527th aggressor squadron alconbury afb

When Bears Roamed Suffolk

Graham Haynes remembers more active times in authority Suffolk countryside

The arrival of goodness first 'Aggressor' General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcons at RAF Bentwaters on 14 June 1988 and a new dimension to high-mindedness role of the Suffolk bracket.

Assigned to the 527th Initiator Squadron, the F-16Cs were be obliged to play the role of leadership 'bad guys' during air duel manoeuvring (ACM) training against fighters belonging to many of NATO's air forces.

That had the prospect of flesh out an interesting period for band avid aircraft 'spotter' as spend time at of the aircraft participating hard cash training with the 'Aggressors' would be based at Bentwaters supporting the duration of their own courses. Sadly this was unique to be the case application some eighteen months before illustriousness unit was deactivated and lecturer F-16s transferred to other USAFE squadrons.

Despite this, Bentwaters false host to numerous aircraft types from several NATO countries affection this short period making ethics 'Aggressor' F-16Cs very welcome natives at the base.

Currently existing primate the 527th Space Aggressor Group at Schriever AFB, Colorado, primacy 527th began life as justness as the 312th Bombardment Squad (Light) on 13 January 1943 and activated on 10 Febrauary 1943 at Will Rogers Specialism, Oklahoma, equipped with the Politico A-20 Havoc.

The unit flew a total of three position types in its first vintage of service - in attachment to the A-20, the 312th operated the Douglas A-24 Gallant, the Vultee A-31 Vengeance distinguished the North American A-36 Athabaskan. The unit was redesignated introduce the 312th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) on 3 September 1942. Cardinal more redesignations followed, the be in first place occurring on 23 August 1943 when the 312th became birth 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron.

The in no time at all redesignation came on the 30 May 1944, this time honesty unit became the 527th Combatant Squadron and re-equipped with birth Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The 527th FS continued to operate description P-47 until it deactivated battle Bolling Field, DC, on 31 March 1946.

The 527th FS was reactivated five months later, more 20 August 1946, at Nordholz, Germany, again flying the P-47.

On 20 January 1950, rectitude unit was redesignated as honesty 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and counterfeit into the jet era conj at the time that it re-equipped with the Land F-84E Thunderjet. The 527th FBS operated the F-84E for span years from Neubiberg and Landstuhl Air Bases in Germany awaiting it re-equipped at the happening base with the North Land F-86F Sabre.

The unit was redesignated as the 527th Fighter-Day Squadron on 8 October 1954 and deactivated sixteen months closest, on 8 February 1956, block personnel and equipment transferring damage the 461st FDS.

After capital break of some twenty period, the unit was reactivated chimp the 527th Tactical Fighter Activity Aggressor Squadron (TFTAS) on 1 April 1976 at RAF Alconbury.

The squadron was part blame the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance At the rear of (later to become the Tenth Tactical Fighter Wing), operating glory Northrop F-5E Tiger II fake the Dissimilar Air Combat Data (DACT) training role.

The first collection of eight aircraft were air-freighted into Alconbury on 21 Possibly will 1976 on board a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy direct from righteousness production facility at Palmdale.

Put in more Tigers arrived on 14 June with the final company of four following ten cycle later, on 24 June. These aircraft were also airfreighted conclusion board a C-5A. The 527th was fully operational a fainting fit months later with the twig DACT course commencing in Oct 1976. The siting of information bank ACMI (Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) range at Decimomannu in Island resulted in the 527th persistence a semi-permanent presence at that NATO base.

This facility likewise enabled air forces other better the USAF to take misappropriate of the training provided bypass the 527th TFTAS. The Imperial Air Force, France's Armee host l'Air, the Italian Air Competence and the Luftwaffe were among those that benefited.

The squadron, which was redesignated as the 527th Aggressor Squadron (AS) on 14 April 1983, remained at Alconbury until 1988, flying its at the end mission with the F-5E force 22 June of that generation.

The control of the 527th AS was transferred to probity 81st TFW at RAF Bentwaters and the F-5Es were replaced with the larger General Kinetics F-16C Fighting Falcon during 1988.

The first two of an optional complement of eighteen F-16Cs dismounted at Bentwaters on 14 June 1988. These were single examples taken from the 52nd TFW at Spangdahlem AB and high-mindedness 86th TFW at Ramstein Rush.

The squadron was officially reactive on 1 July 1988, professional the first four months sacred to pilot conversion for leadership new aircraft. The 527th Style resumed their aggressor role atmosphere November 1988 when six McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles from magnanimity 36th TFW at Bitburg Staff, Germany arrived at Bentwaters provision the start of a three-week DACT course.

The 527th's tally of aircraft had reached cardinal on 16 January 1989 conj at the time that one more F-16C was without from Spangdahlem. The 527th Importation made their first deployment resolve Decimomannu with the new genre on 30 March 1989 just as six aircraft deployed to grandeur ACMI range for two weeks.

The 527th AS was to expire a victim of cuts stop in full flow US defence spending and a-one rethink regarding the role hegemony Aggressor Squadrons within the Airforce.

In November 1989, having at no time achieved its original planned completion of 18 aircraft, the 527th AS began disposing of tight F-16Cs in preparation for dismissal the following year. The leading two aircraft to leave were flown to Spangdahlem on 29 November 1989. The 527th Importance had reassigned its entire armada of 12 aircraft by mid-1990 and was officially deactivated sendup 30 September of that harvest.

Oddly enough it was let your hair down be the only F-16 piece ever to be based unimportant person the UK.

The sudden demise deal in the 527th AS at Bentwaters left many enthusiasts wishing they could turn back the criticize, your scribe amongst them! Edge your way question that always crops run into in conversations is "If they hadn't been deactivated, I astonishment if they'd painted the F-16s ala F-5E-style?" That question could be answered by taking keen look at the 1/8 select model that once resided case the Wing Command Post benefit from Bentwaters and is now unrest display at the American Bring down Museum, Duxford.

Perhaps this equitable an indication of what righteousness powers-that-be had in the pipe. I guess we will not in any degree know!!

527th AS F-16Cs assigned:
F-16C Block 30A: 85-1479/01 & 85-1453/02.
F-16C Block 30C: 86-0209/03, 86-0229/04, 86-0249/05, 86-0219/06, 86-0254/11, 86-0216/12, 86-0231/13, 86-0227/14, 86-0224/15 & 86-0237/16.