Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

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henkderidder
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Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by henkderidder »

During the late 80-ties,early 90-ties I made several base visits to RAFG Bruggen. Those visits were all very different. I remember sitting inside a building listing to the station commander expaining how the Bruggen-wing operates, while outside the Tornado's took off..... and one time I was placed on a spot toward the sun..... but most of the visits were great and very intersting. :D :D
I like to thank all the RAF-personal end AGL members who made these visits possible.

A VC-10 coming in on a sunny day:
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FJ with nr 12 sq markings parked in front off a nr 9sq shelter:
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DY from 31 sq going out on a test flight:
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BS from 31 sqcoming in
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BD from 14 sq taxing to 09 runway side
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AY from nr 9 sq coming in
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The BW with Roermond, Holland in the background:
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Another shot of the DM coming out of its HAS:
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The BQ coming in on thursday:
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And on friday :grin:
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The AB from no 9 sq taking off:
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And one from no 14 sq:
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Last edited by henkderidder on Mon 28 Mar 2011, 6:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Koen L
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Koen L »

Very nice Henk! A reminder of how lovely RAF Tornados used to look with camouflage and proper squadron markings.

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st24
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by st24 »

Koen L wrote:Very nice Henk! A reminder of how lovely RAF Tornados used to look with camouflage and proper squadron markings.


Indeed! Lovley post. And just look at that pristine Vicky 10... :drool:
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Westy
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Westy »

What a quality post :yahoo:

Lovely stuff Henk, keep them coming :biggrin:

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Arthur Tee
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Arthur Tee »

Some really nice shots there! :clap:

Only visited Bruggen a couple of times - usually on my way to Roermond for a 'dogs breath' kebab - and never saw any flying!

Don't suppose you have some shots from Laarbruch? (was stationed there in 87 and 88)

Arthur
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3Greens
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by 3Greens »

Very nice Henk :clap:
Good to see all the old birds in their full squadron marks
Thanks for posting
Keith

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elderforest
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by elderforest »

Brilliant set of photos :cool: You've captured some great Tornado memories there.

Image quality is first class too. Many thanks for posting.
Ian.
(elderforest).

Fizzy
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Fizzy »

Henk, some fantastic memories there-did 3 very happy years in the mid-nineties. We used to get some really good lunchtime stopping visitors like French Jag's, Mirages and the odd Alpha Jet, Belgian Alpha Jets, F-16's and lots of Magisters, Dutch F-16's and German Phantom's and Tornados. I spent a while on 14 Sqn (Undoubtably Bruggens Finest Sqn)and our HES was next to one of the HAS's. When the aircraft started up the noise in our concrete shed was unbearable! Took so much for granted-could be on the Spotters Terrace at Dusseldorf within an hour, Frankfurt, via Cologne in under 3 hours and Amsterdam in about 2. Really easy to get to Spang and Ramstein too. Great days indeed-thanks for showing.

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SuffolkBlue
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by SuffolkBlue »

VC-10, in that scheme, looks fantastic - thanks for sharing :clap:

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TonyO
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by TonyO »

Stunning stuff from my old local, I used to spend many an hour watching operations from the air terminal at Bruggen, used to get some really nice visitors, unfortunately no camera!
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capercaillie
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by capercaillie »

Super stuff, those Tornados looked great in camo. Can't remember seeing one in 17sqn marks in camo with just a small chevron ahead of the roundel before. Great post. :clap:
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Wingnutt
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Wingnutt »

Wonderful, and excellent quality!

I think modern camouflage works on the principle that it's so boring that the enemy won't realise they've seen anything.
The past is a foreign country: they fly different aeroplanes there.

f4mphixer
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by f4mphixer »

Fantastic Tonka action, any shots of 'BJ' of 14Sqn, ZD710

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bigcrow
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by bigcrow »

A wonderful set Henk. Tornado's with proper unit markings and camo. Those were the days.

henkderidder
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by henkderidder »

For F4mphixer; I've found a pic of the BJ, I hope it is the ZD710.........

Image

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ciaranchef
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by ciaranchef »

absolute brilliant, shame most of those great sqdn crests are not to be seen these days.......
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chally2
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by chally2 »

What a great set, cammo Tornado's and a classic VC10 scheme, super stuff :clap:

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Maurits
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Maurits »

Hi Henk,

Stunning shots, brings back some good memories. I started my spotting career at Bruggen, did spot and photograph Tornados for many years.
This years it is ten years ago RAF Bruggen closed down as a flying fighter station.

I suppose your pic of Tornado ''BJ'' should be ZD892 because ZD710 crashed on 14 sep 1989.....

Regards,


Maurits
Regards,

Maurits

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mmhendrie
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by mmhendrie »

fantastic pictures. I posted before about the Vintage Pair - my dad was the Meteor pilot in '80-'81.

After that, he went on to 20 sqdrn Tornado in '84, and then 14 sqdrn Tornado in '85-'88. I had a fantastic time as a 8-11 yr old seeing the Bruggen wing blazing around the skies all day long.

My dad was explaining to me how the 14 sqdrn insignia changed slightly on the Tornado immediately after his time - there was some movement and reduction in size below the cockpit, and some white accenting of the blue diamonds on the tail. Your photo's cover the period before and after the change, and highlight this.

The two pictures of the BD look like my dad's era - '85-'88. I don't suppose you happen to know the date and approx time the pictures of the BD were taken? I could have my dad check his log book, I suppose there's about a 1/12 chance he's in it! Do you have any other 14sqdrn pics from that time?

thanks,
-Matt

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Maurits
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Re: Abandoned airfields: RAFG Bruggen

Post by Maurits »

Hi,

Some of mine Brüggen Tornado shots, covering period 1993-2000.

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ZG792/BH from 14sq, June 1993 this one crashed earlier this year

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ZD890/AE from 9sq comes into land, June 1993

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ZD892/BJ from 14sq with full burner in take off, August 1993

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ZD842/CY from 17sq on approach, March 1994

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ZA557/AC from 9sq taxiing to the runway, July 1999

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ZD740/AF from 9sq comes into land, Feb.1999

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ZD716/JM from 17sq just before their disbandment, Feb. 1999

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Typical Brüggen-scene smoking Tonkas!

Hope you like them!

Regards,

Maurits
Regards,

Maurits

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