User talk:Vkmarty

Anna Frodesiak (talk) 11:42, 27 July 2013 (UTC)

No. 77 Squadron RAAF
Hi, The Hornet in that photo was assigned to No. 77 Squadron, and was in the US with the unit - please see the caption to the photo at Commons. The RAAF's Hornets are currently pooled across the fleet rather than being permanently assigned to squadrons, and not too much should be read into tail markings. Please see the last paragraph of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Australian service. Regards, Nick-D (talk) 10:37, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

77 and 3 Squadrons are stationed at our nearby Williamtown RAAF Base and they do indeed stay within their assigned Squadrons, except for temporary assignment. If they make a permanent move they change tail markings, they have done it many times, but even if this Hornet was with 77 Squadron at that instant, it nonetheless remains a 3 Squadron Hornet with 3 Squadron markings. 77 Squadron have completely different markings. Regards, Vkmarty (talk) 12:03, 29 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Can you please provide a reference to demonstrate that the RAAF has returned to permanently assigning Hornets to each squadron? - I'd like to update the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Australian service article if this is now the case. This photo from No. 77 Squadron's deployment to the US in January 2014 appears to suggest that the practice of swapping aircraft around continues. Regards, Nick-D (talk) 08:21, 30 September 2014 (UTC)


 * Hi, I have contacted someone to provide 100% verification, which I will provide when it comes, however this site reflects the practice of each Hornet being allocated to a specific Squadron, with the relevant tail markings reflecting this http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/3a21.htm and http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/3a44.htm (at the bottom of the first page it shows the Squadron tail markings for all but 1 and 6 Sqdn, however the 3 Squardon markings have changed in that there is now the bird clutching the bomb as well as the Southern Cross). I also recall from my younger days a book published by 77 Squadron that also stated that all 77 Squardon planes displayed the 77 Squadron tail flash. I will advise further in the coming day or two, so please bear with me as I obtain 100% verification. Regards, Vkmarty (talk) 10:36, 30 September 2014 (UTC)