On a cold Tuesday 16 November 1999 the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) of the Belgian Air Force organized a photocall for aviation enthusiasts at Kleine-Brogel Airbase.

The visitors
Usually the photocalls at Kleine-Brogel are well worth visiting and that also was the case for this edition. The weather was cooperative. After a night with temperatures below zero, the day was cold but dry with some sunny spells. Although the number of aircraft was limited, the quality was sublime. Afterwards people were arguing about the highlight of the day. Was it the presence of two TF-104Gs Starfighters from 4 Stormo/20 Gruppo from Grosseto Airbase? Or was it the impressive Mirage IV/R. This reconnaissance version of the Mirage IV was one of the twelve R versions that stayed in service after the Mirage IV/P (penetration) was replaced by the Mirage 2000 in the late nineties. But probably most of the visitors voted for the two F-8 Crusaders from the French Navy. These Crusaders from Landivisiau Air Base were on a farewell tour because only one month later -on 15 december 1999- the French officially retired the F-8 from service.