In June 1990 Gilze-Rijen was the scene of a double deployment. Both 7th TFS and 8th TFS deployed to Holland around the same time, but both
deployments had different names. ‘Coronet Bullet’ was the 7th TFS deployment. The arrival on 12 June did not go
entirely as planned as 77-0096 suffered a hydraulic failure and asked for the barrier to be put up. The pilot thought the cable would
be at the approach end of the runway while in fact it was on the other end of the runway. Thinking he had missed the barrier he
applied full brakes shortly after touch-down following which the brakes locked and a tyre blew. The aircraft then ran off the runway,
causing four aircraft (089/091/102/152) to divert to Soesterberg. These aircraft flew over to Gilze-Rijen on 14 and 15 June. Only ten
aircraft flew back home on 9 July; 77-0089 and 77-0091 stayed behind and acted as air-spares for the re-deployment of the
‘Coronet Shooter’ deployment on 11 July. As they were not needed they landed at Soesterberg and departed for the USA on 12 July
together with four ex 32nd TFS F-15s which were being reassigned.
Source: Scramble Magazine 340