McDonnell-Douglas Phantom FGR.2 56 Squadron RAF Wattisham Aviation Art Print Painting by Artist Chris French FGAvA
With their Phantom days coming to an end, two 56 Sqn pilots take off from their Wattisham base in the FGR.2 aircraft the squadron had used since conversion from the English Electric Lightning in 1976.
These aircraft would finally be retired in 1992 and the squadron re-equipped with the Panavia Tornado F.3 as a reserve squadron and take on the role of Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) for the Panavia fighter. In 2008, 56(R) squadron relinquished its aircraft with the impending introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon and the numberplate is now assigned to a ground unit.
