Arguably, the most significant operator of the SEPECAT Jaguar in British service was RAF Germany, who maintained a force of four squadrons as part of the 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force under SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe). 

When Jaguars arrived at RAF Brüggen, they took up residence in newly constructed, dispersed, hardened aircraft shelters, with each squadron having their own area complete with nine shelters, each one capable of housing two Jaguars. 

RAFG Jaguar pilots trained tirelessly in the delivery of nuclear and conventional weapons, as they were on the front line of preventing war in Europe, and the first line of attack in the event of conflict. Jaguar XX963 is a fine example of a Cold War RAF Germany aircraft, but it also had another, unusual claim to fame – she was shot down by an RAF Phantom! 

On 25th May 1982, at the height of the Falklands War, she was conducting her latest training sortie when she was ‘intercepted’ by a Phantom carrying LIVE munitions. In a series of unfortunate circumstances, what should have been a simulated radar ‘kill’ turned into an actual one, because when the Phantom pilot pressed to register the interception, a Sidewinder missile left its rail. 

The missile struck home and the Jaguar disintegrated, thankfully not before the quick-thinking pilot had managed to eject safely. Jaguar XX963 lay strewn across a German field, 50 miles from its home base at Brüggen.

We've rebuilt the SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 in highly detailed die-cast model form, so you can add it to your Aviation Archive collection.