Leeuwarden Air Base
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Leeuwarden Air Base AMSL | |||||||||
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Source: Military Aeronautical Information Publication Netherlands[1] |
Leeuwarden Air Base (
Leeuwarden Air Base is also one of the three military airbases (together with Gilze-Rijen Air Base and Volkel Air Base) that organise the twice-in-three-years Luchtmachtdagen ('Air Force Days') of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, consisting of air shows and static exhibits. In 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2016 Leeuwarden Air Base hosted these public demonstration days.
History
The airport of Leeuwarden was built in 1938, and was used as an airport between
After the liberation of the Netherlands the airbase was repaired, and during the first post-war years it was used as a civil airport, and KLM ran a commercial line to Schiphol. In 1949, Leeuwarden became a dedicated military airbase.
During the 1970s Vliegbasis Leeuwarden was used as a temporary home of the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Air Force. Normally stationed at Soesterberg airbase, they needed to move temporarily in order to allow repairs to the runway.[3]
Two F-16 squadrons were based at Leeuwarden Air Base: the "swing-role"
In addition, Leeuwarden Air Base was the home base of 303 Squadron RNLAF (Search and Rescue), part of the newly formed Defence Helicopter Command (DHC). It employed three Agusta Bell AB 412SP helicopters before its stand-down on 1 January 2015.
Role and operations
Leeuwarden Air Base was one of two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon bases, which are being replaced by F-35A Lightning II, the first of which arrived at Leeuwarden on 31 October 2019.[4]
The base is the location of the Fighter Weapons Instructor Training (FWIT) and the annual multinational NATO exercise "Frisian Flag". On 31 March 2015 six F-15C's from the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida Air National Guard landed at Leeuwarden Air Base to take part in Frisian Flag 2015.[5]
Four
Based units
Units based at Leeuwarden.[7]
Royal Netherlands Air Force
- No. 306 Squadron – MQ-9A Reaper
- No. 322 Squadron – F-35A Lightning
- No. 323 Squadron - Air Combat Development Centre
- No. 920 Squadron – Maintenance
- No. 921 Squadron – Logistics
- No. 922 Squadron – Base operations
See also
- The Netherlands in World War II
References
- ^ Defensie, Ministerie van (2018-01-15). "MilAIP: information for the aviation sector - Defensie.nl". english.defensie.nl. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
- ^ "Google Maps".
- ^ Member of US Air Force
- ^ "Vliegbasis Leeuwarden". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "The U.S. Air Force is deploying 12 F-15 jets to Europe as first Air National Guard theater security package". theaviationist.com. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ "First Dutch Crews Fly MQ-9 Reaper". www.defense-aerospace.com. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Squadrons Vliegbasis Leeuwarden". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2020.