An F-5E of the 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron based at Williams AFB (AZ). The F-5E carries the LA-tailcode as the squadron was under command of the 405th TTW of nearby Luke AFB. But, as that base faced shortage on ramp space, the unit was moved to Williams. The 425th was disbanded in Sep'89, and most of their F-5E/Fs were sold to Brazil. This Tiger belongs to a batch of 27 F-5s that had originally been delivered to South Vietnam, several of which escaped back to the USAF after the war and also "escaped" a sale to Brazil. It was moved to the USN and USMC as BuNo 730881.

This is one of a batch of 27 Tigers that had orgininally been delivered to South Vietnam, several of which escaped back to the USAF after the war. This one was later delivered to the USMC. photo by: Stephan de Bruijn