80-0038 taking off from runway 11. This was the last F-15 to leave Keflavik on August 11 at 1130 hours, ending an American presence since 1951. 80-0038 was also the last 57th F-15 to leave when the Black Knights was disbanded in 1995.
One of the early P-3As from VP-8. In 1964 the Commander started calling all the men tigers and it wasn't long until the tiger became their symbol -
This earlier insignia only existed for a short time.
VP-24 Batmen was the only navy squadron permitted a female body in its insignia. The name stems from the time the squadron was testing the BAT missile with their P2V-6 Neptunes.
Just turning out of the ASW parking area on to the south taxiway, the pilots keep a sharp lookout for traffic.P-3Cs from VP-10 and VP-66 visible in the background.
Talk about a one-time only colorscheme. Caught by a shortage of F-4s, this one just recently arrived and being prepared for painting in the grey 57th colors, was pulled from the paintshop and flown on operations. This decision caused some career problems.
An F-16 of the Dutch Air Force taking off on August 6, 1997, the day after the end of the exercise Northern Viking 1997. The pilots did a splendid demonstration of evasive action on take off.
There was some gusting wind from the right and one wingtip lifted as can be seen. At once the autostabilisation system intervened and the right horizontal stabilator gave a little kick. Pilot did not have to use his stick. Written off on Nov. 24, 1997.
The 57th operated a number of different T-33As from 1954 to 1985. Here is one of three that were with the 57th from about 1975 to 1985. It is shooting landings on runway 02.
Two F-16Cs from the 27th Fighter Wing, 523rd Fighter Squadron, "Crusaders", based at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, shown landing in formation. The 27th Wing was the only F-16 unit to take up the defense of Iceland during the USAF presence here.
A B-52H from the 5. Operations Group of the 5. BW at Minot AFB landing at Keflavik on July 17, 1995. This was the second B-52 to land at Keflavik, 5 minutes after the first.
Photographed while waiting for the last preflight check together with 66-0328 and 66-0334 which incidentally were the first two F-4Es for the 57th FIS to arrive in 1977, replacing F-4Cs.
VP-5 is called the Mad Foxes and its insignia is a fox peering from behind a door. From the left you can see the whole backside of the fox, but from the right you see only what is visible around the door. Visible are new sensor pods and antennas.
Photographed during the last days of the Orion days before the individual markings were removed, and one P-3 came almost impossible to distinguish from another. Then I lost my P-3 obsession. VP-40 Marlins from Moffet was the resident squadron at the time.