23 sqn Tornado f3 query

[PaulR]

Evening chaps,

Am gearing up to do a 1/72 revell/italeri F3 in 23 sqn colours, and with the Bosnia fit of late 1993/early 94 of small drop tanks, BOZ pod and full fit out of Skyflash and Sidewinders. However. I can't see from any of the photos I have if they are equipped with rear fuselage flare dispensers. Was the F3 fleet in general, and 23 sqn F3s in Bosnia in particular, fitted with these in this time frame, and if so were they the angled Gulf War version or the later version that is standard now? In fact, while I am on the subject, when did the later flare dispensers become a standard fit?

Many thanks in advance for any light on the above!

Paul

[Evalman]

I am not an expert on F3 Flare dispensers, there is something under the rear of this F3 (Photo from May 1994) where the flare dispensers are fitted, I know it's not ideal but you may be able to deduce what kind it is.

[Tiger331]

I have some excellent photo references in a Concord Publication book with the rather dramatic title "NATO's First Blood - Air War over Bosnia". This shows Tornado F3s banking away from the camera and fitted with the later 'straight' flare dispensers rather than the angled ones fitted as a UOR during the first Gulf War. Interestingly the standard fit (as shown in at least 4-5 photos) appears to be only two Skyflash (Port Forward and Starboard Rear stations) with AIM-9s on the inboard wing pylons. The aircraft also carry a pair of the 'Tornado GR1/4' type 1500 litre drop tanks, often finished in GR/4 colours (i.e. Dark Grey/Green or even sand) and also have the BOZ pod fitted to the starboard shoulder pylon adjacent to the drop tank. The 23 Sqn aircraft in one of the photos carries full Sqn markings and is coded ED (sorry cannot make out the Serial). Tim Ripley's book 'Air War Bosnia' (Airlife) has a photo of EN and EG again in full Sqn markings.

HTH

Tiger331

[PaulR]

Cheers chaps - just the job!

Paul