aviation - the past, present and future of flight

AB with pilots pitting themselves against West

German Air Force F-4F Phantoms.

Lt Col Pierce re ected: “We’d send two

to four, sometimes six airplanes out of

Waddington and land at those bases and  y

missions over a day or two.”

These air forces proved challenging air

combat opponents. He continued: “The F-16

was a much more manoeuvrable airplane

and it was a very difficult scenario for us. We

would have two A-7s versus two F-16s. When

we  ew against the F-4s out of Wittmundhafen,

they did things with those Phantoms that I

didn’t know was humanly possible.”

The Corsair pilots also made use of

various weapons ranges to drop practice

bombs. Lt Col Pierce visited Wain eet and

Holbeach, both in Lincolnshire.

38 Aviation News incorporating Jets July 2018

These air forces proved challenging air

This A-7D is carrying an AIM-9P Sidewinder air-to-air missile.

A 174th TFS A-7D taxying back from a sortie. This unit, in common with

the other two, ventured out across Europe during its stay at Waddington.

36-40_usaf_a7DC.mf.indd 38 06/06/2018 11:03