28th February 1981

KING 50 departed Woodbridge 03:10 50n 30w 08:30 F250 50n 35w 09:25,  will orbit on a 25 mile radius from this position 'till 10:12 at F250, waiting for the 'chicks' and will reduce speed to 250kts.
Departed orbit at 10:17, 50n 30w 10:51, 50n 25w 11:26, 50n 20w 12:02, 50n 15w 12:38, 50n 10w 13:09, 50n 08w 13:24, destination is Woodbridge.

AVISO 55 49n 50w 08:15 F190 50n 40w 09:40, 50n 30w 10:52, 50n 25w 11:28 now blocking F150/210, 50n 20w 11:52, 50n 10w 12:45, 50n 08w 12:56, now blocking F260/270, LND/Lands End, ETA destination is 15:00. We are in tow with eight 'chicks', their ETA for EDSL/Lechfeld is 16:05.
There are two C-135's in our flight AVISO 55 & 56 and eight A-10's, call-signs (?) 11/12/13/21/22/23/31/32 who departed KSYR/Syracuse, NY at 03:57.

AMAIN 51 flight, 40w 09:40, 25w 11:28 TAS 300kts

This was part of the "Coronet Sail" deployment where eight A-10's from the New York ANG moved to Germany, until 14th March 1981. Seven identified A-10's involved were, 78-0649, 78-0650, 78-0653, 78-0658, 78-0670, 78-0671 and 78-0684.
The 'duckbutt' cover was provided by the KING 50, 69-5820, HC-130 from the UK.
Tanker support from four KC-135's, AVISO 55/56 and AMAIN 51/52

[The traffic was copied on 6750/9011/13244 with Croughton and MacDill Airways]

22nd February 1981

CFC 5824 71.55n 00 08:54 F250, 70.30n 10e 09:33 destination ENDU/Bardufoss

Canadian Air Force, CC-130 working Bodo on 8910

MAC 120 38.30n 20w 21:55 F370 37n 15w 22:29 37n 10w 23:00, outside temp' -65°C, wind 290/26, contact Lisbon on 134.85 VHF

MAC 113 37n 15w 22:24 F410 38.30n 20w 22:59 BRAVO RADAR 23:43, then GP direct Lajes, ETA LPLA 23:50, Mach .74, at 20w call 127.9 VHF

MAC 122 37n 15w 22:02 F370 37n 10w 22:34, contact Lisbon on 134.85 VHF

MAC 123 BRAVO 21:56 F370 38.30n 20w 22:30, 37n 15w 23:00, 37n 10w 23:33, contact Lisbon on 134.85 VHF

Four USAF, C-141's (?) (not C-135's due their VHF capability), working Santa Maria on 5610/8945

15th February 1981

INCH 94 On a 'phone patch to PHANTOM 85 (European ALCC)  "we are A C-130 from Californian ANG, from Rhein Main, we departed EGQS (RAF Lossiemouth) 10:18, ETA Pease AFB 20:27. We are one hour late departing due refuelling. We will over-fly Goose Bay due negative request. Are the other guard aircraft all departed yet? Negative, not yet, due to depart."

passed 59n 10w 11:22 F180 60n 20w 12:35, 60n 30w next

USAF, C-130E from CA ANG that had deployed to Rhein Main with six other C-130's
[working Croughton Airways on 6750]

12th February 1981

MILO 63 departed Lajes 11:27 43.30n 20w 13:05 F250 45n 17.06w 13:33, 46n 15w 13:51, 48n 10w next, ETA Mildenhall 16:05

USAF, C-130E/H from 314AW/LK, working Lajes Airways on 13201

MAC 50221 departed KBIF (Biggs AFB, TX) 49.20n 94.45w 00:03 F370 ETA MPHO (Howard AFB, Panama)

USAF, C-141, 65-0221

10th February 1981

DOVE 61 16.20n 85w 23:22 F310 requesting F350, Swan Island (17.41n 83.92w) 23:34, MUHA (Habana/Jose Marti, Cuba) 23:54 DEANO 23:58 GUAMA (just off the Havana/Central America FIR's) 00:07. Please relay to CABOB (DSN 781-5555 - Barksdale AFB) and ORTHO (DSN 739-5555 - Carswell AFB) that we are "Ops normal" at 23:30.

USAF, RC-135 or similar ELINT operation(?) working MacDill on 8993 and Albrrok on 11176/11246.
[If anyone can identify the type I would appreciate it!]

BB 654 37n 15w 00:17 F310, Mach .80, SelCal FMAC, requesting oceanic clearance to Barbados

Balair, DC-8-63, HB-IDZ, working Santa Maria on 5610

[Photo: HB-IDZ at Zurich on 28/09/1985 © Derek Gaynor]

8th February 1981

HARPY 19 60.30n 40w 09:41 F260, 59.30n 45w 10:20, 58n 50w 11:00, 55.31n 57.01w next, ETA Goose Bay 13:00, outside temp' -50°C, wind 280/47. We are in Uniform contact with HARPY 51

HARPY 51 61n 30w 09:38, F260, 60.45n 35w 10:14, 60.30n 40w 10:50, 60.04n 43.10w next descending to F220 to Goose Bay

Two USAF, C-130's

OTIS 03 37.41n 35w 11:09 F220, 37n 40w next, JULIETTE 10:08

USMC, C-130

VVV LK03 departed Rota NAS 08:52, 38.28n 20w 10:58 F240, 38.43n 25w 11:38, ETA Lajes 11:59

VVV LC83 departed Rota NAS 10:25, 37.10n 10w 11:03, F240, 37.45n 15w 11:47, ETA Lajes 13:34 with 12 souls

Two U S Navy, P-3's

2nd February 1981

SV 9912 55n 30w 23:08 F370, 54n 20w 23:47, 54n 15w next, ETA Shannon 00:35, Mach .83, SelCal DJEL

Saudia, L.1011-200, HZ-AHQ on delivery from Palmdale to Jeddah, via Shannon.
(Working Shanwick on 5638)

[Photo: HZ-AHQ at Geneva on 14/06/1993 © Jordi Grife]