Another thing I noticed is the paint jobs. When the "day" attack AV-8Bs entered service in 1985 they were all painted in a dark green and gray camouflage. Most of the aircraft in this video, mostly VMA-542 Tigers and the lone aircraft from VMA-513 Nightmares, are camouflage. But, there is 1 aircraft, nose number 20 from VMA-542, that is painted ghost gray. How did that happen? The aircraft from VMA-231 were re-painted from the dark green and gray camo to a very weird dark gray and light gray camo. The pilots hated it. When the "night attack" AV-8Bs entered service in late 1991 the camo paint was gone, and the aircraft were painted completely in a medium gray with a dark gray aircraft silhouette on top to make the aircraft look even smaller. This was continued for the "radar" AV-8Bs which entered service in 1993.
At 7:52 is an aircraft, (with a very high nose number 43 which is clearly very sloppily patched) from VMA-513 Flying Nightmares (tail code WF). I didn't know they operated from King Abdul Aziz.
Each USMC Harrier squadron has/had 16 aircraft. So why such high nose numbers??? VMA-542 Tigers and VMA-231 Ace of Spades both operated from King Abdul Aziz. VMA-542 Tigers (tail code WH) would have had 16 aircraft with nose numbers 00, 01, 02........13, 14 & 15. And they would have been referred to as WH-00, WH-01, WH-02........WH-13, WH-14 & WH-15. VMA-231 Ace of Spades (tail code CG) also would have had 16 aircraft with nose numbers 00, 01, 02........13, 14 & 15. And they would have been referred to as CG-00, CG-01, CG-02........CG-13, CG-14 & CG-15. So, why are there many aircraft with nose numbers higher than 15???? Is it because there are 2 Harrier squadrons operating from the same busy airfield? Does that make it simpler for quicker identification by the control tower to assign different nose numbers, perhaps 00 to 20 (to VMA-542) and 21 to 40 (to VMA-231)???
3:15 - Does this Marine not know what that Bomb is? I wonder! Since when does a MK-20 Cluster Bomb have a Seeker Head? I thougt Marines are Trained Personel?
Good catch, We were modifying those MK20's to mod 12 for the Harriers as fast as we could. Barely kept up with the op tempo. Most people didn't know what they were.
We may be at the bottom of your list allies Now 😳 But you have to admit we invent some awesome kit 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 Maybe you’ll be happier with the French yet again !!!
![[SFM] Risky Recital](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RzNkY1_Nk3o/mqdefault.jpg)
Great footage. Thank you for sharing!!!
And thank you for having the wherewithal to bring a HUGE/HEAVY 1991 video camera on deployment!!!
Holy crap, there’s even an OV-10 Bronco in this video.
Semper Fidelis USMC 1980-84 Cherry point.
I packed many of the Harrier chutes back in the day...
Another thing I noticed is the paint jobs.
When the "day" attack AV-8Bs entered service in 1985 they were all painted in a dark green and gray camouflage.
Most of the aircraft in this video, mostly VMA-542 Tigers and the lone aircraft from VMA-513 Nightmares, are camouflage.
But, there is 1 aircraft, nose number 20 from VMA-542, that is painted ghost gray. How did that happen?
The aircraft from VMA-231 were re-painted from the dark green and gray camo to a very weird dark gray and light gray camo. The pilots hated it.
When the "night attack" AV-8Bs entered service in late 1991 the camo paint was gone, and the aircraft were painted completely in a medium gray with a dark gray aircraft silhouette on top to make the aircraft look even smaller. This was continued for the "radar" AV-8Bs which entered service in 1993.
At 7:52 is an aircraft, (with a very high nose number 43 which is clearly very sloppily patched) from VMA-513 Flying Nightmares (tail code WF). I didn't know they operated from King Abdul Aziz.
King Abdul Aziz airbase? I was there with MALS-32.
Each USMC Harrier squadron has/had 16 aircraft. So why such high nose numbers???
VMA-542 Tigers and VMA-231 Ace of Spades both operated from King Abdul Aziz.
VMA-542 Tigers (tail code WH) would have had 16 aircraft with nose numbers 00, 01, 02........13, 14 & 15.
And they would have been referred to as WH-00, WH-01, WH-02........WH-13, WH-14 & WH-15.
VMA-231 Ace of Spades (tail code CG) also would have had 16 aircraft with nose numbers 00, 01, 02........13, 14 & 15.
And they would have been referred to as CG-00, CG-01, CG-02........CG-13, CG-14 & CG-15.
So, why are there many aircraft with nose numbers higher than 15????
Is it because there are 2 Harrier squadrons operating from the same busy airfield?
Does that make it simpler for quicker identification by the control tower to assign different nose numbers, perhaps 00 to 20 (to VMA-542) and 21 to 40 (to VMA-231)???
Great video. Were you with 542? Do you mind if I add this to the VMA-542 Alumni page on Facebook?
Good footage. Which airfield was this shot at?
3:15 - Does this Marine not know what that Bomb is? I wonder! Since when does a MK-20 Cluster Bomb have a Seeker Head? I thougt Marines are Trained Personel?
Good catch, We were modifying those MK20's to mod 12 for the Harriers as fast as we could. Barely kept up with the op tempo. Most people didn't know what they were.
I didn't know they used Napalm in desert storm, I thought it was banned after Vietnam ?
Those were MK 77 firebombs. Different mix inside, burns hotter than NAPE.
We may be at the bottom of your list allies Now 😳 But you have to admit we invent some awesome kit 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Maybe you’ll be happier with the French yet again !!!