One of those moments in time worth sharing, Flt. Lt Chris Ball and Flt. Lt Mark Crawford, the first all British crew in command of USAF 2 seater F-15E Strike Eagle. The Brits are posted with the 4th Fighter Wing in North Carolina. The flight took place from Seymour Johnson AFB. The 4th Fighter Wing evolved from the 4th Fighter group of WWII, a group that itself evolved from the RAF “Eagle Squadrons” manned by volunteer US airman who heeded the call to arms before their government got it’s act together to fight the Nazis. A salute here then to our ‘cousins’ for lending our boys one of your nice aircraft, ( I think they gave it back ). Times may change, but the spirit of friendship and trust that keeps our democracies safe and true is alive and well.
A very well done to all who helped make this happen.
Proud to see the flag
Mick C.
Photo courtesy of RAF News. Info courtesy of Adrian Rondel’s article.
All copyrights etc. recognised and respected.
Glad you liked it chaps [:)] Although I’m not sure if I did something wrong but I don’t see a picture here now, I’m sure there was a link before. Hey Luftwoller, you haven’t got that F-15 in the garage painting big black crosses on it have you ?
Best wishes,
Mick C.
Oops, browsers setting were wrong, []. Picture is there. [:-^]<
Joly good and bloody marvalous…as my dad would say. My whole family hails from your part of the globe Mick. Dad is from London, Mom was from NewCastle, grandparetns are from Lancashire (spelling?) and the other pair are from Wales, and Scotland. I am 1st genreation Canuck now living in the US.
Hi there Reload, well as it turns out my father was Canuck, from New Brunswick, mother English, WWII meeting etc.etc. 5 of us boys, 1st Brit born, 2nd 3rd(me) 4th Canucks 5th Brit. Born in Minto N.B. raised and educated this side of the pond. Your quote ‘bloody marvelous’ was just what I thought when I saw the copy of RAF News. Getting too much PC tripe over here these days, that pic should have been on the front page of some of the mainstream newspapers too. And who but Brits would have thought to get a Union Jack ready for the photo opp. lol Glad it brightened another day, aircraft modellers are by heart I think aviators without a licence [8-] Hoping one day they will have a Red Flag session at Miramar or somewhere and see the Typhoon and Raptor face off. Suck on it Sukhoi [:D]
I had a good chuckle when I saw the Jack. I sent it to my dad and he got a kick out of it.
The Typhoon and Raptor would be a decent match up. But I would much rather se e the Typhoon go up against the F-35 JSF. My pops has been in airospace his whole life. Work on everything form the CF-18, supervised the building of parts for the CanadArm for the Space Station, screens for the COmmerant and Sikorsky sky crane, and even just returned from the UK after 2 years with Rolls Royce working on the JSF engines. Now back in BC living in the Oakanogan working for his last company. No more transfers they say…
I have a very understanding wife, who understands my love, fasination, and just plain interest in planes and flight. I came home from work one day and she sat me down and said, “I know how much you love flight and it has always been your dream to fly”…long stroy short, I recieved my pilot’s license 4 months later. It is absolutley amazing to be able to fly. I have 88.9 hours on a Cessna 172 and have put my tranfer to US private on hold while we buy our house and ar enow getting settled in. Next year I plan on doing the long cross country and the night requirments so I can fly here as well. Now if I could only get checked out on a SPit…LOL
On a different note, are you anywhere near the museum that has the O;l Typhoon on display?
]. Picture is there. [:-^]<