F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

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STCAAMEkid
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Location: Dark side of the moose

F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by STCAAMEkid »

Evening all,
Here are some scans of RAF Phantoms in their last 2 years of operations - sad to think that most of these once mighty beasties were scrapped by the mid 90s. The 1st was taken the week preceding Wattisham's photocall day on 4th July '92; the three statics were taken on the day. I hadn't known it was ticket only until I arrived early at the main gate. Luckily a fellow enthusiast with a spare ticket for sale saved my bacon :biggrin: .
The remaining pictures show 92 Sqn on their final missile practice camp at Valley, Easter 1991. Many of the Wildenrath airframes including XV467, XV435 and XV422 from 92 ended their days at Wattisham with 56 or 74, or for spares recovery and scrap.
I hope these are of interest to the Phantom phanatics amongst you, feedback is always welcome.
Phil

XV474 "T"
Image

XV467
Image

XV415
Image

Y from 74 Sqn
Image

XV467 Q
Image

XV467 nose
Image

XV435 R
Image

XV435 R
Image

XV422 Y landing on runway 32
Image

XV498 U
Image

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ciaranchef
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by ciaranchef »

Great selection of a beautiful aeroplane, Ciaran
"It is generally inadvisable to eject over the area you just bombed"
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Jeff Hunt
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by Jeff Hunt »

Very, very nice. Love the oldies that had colour to them.

Cheers,

Jeff

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Jeff Hunt
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by Jeff Hunt »

Very, very nice. Love the oldies that had colour to them.

Cheers,

Jeff

Maisie
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by Maisie »

XV435 is a beaut! Doing a 1/48th FGR.2 very soon! So these are great to show me the weathering.
6D | 7D | 60D
11-16 f/2.8 | 24-105 IS L | 70-300 IS USM | 50 f/1.4 | 100 f/2.8 | 400 f/5.6

STCAAMEkid
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by STCAAMEkid »

Maisie wrote:XV435 is a beaut! Doing a 1/48th FGR.2 very soon! So these are great to show me the weathering.


Hi Maisie, thanks. It's not visible in these shots, but XV467 had the most amazing oily sheen around its aft starboard half, which shows well in a close-up side view I've got, but as yet haven't scanned.

Modelling this may suggest certain zones of the aircraft are matt/ semi matt, and the rear fuse appears a mix of satin/ gloss, which you seldom see modelled. The FG1s and 228 OCU FGR2s by comparison looked spotless in their final months - ironic for the FG1s, as they all stopped flying in '90 IIRC.

I'll scan up the above shot, but it'll have to be tomorrow; I've got 80 minutes of hair loss in Paris to look forward to this afternoon :sweat: .

Phil

Spiny Norman
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by Spiny Norman »

Always great to see images of this fine looking machine. Not at all jealous...

King Cobra
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Re: F4 Phantom FGR2s at Wattisham & Valley

Post by King Cobra »

Just loving the "Cobra" shots. Thanks for sharing.

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