321 Tigers Squadron History

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Brief history of 321 Squadron

The 'First Squadron' from the Lechfeld is part of the german fighterbomber wing 32 (JaboG 32 = Jagdbombergeschwader 32). In case you are interrested in more Information about the wing, please visit the Luftwaffe's official homepage www.luftwaffe.de (german language)

The 1st Squadron of Fighter Bomber Wing 32 (321 Squadron) was set to service in 1958 at Lechfeld airbase and assigned to NATO in 1959. The first aircraft to be flown on the Lechfeld after WW II was the F-84 THUNDERSTREAK. It's era ended 1966 after 80.000 flying hours. The Lechfeld itself has a very long and interesting story. Established as a training range for the royal bavarian army-artillary, it hosted later on one of the first bavarian airfields and during the nazi regime the famous Me-262. Tthe first jet fighter aircraft - basis for all US jets - was build and tested at the lechfeld. Read here about it.

From 1965 until 1984 the legendary F-104 STARFIGHTER flew 200.000 hours on the Lechfeld before the Fighter Bomber Wing 32 started its conversion to the MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft) PA-200 TORNADO in the IDS (Interdictor Strike) version.

In 1991 a new version of the TORNADO was introduced to the Luftwaffe: the ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconaissance). 321 Squadron was - together with 382 Squadron in Jever - the first operational unit to be equipped with the new aircraft. In 1994 when finally all the systems, sub-systems and software updates were fitted to the aircraft, the conversion was completed.

The ECR TORNADO is unique in the Luftwaffe. Meanwhile only Fighter Bomber Wing 32 in Lechfeld is equipped with this type of aircraft. Within NATO the aircraft and its mission is no longer unique (as it was after the F-4G WILD WEASEL were decomissioned until 1999). Now the 50 Stormo at Piacenza in Italy is also equipped with it.

In 1995 ECR TORNADOs were deployed to Piacenza in Italy, in support of the UN missions for peace on the Balkans. Since then, they formed - together with the Recce Tornados from 51st Recce wing (Immelmann) - the Luftwaffe's Operational Wing No. 1 at Piacenza airbase in Northern Italy.

After thousands of flying hours within the framework of UNPROFOR, IFOR and SFOR the Luftwaffe embarked upon its first warlike operation since WW II in March 1999. As part of operation ALLIED FORCE to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo, german ECR TORNADOs were employed from the first night to protect other NATO aircraft from surface to air missiles (SAMs). During all the nights and days while a flight of german ECR TORNADOs was present over Kosovo, not one single allied aircraft was hit by a serb SAM.

Some rooms in the squadron building

hall W-E	computer based training	briefing room	office	hall E-W

Our home: Lechfeld airfield and our squadron buildings from above

Lechfeld from space	Lechfeld on approach	our squadron buildings

SQUADRON - PRESENT TOPICS

02-06-2006

Change of Command at the 321 Lechfeld Tigers

With the last flight of the squadron commander LTC Michael Sylla, and the official handover of the command to his successor, Major Lothar Sauermann, on Friday 2nd June 2006, the change of command at the 321 Tigers was complete.

Already the wednesday before, May 31st, in the course of a so called 'Italian Red Carpet Night', the so far last flight of the old CO took place. Approx. 150 guests followed the invitation to this special event, which was accompanied by a frame program, which offered, besides a static display and a 'show briefing', also a full scale late shift flight program of the Tigers.

The numerous friends and relatives of the Tigers who showed up this evening, received a very interresting view into the daily life of a flying squadron. Rounded off was this day with the welcome when our 'Tiger Boss' and his WSO and former senior ops officer of the Tigers, LTC 'Monte' Berg, who was also on his last flight in Lechfeld, finally landed. Both were welcomed at the shelter by many special guests and by a group of extraordinary pretty cheerleaders. The following reception at the squadron bar with italian wine and specialties gave a good frame for the good-bye words of the commander of the flying group.

Finished was this eventful week then on friday with the official ceremony for the handover of the command of the 1. Squadron FBW 32. LTC Mike Sylla will - following this "best flying assignment", which he was allowed to fullfil for nearly 3 years - attend the canadian international staff officer course at the Canadian Forces College in Torontoin, Canada. After that, starting July 2007, he will serve 3 more years as a Luftwaffe liason officer at the canadian NDHQ- National Defence Headquater, Ottawa.

Good luck for you Mike and your family!!

Bild der Ersten Staffel bei der Übergabe 2006

Verabschiedung von Oberstleutnant Sylla durch den Kommodore des JaboG 32

The squadron with the old CO

Transition of the command by the wing commander

Good-by to LTC Sylla by Oberst Kollmann

Our dead squadron comrades. They lost their life on duty for democracy, freedom and peace.They will not be forgotten!
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Uffz Bannasch + 19.06.1961	Hptm Brandt + 18.05.1981	Uffz Danielcik + 09.03.1959


Uffz Eichler + 17.08.59	Hptm Höflich + 29.08.1973	Olt Hölker + 15.09.64 News clip (german language)


HFw Kellenter + 22.01.70	Uffz Lünse + 22.06.1959	Olt Schawer + 12.04.2007


Lt Schiller + 23.03.1971	+ Uffz Spohner 22.06.1959	+ Fw Thiedemann 18.03.1966


+ Hptm Zacharias 24.10.1985

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Brief history of 321 Squadron

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