TWTD #04 - Coronet's, Crested Cap's & Salty Bee's - USAF Fighter Deployments to Europe

SOURCES The following books, magazines, email groups and web sites were used in the course of my research. Of immense value were the various 'Spotter' magazines, BAR & SEAR/AIR especially. Due credit must be given to the staff/correspondents of these magazines who tracked, compiled and produced such excellent magazines, which are sorely missed by many...

Books
Martin, Patrick	Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings	Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Geer, James	The Republic F-105 Thunderchief: Wing and Squadron Histories	Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Logan, Don	F-4 Phantom II's of the USAF Reserve and Air National Guard	Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Miller, Jay	General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon : Aerograph 1	Aerofax Inc.
Francillon, Rene	The Air Guard : Aerograph 2	Aerofax Inc.
Hopkins III, Robert	Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker : More Than Just a Tanker	Midland Publishing Ltd
Archer, Robert	United States Military Aviation : The Air Force	Midland Counties Publications Ltd
Archer, Robert	US Air Force : The New Century	Midland Publishing Ltd
Peacock, Lindsay	On Falcon Wings : The F-16 Story	Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises
Kinzey, Bert	Colors & Markings of the F-4C Phantom II : Post Vietnam Markings 1974-1984 Vol.3	Aero Publishers Inc/Arms & Armour Press
Kinzey, Bert Leader, Ray	Colors & Markings of the Recon Phantoms : USAF RF-4C & USMAC RF-4B Variants Vol.23	Kalmbach Publishing Co/Airlife Publishing Ltd.
Francillon, Rene	The United States Air National Guard : World Air Power Journal	Aerospace Publishing Ltd.
Lake, John	McDonnell F-4 Phantom : Spirit in the Skies - World Air Power Journal	Aerospace Publishing Ltd.
Donald, David	US Air Force : Air Power Directory - World Air Power Journal	Aerospace Publishing Ltd.
Shaw, Robbie	US Air Power in Colour Vol. 1	Janes Publishing Company Ltd
Shaw, Robbie	F-4 Phantom : Guardian of the Free World	Airlife Publishing Ltd
Scutts, Jerry	F-105 Thunderchief : Modern Combat Aircraft Vol.10	Ian Allan Ltd
Thornborough, Anthony Davies, Peter	F-111 : Success in Action	Arms & Armour Press Ltd
Thornborough, Anthony Davies, Peter	The Phantom Story	Arms & Armour Press Ltd
Thornborough, Anthony	USAF Phantoms : Tactics, Training and Weapons	Arms & Armour Press Ltd
Mast, Geert	Vliegend voor de Vrede (Flying for Peace) : De Amerikaanse Luchtmacht in Europa	Unknown
de Boer, Martin	F-16 Fighting Falcon :4th Edition	Scramble Dutch Aviation Society
Raverstein, Charles	Air Force Combat Wings - Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977	Office of Air Force History
Mattiuzzo - Roder - Torcoli	Runway Zero - Five : 1954-1992 Cold War at Aviano	Goliardica Editrice S.r.l

Magazines
	British Aviation Review (BAR) : Journal of the British Aviation Research Group	Volumes 17-21 (1975 - 1979) Volumes 28-41 (1986 - 1999)
	South East Air Review (SEAR) : West London Aviation Group	Volumes 19-24 (1980 - 1985)
	AIR : The Journal of West London Aviation Group	Volumes 25 - 31 (1986 - 1992)
	STROBE : Military Aviation Review	Issues 98 - 109 (1996)
	Military Aviation Review	Issues 110 - 157 (1997-2000)
	AIRSHOWS : Midland Counties Publications	Years 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984 - 1987
	Smoke Trails : Journal of the F-4 Society	Various Issues
	World Air Power Journal : Aerospace Publishing Ltd	Various Issues
	Wings of Fame ; Aerospace Publishing Ltd	Various Issues
	International Air Power Review : AIRTime Publishing	Various Issues
	Article: CORONET '90 (Airframe, November 1990) Peter Rolt
	Article: Coronet Nighthawk (Aviation News, December 2002) Bob Archer

E-Mail Groups
	Mil-Spotters	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mil-spotters-forum
	Touchdown News	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Touchdown-News
	NAMAR	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NAMAR
	F-4Discussion · F-4 Phantom II Discussion Group	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/F-4Discussion
	USMILAV · US Military Aviation	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USMILAV
	USAF News	http://www.af.mil/subscriptions.asp

Web sites
	USAF Aviation	http://fly.to/radiousaf
	Various USAF/ANG/AFRES Official web sites	various
	USAF Historical Research Agency	http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra

Other
	Air Force Wings and USAF Flying, Space and Missile Squadrons : CD-ROM	US Air Force Historical Research Agency

Deployments to Europe by United States Air Force Fighters (including ANG and AFRES) have been a common feature since 1970*. The aim of this article is to chronicle in detail these many and varied deployments made to Europe since 1970. The article covers the following aircraft types and USAF commands:

F-4, F-15, F-16, F-100, F-105, F-106, F-111, F-117, A-7, A-10, EB-57

Tactical Air Command /Air Combat Command;Pacific Air Force Command;
Alaskan Air Command; Air Defense Command; Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Reserve/Air Force Reserve Command;Air National Guard

As can be seen, I have decided to leave out all Strategic Air Command deployments to Europe, for the obvious reason that they didn't operate fighters (even though the FB-111 should have been included, and might be at a later date). For the same reasons Military Airlift Command assets (and TAC/ACC assigned transports/tankers) are also not covered. (That subject being near on impossible to cover fully!!!). Also missing are any stop-over's in Europe made by aircraft and units deploying to the Middle-East (including ‘Southern Watch’ deployments/re-deployments)

* Of course CONUS based units and aircraft started deploying to Europe well before 1970. Maybe at a later date I will start to include the 1960’s deployments. If anyone has any information concerning these, I would be interested in hearing from you.

A brief introduction to some of the names and operations mentioned throughout this article follows.

CRESTED CAP
In 1968 the United States needed to reduce their forces stationed in Europe. An agreement was made with the UK and Germany that allowed the United States to remove 35,000 troops and 96 aircraft back to CONUS (CONtinental United States) but for them to return annually to Europe to exercise. The US Army portion of this was named REFORGER (the REturn of FORces to GERmany), while the USAF portion was called 'Crested Cap' (originally named ‘Heavy Draw’). ‘Crested Cap’ represented a plan to return four complete fighter squadrons (These were the 49 TFW’s 7th,8th & .9th TFS at Spangdahlem and the 417 TFS at Hahn) to the United States. Squadrons brought back to the United States were still aligned with their bases in Germany. These units were known as 'dual-based squadrons'. The first ‘Crested Cap’ took place between 15 January – 4 April 1969 when the entire 49th TFW deployed from Holloman AFB back to Spangdahlem AB. In 1977 the wing ceased its "dual-base" commitment to NATO and changed to an air superiority mission and were replaced by the 4th TFW.
CORONETS
Initiated in 1975 the ‘Coronet’ series of deployments brought TAC, ANG and AFRES Fighter units to Europe for two-week periods (sometimes shorter or longer) to exercise their long range deployment capabilities and to familiarize themselves with the European theatre of operations (and weather!). From 1979 the ‘Coronets’ came under the ‘Checkered Flag’ programme, which required the units to deploy once every three years. 'Checkered Flag' was initiated to provide realistic deployment training and was terminated in 1997. When the units deployed to Europe they CHOP (CHange of OPerational control) at 10 degrees W. longitude. They then came under the command of the U.S. commander at EUCOM (EUropean COMmand).
CREEK BEE - SALTY BEE
Starting in 1972, the 67th and 363rd TRWs began deploying annually to Europe for two-week exercises under the Creek Bee programme (1972-74) and from 1977 to 1989 under the programme ‘Salty Bee’ These deployments rotated annually (with a couple of exceptions) between Aviano AB, Italy, Zweibrücken AB, Germany and RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom.
KEFLAVIK ALERT
With the inactivation of the NAS Keflavik based 57th FS on 1 March 1995, the air intercept mission at Iceland was taken over by ACC and ANG fighter units on a 90 day rotational basis. This is a still ongoing operation.
DESERT SHIELD - DESERT STORM
No explanation of this is probably needed. Obviously these operations mainly occurred outside Europe and therefore are excluded from this article, but a few aircraft/units did deploy to Europe in association with this operation and are included.
PROVIDE COMFORT - OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH
This was a Combined Task Force (CTF) charged with enforcing the no-fly zone north of the 36th parallel in Iraq and monitoring Iraqi compliance with UN Security Council resolutions 678, 687, and 688. ACC, ANG & AFRC Fighter units deployed on 45/90 day rotational deployments to Incirlik AB, Turkey.
Dates of operation were: Operation Provide Comfort 6 April 1991 - 24 July 1991 Operation Provide Comfort II 24 July 1991 – 31 December 1996 Operation Northern Watch 31 December 1996 – 30 April 2003
OPERATION DENY FLIGHT - DECISIVE EDGE - DELIBERATE GUARD
Joint UN/NATO Operations to enforce a no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. ACC, ANG & AFRC Fighters deployed to Aviano AB, Italy on rotational basis. These operations eventually lead to Allied Force/Operation Noble Anvil (see below).
Dates of operations were: Operation Deny Flight 12 April 1993 – 20 December 1995 Operation Decisive Edge January 1996 – December 1996 Operation Deliberate Guard December 1996 – 20 June 1998
OPERATION NOBLE ANVIL
Operation Allied Force was a NATO contingency response aiming at ensuring full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1199 (Sept. 23rd 1998). Operation Noble Anvil was the American component of this NATO action to promote regional stability, cooperation and security, in support of the international community. ACC and ANG Fighter (along with USAFE) units deployed to bases in Italy, Hungary, Turkey and Germany. Flew combat missions over Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Dates of operation were: 23 March 1999 – 10 June 1999
COMPETITIONS AND OTHER DEPLOYMENTS
As a tool to keep their units at the cutting edge competitions have been a feature of the USAF for sometime. Various competitions have been held in Europe and attended by USAF/ANG/AFRES Fighters. These include the NATO ‘Best Focus’ Reconnaissance meets, Tactical Fighter Meets & RAF Bombing Competitions of the 1970’s.

Deployment - (Exercise Name)
Deployment code name assigned, followed by Main exercise the unit took part in, if known (other known exercises will be listed in 'Further Info'). If no name was assigned then 'NOT ASSIGNED' is used, if a name was probably assigned then 'UNKNOWN' is used and finally when it could be either the 'UNKNOWN or NOT ASSIGNED' is used!

Deployment Base (Country)
The main base the deployment deployed to (If known). Followed by Country. On the rare occasions that the deployment moved from base to base then the arrival base will be used.

Deployment Dates
Dates of deployment. Dates are used in this order:
1) Actual dates the the unit arrived at location and departed from location. (When aircraft arrived/departed on various days then the earliest arrival/latest departure date will be used (any exceptions to this will be noted in 'Further Info')
2) Official USAF dates of deployment, again if this is the case it will be noted in 'Further Info'
3) Dates they departed from/arrived back to/from CONUS. Again this will be noted in 'Further Info'

Wing or Group /Squadron (Base/Command)
The unit deployed: Wing (Group if applicable) followed by Squadron (If applicable or known). Followed by units home base and major command. (note: Unless noted the Squadron applies to the crews/personnel deployed and not necessary the aircraft, many squadrons deployed with aircraft normally assigned to other squadrons of the wing (especially during the 1970's), a good example of this is the various Crested Cap deployments where say the 8 TFS was the designated deploying squadron but the 24 F-4s comprised 7 TFS, 9 TFS and 417 TFS assigned aircraft.

Aircraft type (Number Deployed)
Aircraft type(s) deployed followed by number of aircraft deployed if known.

Tailcode (colour)
Assigned two letter unit code followed by tailband colour carried by deployed aircraft. Used when all or majority of aircraft so marked. Exceptions will be noted in

XX Individual Wing/Squadron tailcode
- No Tailcode carried/assigned

Deployed Aircraft Serials (Color) [Notes]

List of known serial numbers of aircraft deployed.

xx-xxxx

USAF serial number (fiscal year - 4 digit serial format)

[x]

Note applicable to particular aircraft, see 'Further Info'

(xx)

Tail stripe colour of each aircraft (or known ones) if different from

Two letter colour code is used:

(?)

Tail stripe colour not known, used only when the majority of others are known.

bl BLUE; rd RED; yl YELLOW; gn GREEN; bk BLACK; wh WHITE; sv SILVER; gd GOLD; lv LOW-VIZ; multi MULTIPLE COLOURS; u UNMARKED

Further Info
Additional info concerning the deployment and notes applicable to the other sections. Red text is used to denote missing or conflicting info.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS An article of this size and detail would not have been possible without the generous help of the following gentleman.

Ashley Annis	Bob Archer	Luca Araniti	Keith Bilverstone	Keith Briggs	Marcel van Beek	Martin de Boer	Michael Beier
Mike Bursell	Steve Bricker	Sergio Bottaro	Steve Butler	V.J. van den Berg	Phil Camp	Ian Crane	R.Damstra
Lee DeHaven	Steve Donald	Peter Doll	Erik op den Dries	Bob Evans	Henrik G. Elstorp	Paul van den Elsaker	Erik Frikke
Rolf H Flinzner	Mick Freer	Stuart Freer	Peter Foster	Steve Gensler	Malcolm Gault	Don Gilham	Edwin de Greeuw
Sergio Gava	P.J. van Gemert	Alan Howarth	David Hedge	Ian Hampshire	Joris Heeren	Martin Herbert	Steve Hill
Tom Hildreth	Paul van den Hurk	Tim Hunter	Fred Jansen	Jan Gunnar Jørgensen	JAS	Jens Jenson	Gerhard W Joos
Kevin Jackson	Martien Jacobs	K. Kesteloo	Mark Knivett	Mike King	Chris Knott	Alex Knoops	Gerhard Lang
Augusto Laghi	Bernard Lestrad	Arnold van Leuveren	Eric van Lisdonk	Don Logan	Alastair McBean	C.J. Mak	Rod Martins
Alec Molton	Neil Millard	Mike O'Leary	Ian Powell	Martin Pagh	Paul Phillips	Simon Patterson	Massimo Pregnolato
Willy Metze	Brian Rogers	Henk Ruiken	Jeff Rankin-Lowe	John Robinson	John Ross	Mike Riach	Peter Rolt
John Ross	Steve Rush	Henk Scharringa	Josef Strerath	Jost Schreiber	Bob Shane	Martin Stephen	Frank Smith
Peter Steinemann	Martyn Swann	Robbie Shaw	Rick Sleight	Doug Slowiak	Mike Tighe	Kurt Thomsen	Lutz Tonne
Chris Vaughan	K. van der Velden	Peter van Veen	Dave Wilton	Jan van Waarde	Udo Weisse	Scott Wilson	Kelvin Wyatt
Pieter Zeilstra	Timm Ziegenthaler	Frank van Hemert	Mark Ghering	Robert J Egloff	George Van der Schoor	Dave Ireland	Bob den Engelsman
Michel Klaver	Knut Willersrud	Daniele Mattiuzzo	Luca Storti	Hans J Schroder	Doug Pritchard	Kenneth Coogle	Martin van der Hurk
Matt Ellis	Marinus Tabak	Goose (Ed Lagesse SSgt)	John Lekkerkerker

Article by:
	Peter Greengrass
	Photos by:
Various - see credit lines

© ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SHARPSHOOTER - Military Aviation Journal. NO PHOTOS MAYBE USED/PUBLISHED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SHARPSHOOTER - Military Aviation Journal.