asked if they could be involved. After some
deliberation it was agreed to brief the
‘Magni cos’ on in- ight refuelling from the
Tornados, which they later achieved.
The operation went smoothly. For the A-7
pilots, it was the rst time they had refuelled
in ight since receiving the Corsair in 1981.
WITH THE DAMBUSTERS
In 1985 an exchange took place between
the RAF’s 617 ‘Dambusters’ Sqn based
at RAF Marham, ying Panavia Tornados
GR1s, and Esquadra 302’s A-7Ps. The rst
phase saw four A-7Ps arrive at the Norfolk
base on April 30, 1985; the return visit to
Monte Real began on July 26 when four
Tornados detached to Portugal. Operations
in both countries initially consisted of
familiarisation ights. Later the emphasis
was on low-level sorties and weapons
delivery on ranges.
Flt Lt Steve Wilson (ret’d), a navigator on
his rst tour when he ew with the Corsairs
at Marham, recalled the visit: “On May
1, I led a single A-7 on a familiarisation
ight which included practice-bombing
at Cowden, Donna Nook, Wain eet and
Holbeach ranges. The weapons passes
at the ranges were simple laydown. We
dropped 3kg practice bombs.” Steve also
led a pair of Corsairs on a low-level cross-
country photo sortie.
The return trip to Monte Real additionally
focused on low-level and range work. Flt
Lt Steve Kinnaird (ret’d), also on his rst
tour, said: “I participated in both legs of the
exchange. We ew to Monte Real on July 23,
1985 and I subsequently ew two low-level
formation missions with the A-7s on July 26
and 31. Both missions were only one hour
and ten minutes long, but more than enough
to cover the whole country. Our brief was
not to cross the Spanish border and to avoid
ying over human habitation.
“The Portuguese led the way and we
followed, all at low level. There were fourA unit exchange took place between the
RAF’s Marham-based 617 Sqn ying
Tornados GR1s, and Esquadra 302’s
A-7Ps in 1985. Four A-7Ps arrived at the
Norfolk base on April 30, 1985 and were
soon performing ights with their hosts.
Steve Wilson
‘The Corsairs’
primary role with
Esquadra 302
was tactical air
support for maritime
operations’
http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 81
Right: All of the A-7s supplied to Portugal
had previously served with the US Navy, and
retained their wing-folding mechanisms.
Key Collection
Below right: Vought A-7P, 5508, at Monte Real,
armed with a AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground
missile and a AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air
missile. Força Aérea Portuguesa