RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) Hi all! Back from holiday and back to the scanner for your delectation ;). This time we are in Mississippi, at Memphis Naval Air Station, adjacent to the massive (then) Navy technical training centre that had such types as F4H-1s, F-1Es, etc in their open outside pens. It was a rainy day but we still managed to get some shots of the locals. On this occasion it is the A-4Es of VMA-124 , a reserve squadron. As you can see, there was a variety of schemes to see :). By this time the older marks of Skyhawk were getting rare. As I recall the only other place I saw them (not to photo) was Willow Grove NAS in 1981. As always, I hope you like them. When I get to the scanner again it'll be the P-3s: Martin Edited May 8, 2018 by RidgeRunner 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2018 Author Share Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) It may - or not - be of interest to list the airframes seen at the TTC on that day. There were all outside and in various compounds, all accessible on base: The Gate: An un-identified F-11, 156608 RA-5C and 122947 P2V-3 (coded 4M) The Scrap compounds/Fire School: 142165 A-4A, 144925 TA-4B, 145315 F-4A, 148423 F-4B, 135152 EA-1F, 139438, 139526 and 139502 F-1Es (plus one un-identified), 143525 AF-1E, 129140 and 129150 TS-2As and an un-identified A-7A. Sadly the TTC and it's wonderful inventory are no more, although some airframes did escape the axe and went on to museums. Martin Edited May 8, 2018 by RidgeRunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 Nice shots. Those Skyhawks where looking rough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2018 Author Share Posted May 8, 2018 The last one doesn't look too bad, does it? I was amazed that they'd bothered to apply the new scheme to machines on their way out. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2018 Author Share Posted May 8, 2018 I just realised that my camera bag got in on the twin stick shot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 8, 2018 Author Share Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) Now the Onions: Martin Edited May 8, 2018 by RidgeRunner more images added 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Another interesting batch Martin. I have not seen that Orion scheme before, not that I am an expert. It does seem to me that these "grey" aircraft can have an identity if given a little imagination. Thank you for sharing with us. Keith. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 Thanks Keith. It was a shame I couldn’t get a shot of the VR-53 C-118 (in the background of the last shot). As i recall it start to rain - again Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 i'm amazed that there are no other comments. What a great set of pictures, so please keep them coming. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselweasel Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 Martin, how did you manage to get so close and personal with the aircraft in all your pics, did you work on the ramp or were they taken at Open Days etc. Either way they are brilliant, please keep them coming ATB Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Red Dot said: i'm amazed that there are no other comments. What a great set of pictures, so please keep them coming. Andy @Red Dot Thanks for your comments, Andy. I'm happy to continue scanning on the assumption that those on the forum like them. Let's see how things go. Martin Edited May 9, 2018 by RidgeRunner 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, dieselweasel said: Martin, how did you manage to get so close and personal with the aircraft in all your pics, did you work on the ramp or were they taken at Open Days etc. Either way they are brilliant, please keep them coming ATB Jim Hi Jim @dieselweasel In one of my first photo posts (the Thunderchiefs, I think) I had said that I wrote to the local public affairs office at each site and they generously responded with invitations. Additionally my mate and I stopped at bases we hadn't heard from, or weren't aware of, and simply asked at the gate. My mate John and I jetted over the Pond and spent two or three weeks at a time touring the bases, self-driving. We were both in the airlines so travel was relatively cheap, and in 1980 the exchange rate was £1=$2.38! Earlier, in 1979, I went on an organised tour of Arizona and Texas with Andy Marsh, then AM Tours. On all occasions, as I recall, we were welcomed unconditionally. Most surprising to both of us was that often we were allowed to roam the ramps un-escorted! I couldn't imagine that now! I'm very pleased that you like them and I'm grateful of your time to write a comment. Martin Edited May 9, 2018 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixII Posted May 9, 2018 Share Posted May 9, 2018 1 hour ago, RidgeRunner said: @Red Dot Thanks for your comments, Andy. I'm happy to continue scanning on the assumption that those on the forum like them. Let's see how things go. Martin You ARE kidding....aren't you? Get scanning, we've got to keep you out of mischief......somehow! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 6 hours ago, PhoenixII said: You ARE kidding....aren't you? Get scanning, we've got to keep you out of mischief......somehow! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Great shots, really nice to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 18 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: Hi Jim @dieselweasel In one of my first photo posts (the Thunderchiefs, I think) I had said that I wrote to the local public affairs office at each site and they generously responded with invitations. Additionally my mate and I stopped at bases we hadn't heard from, or weren't aware of, and simply asked at the gate. My mate John and I jetted over the Pond and spent two or three weeks at a time touring the bases, self-driving. We were both in the airlines so travel was relatively cheap, and in 1980 the exchange rate was £1=$2.38! Earlier, in 1979, I went on an organised tour of Arizona and Texas with Andy Marsh, then AM Tours. On all occasions, as I recall, we were welcomed unconditionally. Most surprising to both of us was that often we were allowed to roam the ramps un-escorted! I couldn't imagine that now! I'm very pleased that you like them and I'm grateful of your time to write a comment. Martin Sadly it rarely happens now and any base visit is considered to be a bonus. You aren't ever allowed to roam freely (it's only happened to me once in 25 years of trips) but at least once you are on a base, you can ask nicely to see everything. NAS Fallon is one of the best places for this and you even get to stand by the runway too Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 23 minutes ago, Red Dot said: Sadly it rarely happens now and any base visit is considered to be a bonus. You aren't ever allowed to roam freely (it's only happened to me once in 25 years of trips) but at least once you are on a base, you can ask nicely to see everything. NAS Fallon is one of the best places for this and you even get to stand by the runway too Andy I'm comforted that base visits are still possible :). More recently I've kept to Bases on this side of the pond across as far as India. The worst for visits and restrictions in those olden days was North Island NAS. I've never been but a mate of mine suffered this there back in 1980. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Very nice photos. I modelled a fair amount of US Navy stuff back in the early 80's before I decided 8 would never build all of the stash. Very nice photos and thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 Mike @72modeler, another Scooter just for you, although this one was a bit plain! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 2 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: Mike @72modeler, another Scooter just for you, although this one was a bit plain! Martin Ain't no such thang as a plain Scooter, Martin- they are all plain beautiful little spuds! Thanks for thinking of me! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 On 09/05/2018 at 18:21, Red Dot said: i'm amazed that there are no other comments. What a great set of pictures, so please keep them coming. Hi Martin, Another great set of pictures. Sorry if I don't always comment, but I thought everyone would get tired of me saying 'Cor, they're lovely' all the time. I restrain myself to giving 'em a like On 09/05/2018 at 09:27, Britman said: I have not seen that Orion scheme before, not that I am an expert. It does seem to me that these "grey" aircraft can have an identity if given a little imagination.... There are grey aircraft, and then there are US Navy and ADC Grey aircraft!! and those guys know a bit about unit/squadron markings. Those Orion's certainly add a dash of colour to the proceedings. Shame about the C-118, but I did enjoy the one in your other post recently. Not quite the same but I do recall seeing them over here in the UK, at Mildenhall and Northolt in particular. Interesting that you recall how you were able to get such great access to these bases. My mate and I got I right telling off from an RAF officer for peering through the fence at Northolt, I thought he was going to explode he was so angry. We also got escorted to the guardroom at Marham for our troubles: we were just spotty teenagers and all they had there were some old Victors and Canberra's, we were hardly going to sell their secrets to the soviets! Nothing like encouraging the youth and fostering good relations! Cheers, and keep 'em coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 (edited) Thanks Smudge. Yes, I know what you mean. My mates and I were chased along the fence by a RAF Land Rover at Scampton at one time as we were watching Vulcans landing and departing. Even more vehement was the approach taken by a group of French military plods in knee length boots and crew cuts as we peered through the fence at Chataudun! I guess it was lucky in the US because generally it was reserve bases we went to? Having said that I've been around a number of other European bases based on an invitation. Martin Edited May 17, 2018 by RidgeRunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tailspin Turtle Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 On 5/8/2018 at 9:22 AM, RidgeRunner said: It may - or not - be of interest to list the airframes seen at the TTC on that day. There were all outside and in various compounds, all accessible on base: The Gate: An un-identified F-11, 156608 RA-5C and 122947 P2V-3 (coded 4M) The Scrap compounds/Fire School: 142165 A-4A, 144925 TA-4B, 145315 F-4A, 148423 F-4B, 135152 EA-1F, 139438, 139526 and 139502 F-1Es (plus one un-identified), 143525 AF-1E, 129140 and 129150 TS-2As and an un-identified A-7A. Sadly the TTC and it's wonderful inventory are no more, although some airframes did escape the axe and went on to museums. Martin F-4A 145315 wound up on display at the USS Lexington museum in Corpus Christi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 True, TT. Its good to see there was some foresight amongst the conservers Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 (edited) 14 hours ago, Smudge said: Another great set of pictures. Sorry if I don't always comment, but I thought everyone would get tired of me saying 'Cor, they're lovely' all the time. I restrain myself to giving 'em a like Absolutely, mate. I understand. I do much the same unless there is something particular or pertinent to say. Dont worry, I dont plan to stop - unless I’m told too! . I might verr to something other than fighters, though ....... Martin Edited May 17, 2018 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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