Marham, Purple formation on 312.9, do you read?’
Still nothing.
Todd was now getting worried. Perhaps his radio was u/s. But no, he had just checked it. Everyone else in the formation could hear it. Right, then, he’d try something else.
‘Blue One – try Marham for me?’
‘Roger, Purple lead ………….Marham, Purple formation DO YOU READ?’
Yet more silence.
‘This is crazy,’ thought Todd, bewildered. 'What the hell were Marham playing at?’
Blue lead repeated his call but still nothing came back.
Time to try the next stage.
‘Stumpy, try your radio box.’
Which he did to no avail.
Todd was now extremely troubled. But he had to keep calm.
‘Purple from Purple lead, check and confirm that you are all serviceable and continue to hold at briefed heights and positions?’
Purple aircraft all replied in turn and in the affirmative.
At least the aircraft were safe. But he still had to contact Marham.
‘Let’s try something else. Green One, climb to fifteen thousand feet and try Marham from there. Give ‘Guard’ a go as well.’
‘Guard’ was the aviators term for 243.0 – the international UHF emergency frequency. It was like dialling ‘999’ or ‘911’ in the air.
‘Roger lead, wilco,’ replied Green One.
As the formation continued to circle, Todd did some mental arithmetic and found that they could stay up here for at least another seventy-five minutes. So there was no real problem with fuel – yet!’
The Reconnaissance Tornado levelled at fifteen thousand feet and made his call – but again there was no reply. He tried three more times on differing frequencies but each time – nothing. Purple formation heard all of the calls and waited.
‘Try VHF Green One,’ Todd pleaded.
Green One tried but again with no luck.
Todd was now running out of ideas.
He called Yellow One.
‘Yellow lead, you’ve got the best radios – see if you can contact anyone? Any station – any frequency – anything, but just get someone.’
‘Roger, Purple.’
Todd was at a complete loss. Quite frankly he was starting to become panicky. How could none of the radios be working? Hang on though; they were working, because aircraft in the formation could speak to each other.
Why was no-one replying?
Where was everybody?
He spoke again with Green One, who was still circling at fifteen thousand feet.
‘Green One, Purple Lead, recover to Marham and let them know what’s going on and that we will probably need a no radio approach for fifteen aircraft at two minute intervals. Hopefully, Radar can cope with that? In addition Blue Four, climb to five thousand feet and give the formation some top cover.’
‘Roger Purple, Green Three recovering to base. Will keep you informed. As a matter of interest we’re not up here alone. We’ve seen the Battle of Britain Flight Spitfire practising aerobatics about twenty miles north-east of Scampton.’
Blue Four also acknowledged the instruction and started his climb.
‘Roger, Green Three & Blue Four, keep in touch.’
At this point Todd considered putting out a PAN call or even a MAYDAY. However, Green One would be at Marham in less than ten minutes. He wouldn’t panic yet. Although he was already bloody close to it!
Todd put out another call to the formation.
‘Purple formation, this is Purple lead. You have heard my brief to Green One. When we get the all clear, we will make individual recoveries to Marham in the following order. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow. Dump fuel as required. Do you all copy?’
Purple all acknowledged as did Green One, who was fast approaching Marham airfield. They let Todd know that no contact had been made but were continuing their approach for a run and break. This was a high speed approach over the runway, joining the ATC pattern at one thousand feet downwind for immediate
Still nothing.
Todd was now getting worried. Perhaps his radio was u/s. But no, he had just checked it. Everyone else in the formation could hear it. Right, then, he’d try something else.
‘Blue One – try Marham for me?’
‘Roger, Purple lead ………….Marham, Purple formation DO YOU READ?’
Yet more silence.
‘This is crazy,’ thought Todd, bewildered. 'What the hell were Marham playing at?’
Blue lead repeated his call but still nothing came back.
Time to try the next stage.
‘Stumpy, try your radio box.’
Which he did to no avail.
Todd was now extremely troubled. But he had to keep calm.
‘Purple from Purple lead, check and confirm that you are all serviceable and continue to hold at briefed heights and positions?’
Purple aircraft all replied in turn and in the affirmative.
At least the aircraft were safe. But he still had to contact Marham.
‘Let’s try something else. Green One, climb to fifteen thousand feet and try Marham from there. Give ‘Guard’ a go as well.’
‘Guard’ was the aviators term for 243.0 – the international UHF emergency frequency. It was like dialling ‘999’ or ‘911’ in the air.
‘Roger lead, wilco,’ replied Green One.
As the formation continued to circle, Todd did some mental arithmetic and found that they could stay up here for at least another seventy-five minutes. So there was no real problem with fuel – yet!’
The Reconnaissance Tornado levelled at fifteen thousand feet and made his call – but again there was no reply. He tried three more times on differing frequencies but each time – nothing. Purple formation heard all of the calls and waited.
‘Try VHF Green One,’ Todd pleaded.
Green One tried but again with no luck.
Todd was now running out of ideas.
He called Yellow One.
‘Yellow lead, you’ve got the best radios – see if you can contact anyone? Any station – any frequency – anything, but just get someone.’
‘Roger, Purple.’
Todd was at a complete loss. Quite frankly he was starting to become panicky. How could none of the radios be working? Hang on though; they were working, because aircraft in the formation could speak to each other.
Why was no-one replying?
Where was everybody?
He spoke again with Green One, who was still circling at fifteen thousand feet.
‘Green One, Purple Lead, recover to Marham and let them know what’s going on and that we will probably need a no radio approach for fifteen aircraft at two minute intervals. Hopefully, Radar can cope with that? In addition Blue Four, climb to five thousand feet and give the formation some top cover.’
‘Roger Purple, Green Three recovering to base. Will keep you informed. As a matter of interest we’re not up here alone. We’ve seen the Battle of Britain Flight Spitfire practising aerobatics about twenty miles north-east of Scampton.’
Blue Four also acknowledged the instruction and started his climb.
‘Roger, Green Three & Blue Four, keep in touch.’
At this point Todd considered putting out a PAN call or even a MAYDAY. However, Green One would be at Marham in less than ten minutes. He wouldn’t panic yet. Although he was already bloody close to it!
Todd put out another call to the formation.
‘Purple formation, this is Purple lead. You have heard my brief to Green One. When we get the all clear, we will make individual recoveries to Marham in the following order. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow. Dump fuel as required. Do you all copy?’
Purple all acknowledged as did Green One, who was fast approaching Marham airfield. They let Todd know that no contact had been made but were continuing their approach for a run and break. This was a high speed approach over the runway, joining the ATC pattern at one thousand feet downwind for immediate
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