JG.71 'Richthofen'
Situated in Northern Germany, Wittmund is home to Jagdeschwader 71 'Richthofen' and has flown the once ubiquitous McDonnell F-4F Phantom since 1974. In June 2008 Jetwash Aviation Photo's visited the last remaining McDonnell F-4 Phantom unit in the German Luftwaffe to see how the 'Rhino' was fairing in its last few years of service.
Jagdeschwader 71 was established on 6th June 1959 at Ahlhorn with the Canadair CL-13 Sabre, a licence built F-86 version and was the first jet fighter unit in the German Air Force. It flew this aircraft until it was replaced with the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter and subsequently the F-4F Phantom. The F-4F Phantom is currently being replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon in Luftwaffe service.
The unit gained it's nickname 'Richthofen' on 21st April 1963 and is named after the First World War fighter 'Ace' Baron Manfred von Richthofen, otherwise known as the 'Red Baron'. The unit currently forms part of 4 Luftwaffendivision at Aurich.
As mentioned before the Phantoms are in the process of being withdrawn from service as we go to press, JG-74 at Neuburg having recently converted to the Eurofighter Typhoon. JG.71 is due to follow suit with work already taking place at Wittmund in readiness for its arrival, which is scheduled to begin in 2010 and herald the withdrawal of the last F-4's in Luftwaffe service.
Wittmund is also home to British Aerospace Flight Systems operating a number of Douglas A-4N Skyhawks.
These ex Israeli Air Force machines carry civilian serials and provide target towing facilities and provide an
opportunity for the based Phantoms to engage in Disimilar Air Combat Training (DACT).
38-48 sits in its hardened aircraft shelter (HAS) on 23rd June 2008 awaiting the crew
The business end of a Luftwaffe Phantom
Unfortunately the weather during our visit to Wittmund was unlike what you would expect in June.
The crew of this F-4 look decidedly cold as they return in the rain after a morning mission.
38-45 taxies to the 'Last Chance' checkpoint as part of a four-ship launch
N268WL, a British Aerospace owned Douglas A-4N Skyhawk about to depart its ramp to go 'play' with the F-4's
Two of Flight Systems A-4N Skyhawks about to depart on runway 08 for their first mission of the day
The McDonnell F-4F Phantom entered service with the German Air Force in 1970, a multi-role aircraft initially designed for the US. Navy it is a capable air to air and air to ground platform and was upgraded by the Luftwaffe in the '90's with the APG-65 radar (used on the FA-18 Hornet) and the capability to carry AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile). This allowed them to have a BVR capability with cutting edge technology including HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick), HUD (Head Up Display) and MFD's (Multi Function Display) also being added. The upgrade lead to it being known as the F-4F ICE.
38-45 roars down runway 08, powered by it's General Electric J-79 engine to go bag an A-4.
Standing very close and behind one of these awsome beasts at this point in its take-off roll is ear shattering
Phantom 38-01 returns to the shelter area having completed another sortie
Tucked up safe and sound in one of the maintenance hangers at Wittmund
38-48 joins up at the 'Last Chance' to complete a four-ship flight
Everything checked, pins pulled and it's off to the runway threshold for take off
Having left the 'Last Chance' 38-58 taxies towards the threshold of 08 for departure
A preserved F-4F Phantom (37-11) resides in the HAS area at Wittmund
As mentioned above, JG.71 once flew the Canadair CL.13 Sabre. This example is preserved at the nearby
barracks in Wittmund, as is the F-104 Starfighter below
Marinefliegergeschwader 3
Following our visit to Wittmund Air Base we decided to take the opportunity to visit the nearby Marineflieger base at Nordholz. Based at Nordholz is Naval Air Wing 3 'Graf Zeppelin' (MFG-3), which was first formed on 1st July 1964. In rememberance of the 42 Zepellins of the former Imperial Navy stationed at the Nordholz airship base during World War One, Federal President Heinrich Lubke awarded the name 'Graf Zeppelin' to the unit in July 1967.
MFG-3 currently operates a mix of Lockheed P-3C Orions, Breguet Atlantics, Westland Sea Lynx and the Dornier Do.228LM. Some 2,000 civilian and military personnel are based at Nordholz with the wing providing surveillance & reconnaissance, anti-submarine search, SAR, pollution control and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) operations. Soon to join the currently based units will be the Westland Sea Kings from MFG-5 at Kiel/Holtenau. However they will subsequently be replaced in the next few years by the NH.90's which are currently on order.
The Lockheed P-3C CUP Orion arrived at Nordholz in 2006, eight having been purchased from the Royal Netherlands Navy.
They replaced the Breguet Atlantic which had been in Marineflieger service since 1966,
although two Atlantics were kept as SIGINT platforms.
60-06 basks in glorious sunshine on the ramp at Nordholz 24th June 2008
As we went to press a P-3 Orion was being prepared for a three month sojourn to Djibouti to take part in
'Operation Enduring Freedom', the first such deployment for a P-3 from the Marineflieger.
A MFG-3 Lockheed Orion gets towed towards the hangers after being positioned at a dispersal for us to photograph
As mentioned above, the Orion's replaced the French built Atlantics. Twenty of these were delivered between 1966 and 1967.
Five were converted to SIGnals INTelligence (SIGINT) versions during 1969 & 1970 and two remain in service with 2 Staffel,
with their expected withdrawal in 2009
Dornier Do.228LM serial 57-04 gets airborne from Nordholz for a morning mission.
The three man crew can expect anything up to six hours in the air.
The underslung pod is a sideways looking airborne radar (SLAR)
Originally four Do.228's were purchased, but two were later sold on the civilian market. Today the two remaining aircraft are operated on behalf of the German Government (with MFG-3 crews) for maritime pollution control. They use a variety of radar, infrared & ultraviolet sensors, microwave radiometers and fluorescent lasers as well as video cameras to detect ocean pollution. The other aircraft (57-01) has recently been painted in a dark blue and white colour scheme and 57-04 will follow suit eventually.
The third type flown at Nordholz is the Westland Super Lynx Mk.88A as seen above in the form of 83-03.
The Lynx first entered service with MFG-3 in 1981 as the standard type 88, nineteen of which were delivered. From 2001 onwards the remaining fifteen were upgraded to Mk.88A standard, plus seven new build Mk.88A's were delivered. These serve with 3 Staffel at MFG-3 for SAR, light transport and maritime surveillance & reconnaissaince duties.
83-12 gets airborne at Nordholz Air base on 24th June 2008. Note the United Nations titles
83-09 sporting a 'Lynx' colour scheme on its rear three quarter's
An MFG-3 Lynx in the standard German Navy scheme goes through its final checks at Nordholz before its mission
Super Lynx 83-12 in action at Nordholz on 24th June 2008
Although a German Army machine this Sikorsky CH-53G is included as it visited on 24th June 2008.
Nordholz gets a large number of Army helo's stopping for fuel etc due to it's location.
Whilst we were there a Bolkow 105 and a Navy Sea King from MFG-5 at Kiel also stopped by.
Thanks go to the following for help in arranging our visits to Wittmund and Nordholz:-
Oberleutenant Jan Frederik Holst at MFG-3
Chris Duismann at JG.71
Uwe Cremer at JG.71
Oberfeldwebel Jacqueline Strang for escorting us at Wittmund