29th November 1981

LARK 52 departed Mildenhall 13:04, 55n 00 13:33 (EGTT - London ATCC FIC), F280, 58n 00 14:06, 65n 00 15:05, 82n 15e 17:20, ETA Offutt AFB 00:25, outside temp' -37°C, wind 330/95

USAF, WC-135, 61-2672 from the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, CA (working Croughton Airways on 11176)
[This aircraft arrived into Mildenhall earlier on the 27th November]

[Photo: 'stable-mate' WC-135B, 61-2666 in 1978]

61-2672 was converted from a C-135B in 1965 into a WC-135B. It received the 'Star Cast' modification in January 1989, which involved the installation of an optical tracking and collection capability behind the cargo door. In early 1990 it was noted in a new paint scheme of a white fuselage top, vertical stabilizer, engine turbofan nacelles and nose. During 1994 it began conversion into the second of the OC-135B's, 'Open Skies' (see image below). The implementation of this 'Open Skies Treaty' was signed in March 1992 by 25 nations to verify the military activities of the signatories by teams of observers. Accordingly the aircraft was subsequently assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB.

[Photo: at Mildenhall on 16th August 2008 as on OC-135B © Keith Burton]

28th November 1981

STINGRAY radio check with Croughton Airways on 6750, now going to the discrete frequency 9017 for RTTY traffic.
Later called and advised going to 'F315' and will monitor 'P lower'.

USAF tactical callsign, working Croughton Airways.
The reference to 'F315' refers to a designated 'Mystic Star' VIP HF frequency, the assignments of which are frequently changed. This is part of the 'Giant Talk' USAF global HF communications system

VVV MG3K BRAVO 08:29 F290, 38.30n 06w 09:15, 38.30n 15w 10:xx

U S Navy, P-3 (working Lajes Airways on 6750)

RETRO 61 39n 20w 17:06 F210 38n 15w 17:32, 38n 09.13w next

USAF, fighter, from Lajes on an eastbound oceanic transit (working Lajes Airways)
[Monitored the previous day inbound to Lajes, via KILO (38.28n 30.22w) F250, 38.31n 28.41w 23:57, GS next]

27th November 1981

GAF 5094 42n 20w 19:06 F240 'C' 20:x0, outside temp' -33°C, wind 065/25

German Air Force, Transall C-160D, 50+94 (working Santa Maria on 8945)

FM 0802 45n 20w 19:23 F370 47n 08w 20:32, NTS/Nantes next, ETA Paris CDG 21:40, fuel remaining 20,800, outside temp' -56°C, wind 035.40

French Air Force, DC-8

ANTE 21 HENCH 20:0x F280, BELCH 20:14, SMELT 20:57, requesting the UHF frequency for Jacksonville NAS.
On subsequent 'phone patch to DSN 488-5241 "LENS CONTROL" (Seymour Johnson AFB) advising that our single receiver 'JIFFY' off-loaded 26.5 and op's normal, relay to OPTIMIST Control and RAYMOND 01 (TAC/ALCC Langley AFB) and ANNUITY

U S military flight, type(?) working MacDill Airways on 13244

VV 31600 requested weather for his destination Key West at 00:41

U S Navy, Douglas R6D Liftmaster, 131600

[Photo: at Edmonton IAP on 2nd October 1978 © Caz Caswell]

MAC 67956 00° 30w 20:10 F390 04.10n 36.67w 21:20, 05.40n 38.50w next, wind 300/40, outside temp' -45°C, relay FORMAT and AK2

USAF, C-141, 66-7956 (working Ascension on 13244, switching to Albrook)

14th November 1981

HEIR 42 flight 55n 30w blocking F250/270, 53n 40w 15:38, 51n 50w 16:38
We are a flight of four.

USAF, KC-135's (working Gander 8889)

HEIR 44 on a 'phone patch to 'BANTER OPS' (Mildenhall Tanker Command Post) advising that they are leaking hydraulic fluid since the ARCP and wonder can they taxi if boom out?
estimating 10w 16:50, F270, switching to Scottish Airways

USAF, KC-135 (working Croughton Airways on 13201)

10th November 1981

RFR 982MQ ETD Kinloss 09:00, routing via Tiree, into operational area bounded by 57n 13w, 57n 06w, 55n 13w and 55n 06w between F200 and 200' between 09:45 and 15:45

Royal Air Force, HS.801 Nimrod (working Shanwick 5673)

N881PA 54n 40w 21:29 F370 55n 30w 22:08, 55n 20w 22:48, 55n 10w 23:08, BEL/Belfast next, SelCal CEHL

Global Express, B.707-321B, N881PA (working Gander 8945 and Shanwick 5610)

[Photo: at London, Stansted in May 1982 © Carl Ford]



F-YEBA FL/Flores 22:05, F150, GRA/Graciosa 22:45, LM/Lajes 22:58, destination is Lajes

French Navy, type(?), working Santa Maria on 5610.

7th November 1981

GAF 1004 53n 40w 20:18 F370 53n 30w 21:00, 53n 20w 21:43, 53n 15w next

German Air Force, B.707, 10+04

RFR 307SX 61n 04w 21:48, descending into operational area between 60n and 62n and 0° and 06w at F100 and below

Royal Air Force, HS.801 (?) (working Iceland 5638)