Here are the three T-Birds of the 57th FIS on the flight line showing the start of painting out the arctic red high visibility markings. 592 is farthest away and has no repainting. 575 had its wing tanks already grey and 540 has only the nose still red.
A beautiful July day catches all three of the T-birds assigned to the 57th FIS in 1978-79, lined up on the ramp. The code 3 on the fin was a training aid for the Phantom pilots to tell which T-bird they were intercepting.
In 1981 the three T-33As of the 57th had the red arctic high visibility markings on the nose, fin and wing tip tanks removed by overpainting with the grey basic color. A photo from January 1981 shows that this had started then and went on gradually.
Taxying back to headquarters. By this time all the 57th T-birds were grey allover and only had a short time still left in Iceland. 575 was in Iceland in 1972 at least and was sent back on April 1, 1985 along with the other two, 58-0540 and 58-0575.
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.
Here shown in an earlier scheme than in my other photos of 592. Natural metal all over, bicentennial marking on fuselage and larger checkers in the tail checkerboard.
Doing a low flyby or low approach to runway 02, this T-bird is very picruresque, with its red areas, the Black Knights checkerboard and the large squadron insignia on the fin.
One of the three 57th FIS. T-birds taxying out to the Sierra taxyway, to prepare for takeoff on runway 02. Great sunlight after a shower. The midwinter noontime sun in Iceland will give one these vibrant colors after a midday shower.
One of the three 57th FIS T-Birds that were the last of their kind in Iceland. Here sporting a style of the rudder checkerboard that was prevalent from around 1969 to 1976 or so. Scanned from a not too good print.
Once more doing its regular training hops, here shown just before landing on runway 02. I was very active going out to Kef during the spring and summer of 1978, when the F-4Cs were leaving and the F-4Es were taking over.
Out of the 35 T-33's from USAF and Canadian stocks, 1916 (ex USAF 53-5474) was the only RT-33A entering service with the PAF. This single-seat version was based on the common T-33A fuselage with the forward section of the RF-80C.