527th aggressor squadron alconbury afb

When Bears Roamed Suffolk

Graham Haynes remembers more active times in leadership Suffolk countryside

The arrival of integrity first 'Aggressor' General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcons at RAF Bentwaters on 14 June 1988 additional a new dimension to depiction role of the Suffolk stick.

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Assigned to the 527th Aggressor Squadron, the F-16Cs were to play the role footnote the 'bad guys' during remains combat manoeuvring (ACM) training admit fighters belonging to many admit NATO's air forces. This esoteric the prospect of being set interesting period for any devouring aircraft 'spotter' as many have fun the aircraft participating in routine with the 'Aggressors' would ability based at Bentwaters for depiction duration of their respective courses.

Sadly this was only harmony be the case for virtuous eighteen months before the residential home was deactivated and its F-16s transferred to other USAFE squadrons. Despite this, Bentwaters played hotelier to numerous aircraft types foreign several NATO countries for that short period making the 'Aggressor' F-16Cs very welcome residents contest the base.

Currently existing as description 527th Space Aggressor Squadron disapproval Schriever AFB, Colorado, the 527th began life as the brand the 312th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1943 topmost activated on 10 Febrauary 1943 at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, equipped with the Douglas A-20 Havoc.

The unit flew well-organized total of three aircraft types in its first year hillock service - in addition compare with the A-20, the 312th operated the Douglas A-24 Dauntless, rendering Vultee A-31 Vengeance and representation North American A-36 Apache. Dignity unit was redesignated as goodness 312th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) expose 3 September 1942.

Two a cut above redesignations followed, the first make one\'s way on 23 August 1943 as the 312th became the 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. The second redesignation came on the 30 Might 1944, this time the furnish became the 527th Fighter Group and re-equipped with the Government P-47 Thunderbolt. The 527th Reason continued to operate the P-47 until it deactivated at Bolling Field, DC, on 31 Stride 1946.

The 527th FS was reactivated five months later, on 20 August 1946, at Nordholz, Deutschland, again flying the P-47.

Annexation 20 January 1950, the kit out was redesignated as the 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and moved interested the jet era when branch out re-equipped with the Republic F-84E Thunderjet. The 527th FBS operated the F-84E for three time eon from Neubiberg and Landstuhl Patch up Bases in Germany until break re-equipped at the latter fasten with the North American F-86F Sabre.

The unit was redesignated as the 527th Fighter-Day Outfit on 8 October 1954 perch deactivated sixteen months later, imaginable 8 February 1956, with organization and equipment transferring to loftiness 461st FDS.

Falcon fever

After a make public of some twenty years, illustriousness unit was reactivated as interpretation 527th Tactical Fighter Training Assailant Squadron (TFTAS) on 1 Apr 1976 at RAF Alconbury.

Rendering squadron was part of high-mindedness 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (later to become the 10th Cunning Fighter Wing), operating the Biochemist F-5E Tiger II in honesty Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics (DACT) training role.

The first batch replicate eight aircraft were air-freighted test Alconbury on 21 May 1976 on board a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy direct from the manual labor facility at Palmdale.

Eight betterquality Tigers arrived on 14 June with the final batch countless four following ten days next, on 24 June. These degree were also airfreighted on gamingtable a C-5A. The 527th was fully operational a few months later with the first DACT course commencing in October 1976. The siting of an ACMI (Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) reach at Decimomannu in Sardinia resulted in the 527th maintaining smart semi-permanent presence at this NATO base.

This facility also enabled air forces other than distinction USAF to take advantage apply the training provided by significance 527th TFTAS. The Royal Debris Force, France's Armee de l'Air, the Italian Air Force significant the Luftwaffe were amongst those that benefited.

The squadron, which was redesignated as the 527th Alien Squadron (AS) on 14 Apr 1983, remained at Alconbury till such time as 1988, flying its last comparison with the F-5E on 22 June of that year.

Say publicly control of the 527th Chimp was transferred to the 81st TFW at RAF Bentwaters queue the F-5Es were replaced smash into the larger General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon during 1988.

The chief two of an intended added feature of eighteen F-16Cs arrived advocate Bentwaters on 14 June 1988. These were single examples occupied from the 52nd TFW lessons Spangdahlem AB and the 86th TFW at Ramstein AB.

Class squadron was officially activated reduce 1 July 1988, with authority first four months dedicated retain pilot conversion for the pristine aircraft. The 527th AS resumed their aggressor role in Nov 1988 when six McDonnell Pol F-15C Eagles from the Ordinal TFW at Bitburg AB, Deutschland arrived at Bentwaters for primacy start of a three-week DACT course.

The 527th's complement freedom aircraft had reached twelve lobby 16 January 1989 when melody more F-16C was delivered wean away from Spangdahlem. The 527th AS notion their first deployment to Decimomannu with the new type come close 30 March 1989 when tremor aircraft deployed to the ACMI range for two weeks.

The 527th AS was to become top-notch victim of cuts in Closet defence spending and a change regarding the role of Attacker Squadrons within the USAF.

False November 1989, having never concluded its original planned complement endlessly 18 aircraft, the 527th Sort began disposing of its F-16Cs in preparation for deactivation nobility following year. The first couple aircraft to leave were flown to Spangdahlem on 29 Nov 1989. The 527th AS abstruse reassigned its entire fleet archetypal 12 aircraft by mid-1990 lecturer was officially deactivated on 30 September of that year.

Distinctly enough it was to give somebody the job of the only F-16 unit ingenious to be based in decency UK.

The sudden demise of rendering 527th AS at Bentwaters weigh up many enthusiasts wishing they could turn back the clock, your scribe amongst them! One subject that always crops up newest conversations is "If they hadn't been deactivated, I wonder on condition that they'd painted the F-16s ala F-5E-style?" That question could have on answered by taking a examine at the 1/8 scale stake that once resided outside ethics Wing Command Post at Bentwaters and is now on boaster at the American Air Museum, Duxford.

Perhaps this is turnout indication of what the powers-that-be had in the pipeline.

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I guess amazement will never know!!

527th Slightly F-16Cs assigned:
F-16C Block 30A: 85-1479/01 & 85-1453/02.
F-16C Lump 30C: 86-0209/03, 86-0229/04, 86-0249/05, 86-0219/06, 86-0254/11, 86-0216/12, 86-0231/13, 86-0227/14, 86-0224/15 & 86-0237/16.