Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen" (Tactical Air Force Wing 71) — III — | |
---|---|
Active | 6 June 1959–present |
Country | Germany |
Branch | German Air Force |
Role | Air Defence, Rapid Deployment, NATO Command Force |
Garrison/HQ | Wittmundhafen Air Base |
Patron | Manfred von Richthofen |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Oberstleutnant Oliver Spoerner |
Notable commanders | Erich Hartmann, Günther Josten |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | Formerly:
Present: Eurofighter Typhoon |
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen", formerly known as Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71) Richthofen is a Fighter wing of the German Air Force. JG 71 was West Germany's first operational jet fighter unit. On 29 June 2013 the last F-4F Phantom fighter flew for the last time, before the type was taken out of service. The wing is now equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Due to restructuring of the German Air Force, JG 71 was temporally transferred into the newly established Tactical Group "Richthofen" on 1 October 2013. Its parent unit was now Tactical Wing 31 in Nörvenich.[1] On 5 July 2016 the restructuring was reverted and the fighter group again upgraded to a fighter wing.[2]