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Koninklijke Luchtmacht - Royal Netherlands Air Force

BASES        

SQUADRONS

313 Squadron   Motto: "ex umbra in umbras" (Out of bondage into freedom)

      
                     "Twentse Ros" band, Squadron badge on tail

This was the second Squadron to be equipped with the Canadair firghter; it was re-established at Twenthe AB on 12-10-72, having formerly operated Lockeed T-33A and been disbanded on 01-01-59. It took over, from the 315th Squadron, resposability for the operational conversion of pilots returning from advanced training in the USA and Canada with Theatre Operational Converions Courses (TOCC) followed by Advanced Operational Courses (AOC) to adjust to European operations (weather) and weapons usage.

Between 28-02 and 27-03-80 the Squadron partecipated to the exercise Anorak Express 80 in Norway, where its aircrafts where based at Bodé.
Seven Canadair NF-5A and 13 NF-5B were on charge in April 1982; the high number of two-seaters reflects the training commitment of the unit. At this time it was also committed to temporary day interception duty following the withdrawal of Lockheed F-104G fighters.

       
        Canadair NF-5A K-3059 seen at Twenthe on 27-02-75.                   Photo: H J van Brokhuizen

    Photo: unknown
   Canadair NF-5B K-4015 over an impressive Dutch winter landscape with original camouflage.


Canadair NF-5B K-4014, 313 Squadron, with two-tone grey/blue camouflage at on 18-04-84.
                                                                    Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

The unit was transferred to Soesterberg on 01-04-85 where it remained for only five months, returning to Twenthe in October 1985.
Training duties were partially (TOC Courses) transferred to 316 Squadron on 15-09-86.

Aircrafts belonging to the unit started to be adhorned by a "Twentse Ros" band on the second half of 1987.


Canadair NF-5A K-3048 with all grey camouflage, small tail serial only and "Twentse Ros" band
seen in August 1987.                                        Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

June 30th 1987 saw the arrival of the first General Dynamics F-16A for the Squadron but the pilots were not yet ready to operate, the aircraft was transferred to another Squadron; the unit was integrated into the 315 Squadron on 30-03-88 (unofficially called 630 Squadron).

The Squadron operated its last Canadair NF-5 flight on 01-07-88, when NF-5A K-3045 made a flight around the Netherlands air bases, adorned by special colours to remember Dutch victory in the 1988 European soccer championship.

          
            Canadair NF-5A K-3045 in special colours seen in July 1988 shortly before retirement
                                                                                                                 Photo: Jos Wigbold
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314 Squadron   Motto: "Per sapientam efficiens immortalis" (Efficent and immortal through knowledge)


The unit was part of the NATO Allied Mobile Force and operated Republic F-84F when the first Canadair NF-5B arrived at its Eindhoven base in November 1969 and the first NF-5A in June 1970; the Republic F-84F's was officially withdrawn on 21-12-70. The 314 Squadron was split in May 1971 to form the 316 Squadron and transferred at the end of September for two months to Gilze-Rijen AB due to runway repairs at Eindhoven AB. It was declared fully operational on 01-12-71.

A short lived unit's aerobatic team is called "Rascals"; it performed during 1971, for example at Eindhoven AB on September 18th.

By March 1972 the Squadron was up to strength with 25 Canadair CF-5A and 6 NF-5B for the tactical strike role; unfortunately two of each single- and doubleseaters had been lost by this time. The last Dutch Canadair NF-5A (K-3075) was delivered to the Squadron on 20-03-74.
In March 1979 the Squadron moved again, temporarely (three months), to Gilze-Rijen AB while a new runway was built at Eindhoven.

Eighteen Canadair NF-5A and 5 NF-5B were on strength in April 1982, operating also on temporary day interception duty due to replacement of the Lockheed F-104G with the General Dynamics F-16. It moved definitely to Gilze-Rijen from Eindhoven in 1988.

A new era began in October 1989, when the Squadron abandoned the Canadairs, starting conversion to the new General Dynamics F-16A and F-16B; the Squadron still operated NF-5s till May 1990, when on 09-05-90 NF-5As K-3052, K-3062 (in special red colours) and 1 NF-5B overflew several former Canadair bases.


Canadair NF-5A K-3049 at Twenthe in April 1979.  Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

            
                 Canadair NF-5A K-4024 with a very unusual 314 Squadron badge, photographed in 1989.  
                                                                              Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast


        Canadair NF-5A K-3062 "REDSKINS GO F-16" May 1990     Photo: Jos Wingold

Exercises and Squadron Exchanges As the only Dutch Squadron being part of the Allied Mobile Force 314 Squadron performed several Squadron exchanges and participated to many NATO exercises, particularly in Norway. Some of them are: in 1972 "Strong Express" Bodø AB (Norway); 1973 saw the participation to the "Bull's Eye" weapon meet at Schleswig AB (Germany); at the end of 1974 its NF-5s participated to exercise "Barfrost", at Bodø AB; exercise "Atlass Express" held at Bodø AB during February/March 1976 saw the participation of 314 Squadron; Bardufoss AB was visited in September of the same year; six Canadair NF-5A had an exchange on 25-10-77 with 6 RAF Jaguars; on August 22nd, 1978 six Canadair NF-5A went to Pferdsfeld AB for an exchange with JaBo Geschwader 35's McDonnell F-4F; 5 Canadair NF-5A and 1 NF-5B (first of a total of 10 aircrafts) left Gilze-Rijen on March 14th, 1979 to Bodø AB, supported by a Fokker F-27 for the traditional winter exercise in Norway, they attacked troops during a simulated beach landing, together with other Norwegian, Canadian, RAF units.

       
        Canadair NF-5A K-3070 at Bodø AB in a grey day during exercise Anorak Express (07-03-80),
        waiting for its turn to take-off after an USAF F-4.                                        Photo: US DoD

Beginning of 1980, between March 14th and 19th, 314 Squadron particiated to exercise "Anorak Express" at Bodø AB ; the aircrafts had left Eindhoven on 05-03-80, two of its aircrafts almost collided with a Russian Tu-16 Badger during this exercise; the exercise "Priory 2-80" saw the participation from Binbrook AB and Coningsby AB (UK) of 4 Canadair NF-5A each of the 314 and 316 Squadron; during May 1984 314 Squadron sent some NF-5A to Villafranca AB (Italy).       


Canadair K-3067 on an Italian base during July 1982 in a very sunny day .
                                                                                                 Photo: Roberto Pisapia
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315 Squadron   Motto: "nec timid, nec tumide"   (neither fear, nor overconfidence)

     
    
Toned-down tail badge


315 Squadron, formerly based at Eindhoven AB and equipped with Republic F-84F, was the first unit to be equipped with the Canadairs taking over training at Twenthe AB of initial Canadair NF-5B and NF-5A crews from Transitie Vliegopleiding (TVO). It had the responsability to initially introduce the new aircraft, to convert pilots and, later, to be a fully operational attack unit. Sixteen of its own pilots had earlier received conversion training in Canada.
The Squadron's first Canadair NF-5 arrived at Twenthe in December 1969, official withdrawal date of Republic F-85F was on 01-05-70. A total of 30 Canadair NF-5A and 15 NF-5B were initially on its strength, both at Twenthe AB and Gilze-Rijen AB. Full operational status was reached on 01-12-71. The unit strength was reduced to 25 NF-5A and 6 NF-5B on 12-10-72, when the training task was officially handed over to the 313th Squadron and it operated in the tactical strike role only, receiving the last Dutch doubleseater (K-4030) on 20-03-74.
During the year 1982 its aircrafts were committed for a few months to temporary day interception duty following the withdrawal of the Lockheed F-104G.


Canadair NF-5A K-3028, 315 Squadron, photographed in January 1985 in so-called F-16 camouflage,
toned-down Squadron badge, big tail serial. It is armed with inert AIM-9J Sidewinder body and
active head.                                                     Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

The unit began conversion to the General Dynamics F-16 in March 1986, when it had the honour to be the first NF-5 equipped unit to transition, but flew Canadairs till October 1986.

Exercises and Squadron Exchanges A few known are: six German AF Lockheed F-104G an 1 TF-104G from JagdBomber Geschwader 34 came to Twenthe AB in 1976 as part of a wide Squadron exchange programm; from 24-10-78 315 Squadron sent 6 Canadair NF-5A and 1 NF-5B to Istrana AB (Italy) for an exchange visit to the Lockheed F-104S equipped 22nd Gruppo (Squadron).
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316 Squadron   Motto: "Doelbewust en Trefzeker"  (Purposeful and on target)

          
                  "Wer Dir" band, Squadron badge on tail

The unit, flying Republic RF-84F, had been deactivated on 15-01-58. Initial NF-5A reached the
Squadron already beginning of June 1970 but this was officially re-established at Eindhoven AB
only on 01-06-71, when the large 314 Squadron was split to form the new 316 Squadron;
work-up was on 22 Canadair NF-5A and 5 NF-5B after having been transferred to Gilze-Rijen AB
on 27-04-72.


Canadair NF-5A K-3017, 316 Squadron in original camouflage seen at Eindhoven AB in March 1987
                                                                      Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast


            Canadair NF-5B K-4026, 316 Squadron, all-grey as seen in September 1989.
                                                                               Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

The Squadron stood-down on 01-05-91, being the last Dutch Squadron on Canadair NF-5 to start transition to the General Dynamics F-16A . Before that, on 15-03-91, a flypast was organised on various air bases, starting from from Eindhoven to commemorate the withdrawal of the type with 12 Canadair NF-5s, but, due to poor visibility, only 3 Canadair NF-5B (K-4009, K-4015, K-4019) could participate.

Exercises and Squadron Exchanges Only some of the many participations are listed hereunder.
In August 1974 NF-5s of the Squadron flew to Sollingan AB (Germany) for an exchange with Canadair CF-104 of the 1st Canadian Air Group; during June 1975 NF-5As of the 316 Squadron went to Gioia del Colle AB (Italy), while Lockheed F-104S of the 53° Stormo came to the Netherlands.
The year 1976 saw the transfer in June of 5 Canadair NF-5A and 2 NF-5B to Hahn AFB ; the Squadron sent between 12-04 and 24-04 1977 four Canadair NF-5A and 2 NF-5B to Spandahlen AFB (Germany) in an exchange with McDonnell F-4C of the 52nd Tactical fighter Wing; in 1978, between 23 May and 1st June 5 Northrop F-5A and 1 F-5B were hosted at Gilze-Rijen AB.
Late June 1979 two of its NF-5A conducted electronic warfare trials with RAF Comet 4 serial XV814.
Another exercise, "Priory 2-80", took place in 1980 when 4 Canadair NF-5A each of the 314 and 316 Squadron went to Binbrook AB and Coningsby AB (UK).
June 1982 saw the transfer to the farthest base ever reached by NF-5s: 3 single and 2 double-seaters from this Squadron went to Bandirma AB (Turkey).
Between June 19th and August 5th 4 Canadair NF-5A and 2 NF-5B were based at Karup AB (Denmark) to make space to aircrafts participating to the NATO Tactical Air Meet.

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Field Technic Training Unit / Testgroep Vliegtuigbeproevingen NF-5
The "Field Technic Training Unit" was in charge of aircrafts technical evaluation at Twenthe AB when Canadair NF-5A K-3001 was delivered on 29-07-71. As this aircraft was to develop the flight manual for the Canadair fleet and evaluate all modification to the a separate unit was formed on 19-0971, the "Testgroep Vliegtuigbeproevingen NF-5". The cannons were replaced by test and measuring equipment, special sensors were applied on the wings and fuselage. Help could granted by other aicrafts, like Canadair NF-5B K-4006 or K-4007.
Several tests were performed, amongst which the in flight dropping of 275 gallon tanks, the introduction of Paveway laser bombs, cluster bombs (by K-4006 between 1975 and 1976), chaff flare dispenser and AIM-9J Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

       
Canadair NF-5A K-3001 with extended nose pitot and NF-5B K-4007, also used for tests, at Twenthe AB 10-78
                                                                            Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast

The unit was disbanded on 12-04-84, the last flight of K-3001 for the Testgroep had been on 07-03-84; all test equipment was removed and the aircraft was re-delivered to the 313 Squadron on 22-10-84.
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Vliegend Uit Dienst (VUD) (Phasing out in Flying Condition)

 
 Canadairs withdrawn from use were handed over to the VUD unit at Gilze-Rijen AB; VUD
 badge was painted on some aircrafts. The engines were run every 45 days and a short
 test was flown every 90 days. This was stopped in late 1980 and the aircrafts were
 transferred to Woendsrecht for definitive storage.


                          
           
            Canadair NF-5B K-4002 in so-called "F-16" camouflage, ex 313 Squadron, with VUD badge at
            Woendsrecht in May 1990; in the background an NF-5A in original camouflage.
                                                                                 Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast
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