"Enzo Matrix" wrote in message
...
CD wrote:
"Netko" wrote in message
x.com...
The pictures in this post consist of nothing but F-8 Crusaders.
Apart, that is, from any A-7s which may have slipped through.


Thanks for the photo series Netko. Though I would Google the F-8
Crusaders for a bit of research and found this interesting story at
wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-8_Crusader

In October 1974 (on the Clemenceau) and June 1977 (on the Foch),
planes from 14.F squadron participated to the Saphir missions over
Djibouti. On
May 7th 1977, two Crusaders went separately on patrol against
supposedly French Air Force (4/11 Jura squadron) F-100 Super Sabres
stationed at Djibouti. The leader intercepted two fighters and
engaged a dogfight (supposed to be a training exercise) but quickly
called his wingman for help as he had actually engaged two Yemenite
Mig-21 Fishbed. The two French fighters switched their master
armament to "on", but in the end everyone returned to his base. This
was the only ever combat interception by a French Crusader.


They went on a training mission with live ammunition? That doesn't sound
like a good idea.

A similar situation led to an RAF Phantom shooting down an RAF Jaguar on
25 May 1982. The Phantom, XV422 of 92 Sqn, had been on QRA duties and was
fully armed. After being released from Q, the aircraft was tasked on an
exercise sortie as part of Wildenrath's TACEVAL. Due to the exercise,
there were no groundcrew available to download the missiles and replace
them with training rounds, so the decision was made to allow the flight
with live missiles.

The aircraft duly launched and intercepted a flight of incoming Jaguars.
In order to score a "kill" the master arm switch on the Phantom had to be
placed at "Arm" and the trigger squeezed to activate the gun camera. Of
course, all of this only served to actually fire a live missile! The pilot
later freely admitted that he had forgotten that the aircraft was carrying
live rounds.

The aircraft fired an AIM-9G, which shot down Jaguar GR1 XX963/AL of 14
Sqn. Thankfully the Jaguar pilot ejected and was uninjured.

The practice of using live rounds on training missions was not actually
stopped, despite the recommendations of the subsequent Board of Inquiry,
but maintenance procedures were changed to ensure that the master arm
switch was lockwired in the "Safe" position.


Thanks for the RAF story. Just 4 more kills and that RAF guy will be an ace!
As for the frogs. I wonder if they just claimed it was a training mission to
cover up some covert operation or this engagement?