Base visits

In the weekend of the 24th of September 1966 4 Super Sabres of the 48th TFW, USAFE from Lakenheath, U.K. visited Eindhoven AB ; a few Eindhoven-spotters (Hans was one of them) managed to make direct contact with the U.S.-pilots and got permission to enter the base with them and to take some pictures of their aircraft ; unfortunately however the weather was foggy and the simple cameras used at the time could not compensate this fully, but nevertheless it still remains a nice report out of the early days of aircraft-spotting.

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Fliegerhorst Jever in Northern Germany hosted the 7th NATO Tactical Weapons Meet , which was an exercise between 2 & 4 ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force). Units involved were : 311/312 sq.,K.Lu.(Volkel) ; 16 sq., RAFG (Larbruch); 3rd Wing, RCAF (Bad-Söllingen) ; 11th Escadre , FAF (Toul-Rosières); 50th TFW , USAFE (Hahn) ; 48th TFW , USAFE (Lakenheath) ; 10th Wing , BAF(Kleine Brogel); JBG31/33 , WGAF(Nörvenich/Büchel) and LeKG42 , WGAF (Pferdsfeld). Hans visited the Meet from 17 to 19 June 1968 . (special thanks to Mr. F.Spangenberg)

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The 1969 TWM (NATO Tactical Weapons Meet) was held at Fliegerhorst Nörvenich in Germany. Participants to the Meet came from 311/312 squadron(K.Lu.), 10W (BAF), 11 Escadre (FAF), 53 TFS/36 TFW and 20TFW (USAFE), 1AD (RCAF), JABOG 33 + LeKG43/44(Luftwaffe) and 3 sq. (RAF). Referees were flying German TF-104Gs. Frank was present and took the pictures in this gallery.

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The very first Military Aircraft Spotting Days in Holland were organized on October 20th & 21st , 1969 at Eindhoven AB. At the end of the sixties the growing number of spotters was taking more and more pictures from outside the base , so the authorities chose for a simple solution : invite them all and let them take as many photos as they want to. In later years spotting days became more common . In 1969 Hans took his first colour pictures , which was still relatively expensive at the time. Our Thunderstreaks Album contains more (B&W) pictures of this Base Visit.

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In 1970 the annual NATO recce exercise "Royal Flush" was organized at the Dutch airbase of Deelen (now closed); participants were : USAFE (26TRW and 10TRW) , BAF (42 sq.), CAF (1 CAG) , R.Dan.AF (729 Esk) , FAF (ER 33) , Luftwaffe (AKG51) , RAF (31 sq.) and R.Neth.AF/K.Lu. (306 sq.) ; both Frank and Hans paid a visit and took some pictures.

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From 25 to 29 May 1970 the fourth NATO Helicopter Rescue Meet was organized at the former R.Neth.AF base Ypenburg near The Hague. Hans was invited on the 28th of May to make a photo-report and his pictures are shown in this gallery. The competition brought together rescue-delegations from 7 countries and the winner of the Henri Dunant trophy proved to be the Royal Air Force -team , flying Westland Whirlwind-helicopters. (see also our gallery on the 1972 Heli Meet , then taking place at Lee-On-Solent , U.K.!) (special thanks to Mr.N.Larsen)

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Frank and Hans went aboard the French aircraft carriers Foch and Clemenceau on May 17th and June 7th respectively to take some pictures when these ships visited Rotterdam Harbour for a few days.

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In June 1970 Eindhoven AB saw a flock of Swedish Saab 105s coming in; a group of registered spotters (including Frank and Hans) was permitted to take a closer look. The Saabs were accompagnied by a Dakota and a Hercules and made an overnight stop on their route to the Paris Air Salon.

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In August 1970 (on different days) Hans and Frank made a trip to the U.K. to visit several USAFE -air bases , both via official invitation and in the quality of aircraft-spotters. One of the locations visited was RAF Mildenhall , which was - and still is -the main facility in the U.K. for USAF & USN -air transport operations. The "PG" and ""SR"-coded C-130 Hercules a/c were on deployment from the U.S. at the time. This is a photo-report.

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In August 1970 RAF Alconbury , U.K. (now closed) was the home of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (USAFE) , equipped with McDonnell RF-4C Phantoms . Hans and Frank visited the base during that month on different days , via official invitation and as aircraft-spotters. (special thanks to Mr.A.Wever, who was Hans' travel-companion at the time)

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A special celebration was organized by 314 squadron at Eindhoven AB on December 21st , 1970 to bid fare-well to the Dutch Thunderstreak and say hello to the Northrop NF-5. There were three surprises : parts of a Dutch F-84F were symbolically burnt and from the ashes arose an NF-5. Secondly there was the taxy-by of an F-84F painted up in gaudy "flower-power" colours and last but not least the last official flight of a Dutch F-84F. Hans was present as one of the photographers. (special thanks to Mr.R. Martaré for making this visit possible!)

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In March 1971 332 SKV of the Royal Norwegian AF from Rygge visited Eindhoven AB with a few Northrop F-5's for a squadron-rotation. These pictures were made by Hans during a spotters-afternoon and afterwards alongside runway 08R.

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On July 29th , 1971 Frank and Hans visited the German Fliegerhorst Rheine-Hopsten to make a report for Flash Aviation Magazine. In this gallery you will find a number of pictures they took of the resident F-104 Starfighters of JABOG 36 & the Lockheed T-33's of the Base Flight (+ 1 Piaggio!)

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In July 1972 Frank and Hans were invited to visit the NATO Helicopter Meet that was organized at Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent, in Britain. The flight to and fro was made in Fokker F-27 "C-8" of the K.Lu. Participating to the Meet were delegations from the RAF (Whirlwind helis),Royal Navy (Wessex-helis), USAFE (Huskies), R.DanishAF (Alouette IIIs), R.DanishNavy(Sea Kings), R.Neth.AF (Alouette IIIs) , R.Neth.Navy (Agusta-Bells) , French Navy (Alouette IIIs) , WGAF (Bell UH-1s), WGNavy (Sikorsky H-34s) and Italian AF (Agusta-Bell 204Bs). An article written by Hans and Frank appeared in the August/September 1972-issue of Flash Aviation Magazine.

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In July 1972, Hans and Frank were allowed to visit the NATO-AIRSOUTH Weapons Meet at Larissa AB in Greece. it brought together participants from the USAF in Europe (401 TFW , Torrejon, Spain), the U.S.Navy ( Carrier Attack Wing 6 , USS Roosevelt) , the Italian AF (14th sq., Treviso) , the Turkish AF ( 191 sq., Balikesir) and the Hellenic AF of Greece (349 sq.,Larissa). This photo-report covers most of the a/c that were present . An article on the Meet appeared in the August/September 1972 -issue of Flash Aviation Magazine.

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On July 28th , 1972 Hans and Frank visited the 15th Wing of the Belgian Air Force based at Brussels-Melsbroek . A great deal of the air-transport fleet was present and the first C-130 Hercules for the BAF had just arrived a few days prior to this visit.

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In the old days NATO organized several exercises; TWM (Tactical Weapons Meet) was a competition between 2ATAF and 4ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force). In 1972 it was held for the 10th time and participants at Florennes in Belgium were Canadian AF (Judge Team), Belgian AF (2nd Wing , Florennes), French AF (Guest Team, Esc.11/3, Nancy-Ochey) ,W.German AF (JBG31, Nörvenich and JBG33, Büchel), R.Neth.AF(311/312 sq., Volkel), Royal Air Force Germany (14/17/31 sq.,Brüggen) and USAF in Europe ( 36TFW, Bitburg and 81TFW, Bentwaters). Frank and Hans visited the Meet on September 21st and 22nd, 1972 and these are the photos they made . They also were invited to make a trip by heli.to the Helchteren Range. Their written article on this subject appeared in the October 1972-issue of Flash Aviation Magazine.

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A base visit to Leeuwarden AB, when the Phantoms of Soesterberg happened to be there because of runway repairs at their home-base. Frank took the pictures in this gallery.

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On April 24th, 1973 a Spotter's Day was held at Eindhoven Air Base to photograph the resident Northrop-Canadair NF-5A/B fighter jets of 314 squadron , K.Lu. Frank and Hans were present.

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In May 1973 Leeuwarden AB was visited by 4 AJ-37 Viggens of the Swedish Air Force (plus a support Hercules); the aircraft were on their way to the Paris-Le Bourget airshow and stayed for an overnight stop. On the 22nd Frank was authorized to take some pictures of the aircraft.

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In May 1973 322 squadron , K.Lu. had a rotation (exchange-exercise) with 724 Esk of the Royal Danish AF, equipped with Hawker Hunters; there were 4 Hunters visiting Leeuwarden AB and Frank was there to take some pictures .

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Florennes Air Base hosted the 17th Royal Flush aerial reconnaissance competition from 13 to 21 June 1973. Hans and Frank visited the exercise on June 14th, 1973. The teams that took part were : W.German AF (AKG51, Bremgarten , with RF-4E's) ; USAF in Europe (17TRS/26TRW , Zweibrücken and 32TRS/10TRW , Alconbury with RF-4C's) ; Royal Air Force Germany ( 2 sq.,Larbruch , with Phantom FGR.2's) ; R.Neth.AF ( 306 sq., Volkel , with RF-104G's) ; Belgian AF ( 42 sq.,Florennes , with Mirage VBR's ; French AF (Escadre de Rec. 3/33 ,Strasbourg , with Mirage IIIR's) ; (Judge Team) French AF , Esc.2 , Dijon with Mirage IIIB's ; (Judge Team) WGNavy , MFG.1/2 , Schleswig/Eggebeck with TF-104G's ;(JudgeTeam) R.Norwegian AF with Northrop F-5B's ; (Target Reconnaissance) RAF , 39 sq. with Canberra PR.7s . A number of nice action-shots , presented in this gallery , could be made by Hans and Frank during this Meet !

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On July 17th, 1973 Hans and Frank visited the NATO-AIRSOUTH Fighter Weapons Meet BEST HIT, which was held at Istrana AB in Italy. Competing were teams of USAFE (613 TFS , 401 TFW, Torrejon ,Spain), US Navy (Carrier Attack Wing 7 , USS Independence) , Italian AF (8th Wing , Cervia) , Hellenic AF (341 sq., Nea Anghialos) and Turkish AF (192 sq.,Balikesir) . Photography appeared to be not allowed (!) during their visit and instead all the pictures shown in this gallery were taken by NATO-AIRSOUTH PR-officials during their walk-around along the flight-lines. The slide-scans are duplicates issued to them for publication together with the group-pictures.

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A squadron rotation took place at Leeuwarden AB in June 1973 between 323 sq. R.Neth.AF and nr.29 sq. RAF from Wattisham , equipped with Lightnings ; Frank visited this event on 19 June.

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Several times in the period January - August 1974 Frank was given the opportunity to picture the aircraft and helicopters of nr.300 squadron (K.Lu.) at Deelen AB.The shots are made both on the ground and air-to-air!

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From 28 -30 May 1974 Frank and Hans were invited to attend the 11th NATO Tactical Weapons Meet , organized at Canadian Forces Base Baden-Söllingen in Germany; they also joined in for a flight to the Suippes-Gunnery Range in Northern France in a Bell-helicopter of the Luftwaffe. Participants to the Meet this time were : (2 ATAF) R.Neth.AF , 315 sq., Twenthe ; (2ATAF) Belgian AF , 10th Wing , Kleine Brogel ; (2ATAF) Royal Air Force Germany, 17 sq., Brüggen ; (2ATAF) W.German AF , JBG31 , Nörvenich ; (4ATAF) W.German AF , JBG34 , Memmingen ; (4ATAF) Canadian AF , 439 sq., Söllingen ; (4ATAF) USAFE , 50TFW , Hahn ; (4ATAF) USAFE 36TFW , Bitburg ; (Guest Team) French AF , Escadre 3/13 , Colmar). Winner of the Meet was 2 ATAF which received the Broadhust Trophy. By the way , Hans and Frank wrote a vivid article on this subject in the July 1974-issue of Flash Aviation Magazine.

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On March 5th , 1975 Hans and Frank visited Twenthe AB ; their photo-report gives a nice impression of a normal day's flying activities at this former KLu -base during the early NF-5 period ; but don't forget the F-86K on its pole!

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The 1976 TWM was held at Twente AB (NL) from 28 April till 15 May , visited by Frank on the 7th and by Hans on the 10th of May. TWM was a contest between 2ATAF (Allied Tactical Air Force) and 4ATAF. The team from 2ATAF consisted of 316 squadron KLu, 1 sqn BAF, 1/31 JaBo Luftwaffe from Nörvenich and 31 sqn RAFG. 4ATAF consisted of 1/32 JaBo Luftwaffe, 1 CAG Canada, 22TFS/36TFW USAF and 23TFS/52TFW USAF from Spangdahlem (flying F-4D's ). The French AF had sent a guest team, 3/13 Escadre from Colmar, equipped with Mirage 5Fs.

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In August 1976 Hans had the unique opportunity to pay a two-day visit to the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ during her first deployment to the Mediterranean. He made the flight to the carrier in Grumman Greyhound 148148 (no photos available) and the return flight in Sea Knight 151934.(special thanks to Mr. J.Hogetoorn Sr.)

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Frank visited Koksijde to report on the BAF 40th Squadron Heli (at that time equipped with 4 HSS-1/S-58 helicopters, three Alouette IIIs and five Sea King Mk.48's); the Sea Kings had been delivered to Koksijde in November of the previous year. Another part of the field housed the storage center of the Belgian Air Force. Present there in January ’77 were about 20 C-119s, some C-47 Dakotas, Pembrokes and DC-6s. All the Pembrokes were stored in a hangar; they were in a splendid condition and sold somewhat later to various civil customers.

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In May 1978 Frank visited the Advanced- and Transition Flying School of the Belgian Air Force, at that time based at the airbase of Brustem/Sint Truiden; this base is now closed by the way and the flying training is now carried out in France. But in '78 you could witness lots of Lockheed T-33As and Fouga Magisters here. Both types were replaced by the Alpha Jet in the early eighties.

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For a one-day excursion Hans made a flight in Fokker F-28 PH-MAT from Schiphol to Hahn Air Base in Germany on September 18th , 1978 . This base was the home of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing , USAFE , equipped with F-4E Phantoms. The base was closed in 1993 and it is now called Frankfurt-Hahn Airport. A small impression of the day's visit goes hereby. (special thanks to KNVOL for organizing this trip)

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November 16 ,1979. Extreme cold weather and dark clouds prevented the 25th anniversary of the American presence in Holland to be an enjoyable outdoor event. A small static display and an air display marked this historic milestone. A selective audience had been invited to attend this event at Camp New Amsterdam. Highlight of the static display was an ex-Portuguese AF Sabre. Applied with green stripes over the tail the aircraft had quickly been repainted in colours of 32nd FDS. The paint was still wet and USAF roundels were made of paper and sticked to the fuselage.

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In Januari 1996 a group of registered Eindhoven spotters was invited to visit Eindhoven AB, to take pictures of the resident 334 squadron aircraft. Frank made following impression.

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On June 25th , 2003 Hans was invited to join in for a one-hour flight in Fokker 60 Utility U-01 of nr.334 sq., K.Lu. from and to Eindhoven AB ; in later years these Fokkers have been transferred to the Peruvian Navy. (special thanks to Kon.Ver.Onze Luchtmacht /KNVOL for organizing this flight)

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The Spotters Days organized at Kleine Brogel AB in Belgium always are a big attraction to hundreds of spotters and an excellent opportunity to see different types of military aircraft on static and in action. The July 2007 event featured two Hellenic Air Force A-7 Corsair II's from Greece. Hans and Frank were among the spectators.

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AMARC, the Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Center is a huge storage and maintenance facility; it is located on an edge of Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. Frank visited the "boneyard" in May 2009.

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In 2009 the annual NATO Tiger Meet exercise took place at Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium. Hans and Frank visited the base on 18 September.

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The NATO Tiger Meet 2010 took place at Volkel AB; it showed participants from Holland, Belgium, Norway, Turkey, France, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. Hans and Frank attended the Spottersday that was organized on 7 October. (special thanks to EWAS & SGV)

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