Courtesy of Bill Halpin, San Bernardino, CA
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Frequencies Monitored in Yuma Area: 230.100 SNAKE Air to Air / Tactical R-2301 West 243.000 Guard 250.250 SLAM Air to Air / Tactical R-2301 255.400 Yuma Radio FSS 272.300 VMFT-401 SNIPER Base 278.700 Yuma Approach 281.000 Yuma Approach 286.000 GCA Discrete 299.500 VMA-214 BLACKSHEEP Air to Air / Tactical 300.550 VMFT-401 SNIPER Air to Air / Tactical 305.200 GCA Discrete 314.750 DEALER Air to Air / Tactical R-2301 315.700 Ground 336.400 Clearance Delivery 374.800 Yuma Approach 382.800 Tower Callsigns Noted ATLAS xx HMT-303, AH-1W/UH-1N BLACKSHEEP xx VMA-214, AV-8B CAT xx VMA-311, AV-8B DEALER 01 Flight of 4 F/A-18s RAIDER 82 Flight of 3 VFA-125, F-18D RAIDER 84 VFA-125, F-18D RAIDER 91 VFA-125, F-18D RED EYE 01 Flight of 2 140 FW, F-16C ROMEO SIERRA xxx VR-61, C-9B SKULL 01 Flight of 2 F/A-18s SKULL 61 F/A-18 SLAM 01 Flight of 2 F/A-18s SNAKE 61 Flight VMFA-323, F/A-18 SNIPER 02 VMFT-401, F-5E/F SNIPER 04 Flight of 2 VMFT-401, F-5E/F SNIPER 07 Flight of 4 VMFT-401 SNIPER 13 VMFT-401, F-5E/F VIPER xx HMLA-169, AH-1W/UH-1N YUMA 095 SOS, UC-12B DEALER and SKULL callsigns unknown to me. I never got a good visual of them during their take off but they definitely were F/A-18s. On the way to Yuma MCAS from Quartzsite, AZ I passed Laguna AAF and the GOLDEN KNIGHTS just finished making a practice job from their modified F-27. On Site Report from El Centro NAF, CA 2/2/1999 Frequencies Monitored: 119.100 Tower 121.900 Ground 263.400 Ground 273.350 BLUE ANGELS Diamond Formation Air to Air 283.200 Range Control R-2510 SHADTREE 291.700 LA Center 305.000 Range Control R-2510 LOOM LOBBY 307.700 BLUE ANGELS Diamond Formation Air to Air 309.000 TDY Squadron Base (RAIDER, VFA-125) 310.700 TDY Squadron Base Hanger 6 (US Army) 340.200 Clearance Delivery 345.900 BLUE ANGELS Solos Air to Air 360.200 Tower 361.800 TDY Squadron Base Hanger 2 (PUGET, VAQ-129) 384.200 Paddles (Runway 26) El Centro was scheduled to be close for the BLUE ANGELS practice from 1200 to 1400 hours local. All frequencies used are indicated above. A total of 10 aircraft were painted in the BLUES colors but only 7 had ship numbers. The BLUES finished their practice at approx. 1320 hours. Once the field opened another air show started with the arrivals of: ARMY 246 UH-60 for Hangar 6 GRIFFIN xx VS-38, S-3B PUGET xx VAQ-129, EA-6B RAIDER xx VFA-125, F/A-18D Then about an hour later numerous take offs. ARMY 940 Jet Ranger land for Hanger 6 BLUE ANGEL 7 F/A-18A Callsign unknown RAF, C-130 HAWK xx VT-23, T-45A PUGET xx VAQ-129, EA-6B RAIDER xx VFA-125, F/A-18D SHOOTER 91 VMFAT-101, T-34C WOLF xx VS-35, S-3B The GRIFFINs were doing touch and go carrier landings all afternoon with paddles working the ball. The RAIDERS were also doing touch and go's all afternoon until sunset. Followed by a few PUGETs. SHOOTERs were using R 2510 most of the afternoon and evening hours. At sunset the GRIFFINs were back in the air working with paddles and the meatball for night carrier landings. ARMY 246 UH-60 land for Hanger 6 ARMY 950 Jet Ranger PUGET xx VAQ-129, EA-6B RAIDER xx VFA-125, F/A-18D VIPER 30 HMLA-169, UH-1N WOLFPACK 17 HMH-466, CH-53E El Centro tower closed at 2300 hours. local. On site report for El Centro NAF, 2/3/99 0700 hours local I was sound asleep in the RV parked on base when I was awoken by the sound of a C-130 taking off at 0700 hours local. Of course the C-130 was the RAF C-130 that landed yesterday. So once again I missed the callsign. RAIDERS VFA-125, F/A-18 PUGET VAQ-129, EA-6B HAWKS VT-23, T-45A CALUMET 619 HS-10, SH-60F BLUE ANGELS 1-4 Diamond formation depart for R-2507 SHADETREE for formation practice and then returned. BLUE ANGELS 5-6 Solos depart for R-2507 SHADETREE for practice and then returned. Note: RAIDER (VFA-125) was a Temporary Duty (TDY) squadron. Along with a group of ARMY Jet Rangers (unit unknown) parked at Hanger 6. A local told me they arrived via a C-5, a few weeks ago. PUGET (VAQ-129) was another TDY squadron. On site report, from US Marine Corps Twenty Nine Palms Experimental Airfield, 2/3/99 1630 hours local. Frequencies Monitored: 285.600 Los Angeles ARTCC 323.500 BEARMAT R-2501 Range Control 340.200 Tower VIKING 6 VMFA (AW)-225, F/A-18D VIPER 18 HMLA-169, AH-1W/UH-1N