purple. The field was trimmed in white. The crew chief's name appeared on the nose landing gear door painted in the same manner. The 509th and 511th moved to Alconbury in 1987. Their move was complete by early '88.



Edited by - MarkyP on Jan 05 2004 8:13 PM

My work on a very high res skin has begun

<img src="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kismet.hardy/lomac/wr-wolf/ScreenShot_025%20(Small).jpg" border=0>

Slowly but surely

Was the commanders ship "Charcoal Lizard" or "European 1" paint scheme ??

Thanx Wolfie

Wolfie

In the mid to 80's to early 90's the Boss's jet was "European 1". Also, the TAWS antennae and strip lighting didn't go on until after Desert Storm at least in Europe.

I hate to do this to you Dice.
That pic was the late 82-655, the last Hog 665 was never at WR.
82-655 was assigned to the 91st TFS 'Blue Streaks' at RAF Woodbridge.
When the end of the 81st TFW was near and jets were entering the transfer dock, 655 became Col. Roger Radcliffes jet.
When the final transfers out of Bentwaters began, 655 was one of the last jets to leave along with 81-982 when they went to Spangdahlem.
Sadly, 82-655 was lost in June 2002 with the 81st FS Panthers.
80-278 mentioned earlier was with the 78th TFS at Woodbridge.

As Coach mentioned, tail flashes didnt come into fashion on the WR jets until about 85, they were originally in the form of stripes round the top of the fins.
By the early 90's the colours were on the front top of the fin caps.
Additionally, the Blue Streaks had a small lightning flash white on blue.
The 511th TFS Vultures had a black stripe, which was then trimmed with white.



Edited by - Bacon Bits on Jan 06 2004 1:43 PM

Bacon

I am curious as to what you mean when you said "the last Hog 665 was never at WR." If 82-655 was assigned to the 91st TFS 'Blue Streaks' at RAF Woodbridge then it would have the 81 TFW tailflash of 'WR'. I think you mean to say 82-655 never made it to DM, right?

Go easy on Dice, he's having a bad week! <img src=newicons/anim_cussing.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=newicons/anim_cussing.gif border=0 align=middle>

Cheers! M2

The last Hog built was never at WR, 82-665, Dice confused the pic, that aint 665 in the pic, its 655.
When 80-181 was sent Stateside, 82-655 became the 'Boss Bird'
Six Six Five was never ever at Bentwaters.
Six Five Five was.
655 was one the 'newer'jets selected for transfer to Spang.
Getting complicated this!!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Can I just add that its great to hear from guys who served in the 81st TFW, us Brits miss the Hog in our skies on a daily basis.


Edited by - Bacon Bits on Jan 06 2004 2:16 PM

Top
<img src="http://www.quantum-nd.co.uk/wolflomactemp/ScreenShot_041%20(Small).jpg" border=0>
Belly
<img src="http://www.quantum-nd.co.uk/wolflomactemp/ScreenShot_045%20(Small).jpg" border=0>

Ive shown it to the currator @ the RAF Bentwaters museum over here and hes going to show it to Col. Roger Radcliffe ! which is is beyond words for me <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Greetz Wolfie



Edited by - thewolf on Jan 06 2004 3:53 PM

Edited by - thewolf on Jan 07 2004 03:43 AM

Dice,
I did the same thing when I first saw it. 665 is in fact here (DM, Deployed). 655 was lost in France last year. Was at Spang I believe. Raven could verify.

Bacon Bits:
Thanx for the info on 278.

"If all the commercials say: 'An Army of One', why am I surrounded by the fools!?"

_________________
3 Branches down... 2 to go!
Put on your tinfoil hats, the black choppers are coming, and I'm calling them in.
Former DCC OA-10A T/N 80-278

THE ONLY A-10 UNIT THAT HAD A BLACK AND WHITE CHECKERED TAIL CAP WAS THE 75TH.
AND IF I REMEMBER RIGHT THE WHOLE TIME IT HAD A-10'S

PRESS TO TEST

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Yes, the Sharks have the black and white checkerboard on the tail caps. The Nellis A-10s have a yellow and black checkerboard with WA on the tail.

Coach

Wolfie,
Looking very nice, so when? When?

Dice,
This sounds familiar somehow. How?

"I take back all the bad things I've ever said about the A-10. I love them. They're saving our asses."

-- Lt. Gen. Charles A. Horner
Air Force Commander
Operation Desert Storm

I give-up...week two and I haven't got anything right! <img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle> Thanks Bacon bits for sitting me stright......


Edited by - Dice on Jan 06 2004 9:03 PM

Bacon

That's me as well, thanks for the clarification and sorry for having the dunce cap on!

I think Dice and I need to go and knock back some brews! Dice, get your ass over here to Belgium so we can drink some of the good stuff!

Cheers! M2

Best I can tell Bacon Bits is right.
According to my old A-10 system program book, 82-665 was first assigned to England AFB, Louisiana. It was never at Bentwaters.
Not sure where it went when they closed down, (probably Shaw AFB into flyable storage with all the other excess A-10s at the time), but it ended up at Moody and then when they closed it was transferred to Davis Mothan.
Cheers
db

Being responsible means sometimes pissing people off.
Gen Colin Powell ret

Easy mistake to make.
Remember, we used to see that jet alot back in the 'good old days' of the USAFE!