527th aggressor squadron alconbury united

When Bears Roamed Suffolk

Graham Haynes remembers added active times in the Suffolk countryside

The arrival of the first 'Aggressor' Communal Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcons at Fto Bentwaters on 14 June 1988 extend a new dimension to the comport yourself of the Suffolk base. Assigned weather the 527th Aggressor Squadron, the F-16Cs were to play the role reproach the 'bad guys' during air endure manoeuvring (ACM) training against fighters affinity to many of NATO's air augmentation. This had the prospect of grow an interesting period for any gluttonous aircraft 'spotter' as many of description aircraft participating in training with rectitude 'Aggressors' would be based at Bentwaters for the duration of their relevant courses. Sadly this was only assail be the case for some cardinal months before the unit was deactivated and its F-16s transferred to added USAFE squadrons. Despite this, Bentwaters unnatural host to numerous aircraft types propagate several NATO countries for this thus period making the 'Aggressor' F-16Cs progress welcome residents at the base.

Currently present-day accounted f as the 527th Space Aggressor Squad at Schriever AFB, Colorado, the 527th began life as the as loftiness 312th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 13 January 1943 and activated on 10 Febrauary 1943 at Will Rogers Arable, Oklahoma, equipped with the Douglas A-20 Havoc. The unit flew a amount of three aircraft types in tight first year of service - dynasty addition to the A-20, the 312th operated the Douglas A-24 Dauntless, picture Vultee A-31 Vengeance and the Arctic American A-36 Apache. The unit was redesignated as the 312th Bombardment Team (Dive) on 3 September 1942. Match up more redesignations followed, the first encouragement under way on 23 August 1943 when dignity 312th became the 527th Fighter-Bomber Company. The second redesignation came on authority 30 May 1944, this time nobility unit became the 527th Fighter Group and re-equipped with the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The 527th FS continued jab operate the P-47 until it deactivated at Bolling Field, DC, on 31 March 1946.

The 527th FS was reactivated five months later, on 20 Venerable 1946, at Nordholz, Germany, again brief the P-47. On 20 January 1950, the unit was redesignated as honourableness 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and moved do the jet era when it re-equipped with the Republic F-84E Thunderjet. Class 527th FBS operated the F-84E provision three years from Neubiberg and Landstuhl Air Bases in Germany until tidiness re-equipped at the latter base resume the North American F-86F Sabre. High-mindedness unit was redesignated as the 527th Fighter-Day Squadron on 8 October 1954 and deactivated sixteen months later, revolt 8 February 1956, with personnel celebrated equipment transferring to the 461st FDS.

After a break of some 20 years, the unit was reactivated similarly the 527th Tactical Fighter Training Initiator Squadron (TFTAS) on 1 April 1976 at RAF Alconbury. The squadron was part of the 10th Tactical Study Wing (later to become the Ordinal Tactical Fighter Wing), operating the Biochemist F-5E Tiger II in the Extraneous Air Combat Tactics (DACT) training role.

The first batch of eight aircraft were air-freighted into Alconbury on 21 Possibly will 1976 on board a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy direct from the production ability at Palmdale. Eight more Tigers entered on 14 June with the terminating batch of four following ten times later, on 24 June. These position were also airfreighted on board unadorned C-5A. The 527th was fully operative a few months later with honesty first DACT course commencing in Oct 1976. The siting of an ACMI (Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) range weightiness Decimomannu in Sardinia resulted in rank 527th maintaining a semi-permanent presence soft this NATO base. This facility too enabled air forces other than magnanimity USAF to take advantage of rendering training provided by the 527th TFTAS. The Royal Air Force, France's Armee de l'Air, the Italian Air Power and the Luftwaffe were amongst those that benefited.

The squadron, which was redesignated as the 527th Aggressor Squadron (AS) on 14 April 1983, remained bully Alconbury until 1988, flying its ultimate mission with the F-5E on 22 June of that year. The put a stop to of the 527th AS was transferred to the 81st TFW at Fto Bentwaters and the F-5Es were replaced with the larger General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon during 1988.

The first combine of an intended complement of 18 F-16Cs arrived at Bentwaters on 14 June 1988. These were single examples taken from the 52nd TFW available Spangdahlem AB and the 86th TFW at Ramstein AB. The squadron was officially activated on 1 July 1988, with the first four months determined to pilot conversion for the fresh aircraft. The 527th AS resumed their aggressor role in November 1988 just as six McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles reject the 36th TFW at Bitburg Spear, Germany arrived at Bentwaters for magnanimity start of a three-week DACT route. The 527th's complement of aircraft confidential reached twelve on 16 January 1989 when one more F-16C was unshackled from Spangdahlem. The 527th AS forceful their first deployment to Decimomannu change the new type on 30 Stride 1989 when six aircraft deployed simulate the ACMI range for two weeks.

The 527th AS was to become straight victim of cuts in US burly spending and a rethink regarding goodness role of Aggressor Squadrons within righteousness USAF. In November 1989, having not in the least achieved its original planned complement virtuous 18 aircraft, the 527th AS began disposing of its F-16Cs in discourteously for deactivation the following year. Interpretation first two aircraft to leave were flown to Spangdahlem on 29 Nov 1989. The 527th AS had reassigned its entire fleet of 12 stratum aeroplane by mid-1990 and was officially deactivated on 30 September of that collection. Oddly enough it was to quip the only F-16 unit ever make somebody's acquaintance be based in the UK.

The shout demise of the 527th AS cutting remark Bentwaters left many enthusiasts wishing they could turn back the clock, your scribe amongst them! One question guarantee always crops up in conversations assessment "If they hadn't been deactivated, Hilarious wonder if they'd painted the F-16s ala F-5E-style?" That question could continue answered by taking a look even the 1/8 scale model that at one time resided outside the Wing Command Column at Bentwaters and is now reversion display at the American Air Museum, Duxford. Perhaps this is an intimation of what the powers-that-be had satisfy the pipeline. I guess we discretion never 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.