Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

Last edited by Jon on Sep 07, 2007 - 02:47 PM; edited 1 time in total

Performing some research on the 308th TFS/FS.

On the Luke web-page it states the history of the 308th TFS as having block 25s at Homestead after converting from the F-16A/B. Now the history doesn't list the block 40 being flown, so wonder if a typo. Plus I've never heard of this.

But searched our serial database at F-16.net and found two airframes. One is listed with the 308th the other the parent wing, the 31st TFW.

Those aircraft are block 25s:

F-16C 85-1421 308th TFS
F-16D 84-1320 31st TFW (edit: now 308th TFS)

Are these errors in our serial database? Any help please.

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The 308th flew block 40's at Homestead just prior to Andrew.

Yes, I know that they converted to the block 40 in 1991. But did they, and I don't think so, fly the block 25 for a very short period of time?

Also, if anyone has old Homestead F-16 photos, especially ZF tail codes, please let us know.

Jon I don't think so but have no proof.....Sorry

Yeah, I don't think so either, but the time frame would have to be 1990.

Last edited by Happy_Gilmore on Sep 01, 2007 - 03:19 AM; edited 3 times in total

I was a Crew Chief in the 308th when they had F-4D Phantoms at Homestead AFB in 1985/6, it was the 308th TFTS at the time. I think they had Block 42's at Homestead just pre Hurricane Andrew which Jon basically stated. Only one F-16 Squadron at Homestead had the ZF fin flash as I recall, it was the 306th Gunners which became the 308th Golden Knights when we got rid of the Phantoms, the fin flash then became HS. I actually have a pic of the first ZF fin flash Viper, I think it was 81-091 (Block 15 from Shaw), it's just not digital or I would post it. Yeah I'm an old crusty dude who keeps that sh#$t but I'm an F-35 guy now and life is good.
This is a picture of me with my FIRST jet as a Crew Chief in 85 and again in the boneyard in 2003, how cool is that and sorry if I got off the subject.
By the way, I don't think Homestead (Active duty) ever had Block 25's but the 482nd reserve unit there may have, I could be wrong about that, I've been wrong once or twice before now.

Thanks for sharing those photos Happy.

As for the photo that isn't digital, can you scan it? May still be okay to use. Especially as how rare ZF or 306 TFS photos are.

I'll try Jon, I just don't know who has a scanner anymore but I will try

I have some ZF tailed photos in some books, if I ever get my scanner hooked up again I'll try to post them.

FWIW all my references say they only flew 15s and 40s:

Quote:

The 31st TFW returned to Homestead from Vietnam in October 1970 with its F-4s with the ZF tailcode, and received its first F-16A/B Block 15 on 1 October 1982, its first user being the wing's 306th TFS. An HS tailcode was adopted in 1986. The 306th (yellow) was deactivated, and 307th 'Stingers' (red) were deactivated but moved to the 347th Wing at Moody, leaving the 308th TFS 'Knights' (green) and 309th TFS 'Wild Ducks' (blue). The 308th was also deactivated and moved to the 347th Wing to join the 307th. Later the 308th was again moved to Luke (58th, the 56th FW). During 1990 the wing converted to the F-16C/D Block 40, but was deactivated in 1993, with the 309th squadron numbers resurfacing at Luke AFB as training units and the wing number (31st) transferred to USAFE's new wing in Aviano Italy.

I am a crew chief here at luke afb working in the 310th amu, the 756th AMXS fly's block 42's, the 310th, 308th and the 63rd FS are with the 756th, we do not have block 25s in the 756th AMXS.

however, on the 56th AMXS side which has the 309th, 61st and the 62nd, they have block 25's.

MMFH QQMF!!!! All "Ducks" know what I'm talkin about.

Jon,

The 308th TFS did indeed fly Block-25s while at Homestead AFB, FL!!!!

Shot in Oct. 1990 is 85-1421 by G. Plomitzer.

Greetings,

Henrik.

I don't believe the 482nd ever had Blk. 25s. IIRC, they went straight from Blk. 15 A/Bs to Blk. 30 C/Ds, which they had upon my arrival (1999). Habu2 posted a pic or two of ZF tail code Vipers a couple of years ago, because I had started a thread about the lack of (at the time) pics of Homestead and MacDill birds. Apparently the Wing King's bird had a ZF tail code as well. Here's the Thread. Enjoy!

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-786.html

Thank you Henrik for the photo proof! Sounds like we have identified two F-16 block 25s that flew with the 308th. Guess it was very short lived, wonder if they ever even received a full squadron's worth.

Henrik do you have other serials identified?

TC thank you for revisiting that old thread. Yes any old MacDill or Homestead pix are welcome.

TC - que pasa old buddy??

When the 482nd FW went from Block-15s to Block-32s in 1995/6 (most coming from the 924th FG / 704th FS from Bergstrom AFB, TX and the 944th FG / 302nd FS at Luke AFB, AZ) the 93rd FS did in fact fly a few Block-25s.

Among those were;

84-1216, 84-1268 W/O Jul. 1 1999, 84-1285.

Jon,

The presence of Block-25s in the 308th TFS were very short lived. They flew these few examples in addition to their Block-15s and the Block-25s went away as the factory fresh Block-40s started to arrive in the 31st TFW early 1991.

So far I only have these few examples registered - I have heard a total about 10-12 machines in total.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

308th TFS with block 25?