HOME | DD

Description

I was invited today to be able to see from closeup how the aircrafts that were visiting the airbase during the celebrations. Amongst the aircrafts that left the airbase where also 3 F-35's that did take off for a local training mission.

On 22-09-2023 did squadron 322 celebrate its 80th birth day and is there by the oldest Dutch air force squadron. On 12 Juni 1943 was the squadron from from dutch pilots from the No. 167 squadron as they moved to the airfield of Woodvale. The squadron counted 25 pilots from which 8 where Dutch. After that did many Dutch pilots join the squadron as they knew to escape from the Germans and managed to reach the UK.

322 saw through there live time many different fighters. The first fighter they received where the Spitfire Mk Vb and Vc. From march till august 1944 did they fly the Spitfire Mk XIV that was followed up by the Mk IXb for 3 months. Till October 1945 did the squadron fly with the Spitfire Mk XVIe. Till 1953 did Squadron 322 operate the Spitfire Mk IX from where they got replaced by the Gloster Meteor who remained in service till 1957. Its then when the squadron started to use the Hawker Hunter until 1964. From 1964 till 1980 did the squadron use the F-104 Star fighter. In 1980 did the squadron get its F-16. It is in 2019 322 got its first F-35 and by 2021 was it over for the F-16. Throughout it life time did Squadron operate from Leeuwarden Airbase but during their service in the RAF did they see several different Air bases.

Description

I was invited today to be able to see from closeup how the aircrafts that were visiting the airbase during the celebrations. Amongst the aircrafts that left the airbase where also 3 F-35's that did take off for a local training mission.

On 22-09-2023 did squadron 322 celebrate its 80th birth day and is there by the oldest Dutch air force squadron. On 12 Juni 1943 was the squadron from from dutch pilots from the No. 167 squadron as they moved to the airfield of Woodvale. The squadron counted 25 pilots from which 8 where Dutch. After that did many Dutch pilots join the squadron as they knew to escape from the Germans and managed to reach the UK.

322 saw through there live time many different fighters. The first fighter they received where the Spitfire Mk Vb and Vc. From march till august 1944 did they fly the Spitfire Mk XIV that was followed up by the Mk IXb for 3 months. Till October 1945 did the squadron fly with the Spitfire Mk XVIe. Till 1953 did Squadron 322 operate the Spitfire Mk IX from where they got replaced by the Gloster Meteor who remained in service till 1957. Its then when the squadron started to use the Hawker Hunter until 1964. From 1964 till 1980 did the squadron use the F-104 Star fighter. In 1980 did the squadron get its F-16. It is in 2019 322 got its first F-35 and by 2021 was it over for the F-16. Throughout it life time did Squadron operate from Leeuwarden Airbase but during their service in the RAF did they see several different Air bases.