SHOOTING ON BASE-Gilze-Rijen 7ties, 8ties...

[GerritsFinest]

After my summer holidays in August in France is was quiet again , only 316SQ en EVO flew a few mission a day. For the operational use of the S11 the end was near…
Friday 24 august 1973: Touch and Go of S2F 151 V MLD and the arrival of Beaver XP810 AAC
Tuesday 28 August 1973: Navy Squadron VSQ-9 at De Kooy airfield disbanded on the 1 September 1973, so all their 9 S11’s were delivered to DVM at Gilze-Rijen. Eight of them arrived this day and were welcomed with al lot of flares and sirens! The 9th aircraft stayed at his Homebase for an official farewell ceremony and flew to DVM 6 sept 1973. All a/c were stored in a DVM-hangar between the tower and 316 SQ.
S11: 174 K cn 6274, 175 K cn 6282, 176 K cn 6276, 177 K cn 6277, 178 K cn 6278, 179 K cn 6279, 198 K cn 6281, 199 K cn 6275
Wednesday 29 August 1973: The following operational S11 of the EVO (NR1 Instr SQ) were still present: E-1, E-6, E-9, E-11, E-14, E-15, E-17, E-20, E-22, E-24, E-25, E-26, E-27, E-29 .
A complete history about the S11 was written by Fred Roos in 1987, a very interesting book that should be in every aviation bookshelf!

[GerritsFinest]

and the following:

[mart]

Very interesting thread.

Why did you think the NF-5 crashed then?

K-3002 NF-5A 3002 315sq w/o 28jun73

Thursday 28 June 1973. A traumatic day… the NF5A K3002 313Sq crashed in front of our eyes near the village of Hulten, the pilot was killed. “Probably hit by lightning’ was the official cause of the accident. Myself and other witnesses had another opinion.

I was wondering wat Gerrit's (and other witnesses) opinion was why it crashed.
By the way in the scramble database the date is incorrect, there it says 28th of March

[GerritsFinest]

Sorry Mart, I don't get is as well... are you doubting this crash date? I'm sure of this date, see for instance http://militaireluchtvaartnederland.nl/ ... ers/25/32/ . Other remarks maybe? sent p.m. please

[Arjan]

I think he meant to ask was what you think that the real reason for the crash was? From your remarks one would get the idea that you doubt the reason of lightning and know about another cause to be the real one.

[GerritsFinest]

Concerning this crash: it was a chain reaction of Mr. Murphy events that resulted in this tragic accident. If I remember well, EHGR weather was deteriorating very rapidly from the n/w heavy rain and low clouds. A flight of 4 NF5 diverted to the base, other airfields in the neighbourhood were not suitable due to heavy crosswinds and low on fuel was declared. The radar at Gilze was unserviceable, so they came in VFR for rwy 28. They had to come in one way or another... The weather in the south was quite okay for cloud base and visibility for that time being. The first three broke early and could avoid weather on downwind. The standard right-hand break brought the last aircraft into the clouds so got IMC. Disorientation is very likely to happen while turning and descending in such a hectic situation. I saw it coming out of the clouds very low with a nose down attitude which did not change until the aircraft hit the ground. I had not seen any lightning that struck the aircraft…

[andel]

Wow !!!.
Please if you have more !?.
Keep m coming !!.

[GerritsFinest]

After quite some training the base was ready for the TACEVAL, good for unexpected flying visitors but not for shooting (at least with the hidden camera). Thousands of blanks were fired against unexpected visitors (on foot), and I can tell you, the war was won! In the meantime when I was wearing gas protected suits and mask the following jets passed by, not funny at all…
Tuesday 4 September 1973: Harrier XW926, G91R 3009, 3018, 3031,3039 and RF4E 3563
Thursday 6 September 1973: Arrival of the last S11 MLD 197 K
Friday 7 September 1973: A farewell flight of 11 S11’s over Holland, pictures another time.
Fortunately the French AF EC1/13 “Artois” with their MIR3E came when the war was over, according to me the first Squadron Rotation for the 316 SQ . On the platform they were welcomed with Jenever and Zoute Haring, that made them sick right from the start. Many French Evenings (nights) followed till they departed again to Colmar on the 19th. Some of the aircraft still had the old camo with the striped rudder in which the cn could be seen (when lucky). On the left side the Swallow badge of SPA100 and on the right SPA83’s Dragon. The 13-QK’s cn 547 is not sure, anyone a better idea?

[wweasel]

Very nice to see these old birds again. Thanks Gerrit.

[Buccaneer S.2B]

Started spotting as far back as 1981, incredible to see pictures from an even older era. respect !

[Jonathan]

What a nice historic pics again Gerrit. You saw a lot of operational EVO S11s on August 29th. Eleven of them actually made a farewell flight to Twenthe on that day, returning to Gilze-Rijen the next day via Deelen. Nice pics also of the Mirage 3Es. This was the first squadron exchange for 316sqn indeed. I always wondered why I only saw reports with the codes, not with the serials, but now I get it: these were really hard to read off in that early c/s. I had no numbers except 527/13-QA, plus codes 13-QF, 13-QH and 13-QK.
Best wishes,
Jonathan

[GerritsFinest]

The numbers for 10 September 1973:
C160 61-ZB A06, MIR3E 13-QA 527, 13-QF 545, 13-QH 547 ?, 13-QK 545 Squadron Rotation
S11 E-6, E-9, E-14 made the last flight during a farewell ceremony at the base, all KLu S11 wfu.

[GerritsFinest]

and some more:

[Antoine]

Dear Gerrit,
As mentioned before by Jonathan, it is highly appreciated that you are willing to show us your historic pictures and noted movements made in a period when spotting wasn't common on our beloved homebase. In which years were you stationed at Gilze-Rijen (I hope a very long period)?

Keep up the good work!
Antoine

[GerritsFinest]

I was stationed on Twenthe 1971 and 1972 but in the meantime I came to Gilze for ATC courses regularly because the ATC-school was situated there. During lunchtime I always peeked through the cracks of closed hangars or there just walked through it if they were open. In in 1973 I was based at EHGR during almost two years. In 1974 I went to MilATCC an did area control until dec 2004! In the mid 80ties at Soesterberg for a year to become solo for Tower ATC. Back to Dutch Mil, a fantastic time till the end, you really had a global view what happened everywhere. And spending free hours to shoot on every KLu base and anywhere else when something interesting was going on...