Corgi AA34109Bucanneer S. Mk.2B. RAF 208 Sqn. – ‘Exercise Red Flag 77’, Nellis AFB, Nevada 1977

Red Flag is an annual large scale training exercise using ranges near Nellis Air Force base in Nevada. In August 1977, the RAF deployed 10 Buccaneer S.2Bs there from 208 Sqn, who totally astounded the Americans with their low flying agility. On succeeding exercises the Buccaneers flew at 50-100 feet, and the only way the Americans could see them was by the dust blown up from the desert floor by the jet efflux! An all over camouflage scheme was needed for serious low level work so the Buccaneers were painted in an overall two-tone desert camouflage, leaving the rear fuselage in the original grey/green paint around the jet exhaust.