February 1976 and nally 31 Sqn in July.
RAFG Lightnings were also replaced,
19 and 92 Squadrons gaining Phantom
FGR.2s at their ‘new’ RAF Wildenrath base
to provide low-level air defence.
Both units received many former II(AC)
Sqn and 41 Sqn airframes, as they had
lower fatigue wear indices from their time in
the reconnaissance role. No.19 Sqn officially
adopted the Phantom on October 1, 1976,
followed by 92 Sqn on April 1, 1977.
In service, the FGR.2s received only
minor modi cations, most externally
obvious being the n-mounted Marconi
ARO 18228 radar warning receiver (RWR)
installed from 1975. An ILS was also tted,
plus a digital computer sighting system
which improved the AN/AWG-12’s radar
de nition at longer ranges.
In the late 1980s, Tracor AN/ALE-40
chaff and are self-defence systems were
added and colour schemes changed
too – the rst all-grey FGR.2 arriving at
Wattisham in October 1978. Following early
experimentation, the entire eet gradually
switched to the new livery.
Now part of 11 Group, the Phantom air
defence squadrons quickly established
themselves, largely replacing the Lightning
- apart from 5 and 11 Squadrons at RAF
Binbrook in Lincolnshire. Their greater
range, longer endurance, much improved
radar and superior armament brought a
quantum improvement in capability.
The withdrawal meanwhile of the Royal
Navy’s Phantoms saw them gradually
reissued to 111 Sqn, and by March 1980
Leuchars had become an all-FG.1 base.
From 1975, RAF Phantoms adopted
primary QRA responsibility for the UK air
defence region, which meant keeping four
fully-armed aircraft on continuous alert.
The Leuchars units provided ‘Northern
Q’ – with ‘Southern Q’ shared between 23
and 56 Squadrons at Wattisham, alternating
with 29 Sqn at Coningsby. Aircraft were
generally held at 10-minute readiness, and
most ‘live’ launches were to intercept Soviet
aircraft over the North Sea or passing into
the Atlantic through the Greenland-Iceland-
UK gap.
Crews usually worked 24-hour QRA
duty periods and, although most of their
time was spent on the ground, during
NATO and Soviet exercise seasons ‘trade’
was very brisk. HP Victor and later VC10
tankers were always on standby to provide
air refuelling support for long-range
missions which frequently lasted more than
seven hours.
An array of survival equipment, vital for
long over-water operations, included zip-
fastened immersion suits under which crews
wore long johns, vests and, later, ‘Bunny
suits’ (a thick, insulated all-in-one out t).
Crews were issued with Mk.3B and
Mk.3C helmets (some still ew with their
older versions), life preservers, harnesses,
g-suits and, later, voice comms-capable Pye
emergency locator beacons to replace older
SABRE equipment. Later on, aircrew wore
more advanced Alpha helmets including the
Mk.4 and Mk.10.
At Wildenrath, QRA responsibility – or
‘Battle Flight’ – was shared between 19
and 92 Squadrons, with crews at just ve
minutes’ readiness. Their task was to
investigate aircraft likely to violate the ‘buffer
zone’ close to the Inner German Border and
the German Air Defence Identi cation Zone
(ADIZ). Only QRA aircraft, under positive
radar control, could enter the ADIZ.AIR DEFENCE TRAINING
Regular training for Phantom crews included
annual Armament Practice Camp (APC)
deployments to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to
re the gun pod, Missile Practice Campshttp://www.aviation-news.co.uk 47
themselves, largely replacing the Lightning
“We patrolled up
to 200 miles from
the Islands with
pretty fi erce rules
of engagement
that essentially
said if anything
with Argentinian
roundels appeared
we could shoot it”
RAF Wildenrath-based 92 Sqn started converting onto
the Phantom in 1977. FGR.2 XT893/T is seen on March 1,
1980 carrying full 92 Sqn markings. Peter R FosterIn April 1971 2(AC) Sqn re-formed at RAF Laarbruch, West Germany, as the rst Phantom recce unit. FGR.2 XT901 is pictured while serving with
the unit in September 1977. Peter R Foster