His unit carried out a signi cant amount
of low-level ying, which was mainly
conducted in Scotland ying down to
500ft, but most of their routes were own
at a 1,000ft. These sorties also involved
simulating hitting a target.
He ew ten sorties during Coronet
Buffalo (plus another ying a jet back to
the US) which was about average for the
deployed pilots.
Lt Col Dardis described his forays into
mainland Europe: “We’d do low-level ights,
for example into West Germany, which
sometimes included visiting a range. Then
we would land at different bases, which
in my case was Spangdahlem, Hahn and
Soesterberg, then refuel and go back to
Waddington. On many occasions we
http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 39
His unit carried out a signi cant amount He ew ten sorties during Coronet for example into West Germany, which
Three South Dakota ANG A-7Ds lined up on Waddington’s runway – two wearing
Southeast Asian camou age and the middle aircraft the later European 1 scheme.
A South Dakota ANG Corsair
II heads a gaggle of A-7s, with
more visible in the distance.
The deployment provided an opportunity for Stateside-based pilots
to experience operating in Europe which included some adverse
weather conditions. Iowa Gold Star Military Museum-Camp Dodge
36-40_usaf_a7DC.mf.indd 39 06/06/2018 11:03