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50 Years 313 "Tiger" Squadron

By Frits Jongerman | April 2004
Tigers over Volkel.
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On December 1st 1953 313 Squadron was activated at Volkel AB. Because of operational commitments the celebration of 50th anniversary was held on April 1st and 2nd 2004. Also a spottersday for local spottersgroups was held. On Thursday April 1st about 200 spotters were invited at Twenthe AB and saw the new Tiger F-16AM, the J-366, during the afternoon mission. This aircraft features a very nice painted tiger tail.

Tigers are Go!

On March 31st the Tiger F-16 was shown to the families of the 313 Squadron members. The F-16 was towed out of a hangar with a lot of smoke and noice (music). They also showed their Tiger Volkswagen. The demo F-16AM (J-016) and PC-7 (L-08) of 131 Squadron (with the old 313 badge in his tail) gave their demo's for the public and the many spotters outside the airbase.

Years ago, a reunion like this used to attract many foreign visitors, although this hasn't been the case for the last couple of years. This year, only two AG-51 Tornado IDS of the German Air Force (callsign "GermanAF SW51A and B") and two Super Etendards of 11 F/French Navy (callsign "French Navy 5184A and B") showed up. They all arrived on Wednesday March 31st and flew two missions on April 1st with the F-16's of 313 Squadron.


44+48 Tornado IDS

44+17 Tornado IDS

J-366 F-16AM

J-138 F-16AM

51 Super Etendard

55 Super Etendard

55 Super Etendard

J-511 F-16AM

J-016 F-16AM

J-056 F-16BM

Seen during the spottersday (12:00 - 16:00):

Type Sqn Serials
Super Etendards11 F/FN51 and 55 (55 with tiger fueltanks)
Tornado IDSAG-51/GAF43+48 (green c/s) and 44+17 (grey/grey c/s)
F-16AM313 SquadronJ-145, J-366 (spec c/s), J-508, J-511, J-875
F-16AM315 Squadron *J-058, J-138, J-141
F-16BM313 SquadronJ-065
F-16BM315 Squadron *J-067
F-16AMnb (313)J-136 (315 badge removed; only grey circle visible)
F-16AMnb (EHLW)J-016 (demo c/s); 2 demo's
F-16BM311 SquadronJ-652 (with 313 low viz badge) callsign "Flame"

* 315 Squadron was deactivated last January; the F-16's are with 313 Squadron but still wear their old 315 badge). Also 315 Squadron callsigns are heard on the scanner and F-16's are still operating out of the 315 hangars).

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