A selective history of our own aircraft which we received and operated over the years of 1976 - 1979
followed by a selection of those we entertained at RAF Laarbruch during the period

All pictures from Author's personal collection unless otherwise stated.   For copies of these pictures contact Clive Brooks quoting the identifier and the format required (jpeg or hardcopy).  Picture will be dispatched on receipt of £2.50 (per copy) and address details.   A proportion of any profit from the sale will be forwarded to identified charities.

"Portrait"

Serial Number  RAF Delivery Date and known history

XZ101 (S) - 26 Feb 1976

Picture shows the arrival of the first Jaguar GRmk1 to be accepted by II(AC) Sqn at RAF Laarbruch so beginning the replacement programme of the Phantom shown in the background.

XZ102 (H) - 5 Mar 1976

Crashed at Bedburg-Hau (10 miles northeast of Laarbruch) on December 14th 1976 after the pilot (Bill Langworthy) had a "little difficulty" maintaining control during a test flight. Subsequently it was found that a tailplane powered control unit had been left disconnected following an engine refit.
(Not sure if this is a photo of XZ102 but, whatever, it makes for a nice detailed picture!)

XZ103 (I) - 27 Feb 1976

NTR

XZ104 (N) - 11 Mar 1976

Picture taken during transit flight to Decimomannu, Sardinia.  Mount Etna in the background

XZ105 (Y) - 5 Mar 1976

Arrived only to spend some months tucked away in HAS 58 as the Squadron "Christmas Tree" - see Stories

On June 16th 1983 XZ105 and XZ110 collided at Goose Bay, Canada during a break to land.  Both pilots ejected

XZ106 (E) - 15 Mar 1976

NTR

XZ107 (R) - 15 Mar 1976

NTR

XZ108 (W) - 9 Jun 1976

Collided with Tornado GR.1 ZA394 over the Spadeadam weapons range in Northumberland on January 9th 1990.  Despite losing 60cm of its port wing tip, the Jaguar was recovered to RAF Leeming. The Tornado crashed near Hexham.
XZ108 (in the service of No 54 sqn) crashed into the North Sea off north Norfolk on September 3rd 1998.

XZ109 (O) - 2 Apr 1976

Picture taken on the occasion of Bill Langworthy's 1000th Flying Hour on the Jaguar; the first RAF pilot to reach this total on type.

XZ110 (J) - 2 Apr 1976

On June 16th 1983 GR.1s XZ105 and XZ110 collided at Goose Bay, Canada during a break to land.  Both pilots ejected

XZ111 (A) - 7 Apr 1976

Crashed north of Dumfries on 27 October 2000 following a birdstrike.  (Pilot made safe ejection).

XZ112 (G) - 7 Apr 1976

NTR

XZ120 - 7 Apr 1976

Fatal crash following a training sortie to the Nordhorn bombing range in Northern Germany. (Flt.Lt. Doug Stein)

XZ361 (II) - 1 Oct 1976

NTR

XZ362 (19) - 1 Oct 1976

Picture shows XZ362 making an emergency landing at RAF Gutersloh on 25th November 1977 following a complete Hydraulic failure.  Flying Officer Gary Smith driving

XX843 (T) - 1 Oct 1976

The infamous "Wheels-up" landing machine.  Flew again after a 15 month-long repair.
Destroyed following a mid-air collision with Cessna 152 G-BMHI over Carno, Powys on August 29th 1981.   The Cessna pilot and both Jaguar crew were killed.  Subsequently the Cessna was found to have been operating in a military low-flying area without permission.

XX845 (T) - 1 Oct 1976

NTR

"Visitor"

Aircraft and Event

Mirage IIIR of 33/1 L'Arme d'Air - Squadron exchange July 1978

Mirage IIIR of 33/3 L'Arme d'Air - Squadron exchange July 1978

Northrop RF5a of No. 717 Royal Norwegian Air Force, Rygge - Squadron exchange Sept 1978

Buccaneer Smk2b of No.15 Sqn, RAF - Sometimes deployed from the other side of the airfield to the II(AC) Sqn area as part of Station Tactical Evaluations (Tacevals)

Jaguar GRmk1 of No.6 Sqn, RAF - Pilot "arrested" as a defector for landing at RAF Laarbruch during a Station exercise!

Saab Draken of Esk 729, Danish Air Force, Karup - Squadron exchange Sept 1978

All pictures from Author's personal collection unless otherwise stated.   For copies of these pictures contact Clive Brooks quoting the identifier and the format required (jpeg or hardcopy).  Picture will be dispatched on receipt of £2.50 (per copy) and address details.   A proportion of any profit from the sale will be forwarded to identified charities.