The tradition of the Name "Richthofen" does not die with the dead of the german flying ace or with the lost of WWI. Since the 60's there is again the "Richthofen Squadron (Richthofen Geschwader) in Germany, as a part of the "Deutsche Luftwaffe". The Homebase and Airfield of the Squadron is just a few kilometres from my hometown, so here I give you some facts of the Richthofen Squadron today:
Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen"
The Squadron is part of the "Command Force (CF)" of the NATO. It is also part of the "Immediate Reaction Force (IRF)" which includes missions in crisis regions.
A short chronology:
06.06.1959 The Jagdgeschwader 71 is founded at Fliegerhorst Ahlhorn.
01.06.1960 The Squadron is equiped CL-13B Sabre Mark V
21.04.1961 On the 43. year-day of the dead of Rittmeister Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, german president Heinrich Lübke gives the Squadron the traditional Name "Richthofen".
April 1963 The Squadron moves to the Fliegerhorst Wittmund
09.04.1963 The first two F-104G Starfighter of the Squadron lands in Wittmund
07.03.1974 The first two F-4F Phantom des lands in Wittmund
19.09.1974 Last flight of a F-104G Starfighter
Until today the Squadron is equipped with the F-4F Phantom.
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