Starfighter Squadron Exchanges - Rotations 1991-1995

This month the German Air Force JBG32, based at Lechfeld AB, flying the Tornado rotated with the Italian Air Force 22 gruppo based at Istrana, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation. At least four (still unidentified) Italian Starfighters flew to Lechfeld.
At least four Italian Starfighters flew to Lechfeld including F-104S-ASA MM6937 coded 51-16.

This year the Danish Air Force 723 Eskader, based at Aalborg AB, flying the F-16 rotated with the Italian Air Force 21 gruppo based at Cameri AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation. Two Cameri Starfighter flew to Aalborg for a pre-visit on April 12th when MM6824/53-02 and MM6764/53-05 where seen at Bitburg. The real exchange started in May with aircraft MM6713/53-05, MM6815/53-11, MM6824/53-02 and MM6926/53-12. They were seen for a fuel stop at Bitburg (from or towards Aalborg) on May 12th.

This year the German Navy MFG2, based at Eggebek, flying the Tornado rotated with the Italian Air Force 9 gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation. At least the Italian Starfighters flew to Germany being MM6800/4-1, MM6787/4-7, MM6763/4-9 and MM6771/4-16 which were all seen on June 25th. Aircraft 4-9 had a special color scheme "Magg.Rosso". Transport was by MM61994/46-08. The aircraft flew via Norvenich where they made a fuel-stop.

This month the Turkish Air Force 182 filo (8AJU), based at Diyarbakir, flying the CF-104 rotated with the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Turkish Starfighters were seen in Italy.
Seen at Trapani during a visit on 1 August were at least aircraft 104806/8-806 and 104808/8-808.

This year the German Air Force JBG31, based at Norvenich, flying the Tornado rotated with the Italian Air Force 12 gruppo based at Gioia del Colle, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation. At least the Italian Starfighters flew to Germany being MM6805/36-06 (flown by Capt. Magro), MM6825/36-11 (flown by Capt D'Amico) which both landed on August 28th and MM6774/36-21 and MM6943/36-20 which both landed 2 days later. Transport was by MM61991/46-05 and when leaving Norvenich transport was taken care by MM62125/46-87 which landed September 5th.

This year the French Air Force EC 3/12 rotated with the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This year the Hellenic Air Force 349 mira, rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Rimini, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This year the Spanish Air Force ALA12, rotated with the Italian Air Force 102 gruppo based at Rimini, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This month the German Air Force JG72, based at Hopsten and flying the F-4F Phantom rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Rimini, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Starfighters were seen in Germany. Aircraft seen in Hopsten were MM6722/5-45, MM6735/5-46, MM6776/5-37 and MM6873/5-35. Transport was flown by MM61999/46-13.


Likely taken over Eastern Italy during the rotation showing a JG72 Phantom and a 23 Gruppo Starfighter.	MM6776 code 5-37 at Hopsten Air Base. (Hans van Zeeland)	MM6722 code 5-45 at Hopsten Air Base. (Hans van Zeeland)

This period the Royal Air Force 13 squadron, based at Honington rotated with the Italian Air Force 28 gruppo based at Villafranca, flying the F-104G and RF-104G. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Starfighters were seen in the UK. These were MM6518/3-37, MM6524/3-46, MM6542/3-40 and MM6551/3-51. The Italians flew via Pferdsfeld (22 June) and back home via Buchel AB (1 July). Two aircraft stayed the night at Buchel on their way back due to some leaking problem of one of them. One of the pilots was Bob Sardo.

This period the Dutch Air Force 322 squadron, based at Leeuwarden AB, flying the F-16, rotated with the Italian Air Force 22 gruppo based at Istrana, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if the Dutch F-16s flew to Italy but the Italians brought four Starfighters to Holland. These were MM6719/51-06, MM6739/51-01, MM6879/51-02 and MM6934/51-14. Transport was flown by MM62132/46-32 and MM62103/46-37. Two Starfighters (MM6719/51-06 and MM6934/51-14) visited Leeuwarden AB already from 6 till 8 July for a pre-exchange.


MM6719 code 51-06 at Leeuwarden NATO flight during the pre-exchange visit	The same MM6719 code 51-06 at Leeuwarden but now during the exchange.

This year the Hellenic Air Force 336 mira, flying the F-104G and based at Araxos AB, rotated with the Italian Air Force 102 gruppo based at Rimini, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least Hellenic aircraft were seen in Italy. Seen were F-104G 7151 (Olympus colorscheme), 7206/RF-206 and TF-104G 5906/TF-906.

This year the Spanish Air Force ALA46, rotated with the Italian Air Force 9 gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This year the Royal Air Force 74 squadron, flying the F-4J-UK Phantom, rotated with the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation however Phantoms were seen at Decimomannu… Starfighters seen at Deci include aircraft MM6817/9-40, MM6827/9-31 both F-104S/ASA.

This year the German Navy MFG1, flying the Tornado and based at Schleswig Jagel AB, rotated with the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This year the Danish Air Force squadron duo 727/730 Eskader , flying the F-16 and based at Skrydstrup AB, rotated with the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation. Very likely two Starfighters flew to Denmark for a pre-visit on July 21st when two 104s were seen at Bitburg, MM6772/9-52 and MM6929/9-32.

This period the Royal Air Force 11 squadron, based at Leeming, rotated with the Italian Air Force 9 gruppo based at Grosseto, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Starfighters were seen in the UK including TF-104G MM54251/4-34 and F-104S/ASA aircraft MM6802/4-1, MM6880/4-12 and last but not least F-104G MM6529/4-52. All aircraft flew via Bitburg.

This month the Turkish Air Force 152 filo, based at Merzifon AB and flying the F-5, rotated with the Italian Air Force 22 gruppo based at Istrana AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Turkish aircraft were seen in Italy.
Italian Starfighters seen in Turkey were MM6719/51-06, MM6843/51-03 and MM6870/51-04.

F-104S MM6934 code 51-14 taxying at homebase Istrana.
Note the Turkish F-5s in the background, participating in the squadron exchange.

This year one of the Danish Air Force F-16 squadrons at Aalborg AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 12 gruppo based at Gioia del Colle, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a two-way rotation where four camouflaged Starfighters were seen at Aalborg. The four F-16s arrived back at Aalborg on the 9th of September, the Starfighters left Aalborg a day later on Friday the 10th.

This year the Turkish Air Force 161 filo, flying the F-16 and based at Bandirma AB, rotated with the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This period the Royal Air Force 12 squadron, based at Lossiemouth, rotated with the Italian Air Force 22 gruppo based at Istrana, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but the Italians flew to the UK at least. Seen in the UK were aircraft MM6719/51-06, MM6739/51-01, MM6764/51-03 and MM6937/51-16. All aircraft flew via Soesterberg AB. It looks like the pre-exchange took place from or till 7 March 1994 since aircraft MM6739/51-01 and MM6937/51-16 visited Soesterberg AB that particular day using callsign "I 6937" .


MM6739 code 51-01 at Soesterberg for a fuelstop on its way to Lossiemouth on March 21st. (Jeroen Jonkers)	The same MM6764 code 51-03 at Soesterberg for a fuelstop on its way to Lossiemouth on March 21st. (Jeroen Jonkers)

This year the Hellenic Air Force squadron 348 mira, flying the RF-4E Phantom, based at Larissa AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Rimini, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Italians were seen in Greece this period.

This period the German Navy MGF2, based at Eggebek and flying the Tornado, rotated with the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Italians flew to Germany. Aircraft seen in Germany were F-104S/ASA MM6717/9-32, MM6730/9-33, MM6772/9-52 and MM6887/9-51.

This year one of the Danish Air Force F-16 squadrons at Skrydstrup rotated with the Italian Air Force 9 gruppo based at Grosseto, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation. Very likely a pre-visit took place on 24 June when Starfighters MM6731/4-10 and MM6802/4-1 made a fuel-stop at Norvenich AB.

This year the Spanish Air Force squadron ALA11 rotated with the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This year the Hellenic Air Force squadron 335 mira, flying the Corsair II, based at Araxos AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 21 gruppo based at Cameri, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This month the Dutch Air Force 313 squadron, flying the F-16, based at Twenthe AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Cervia AB (they just moved from Rimini), flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least four Starfighters flew to Holland. On 18 May two Starfighters (MM6771/5-31 and MM6849/5-33) landed at Twenthe AB for a pre-exchange visit. The aircraft 5-31 encountered problems and had to stay at Twenthe AB for repair while the college (5-33) flew back to Italy on the next day (19 May) in the late afternoon. On 22 May the aircraft 5-31 was fixed and flew back home as well.
The participating aircraft during the squadron exchange were MM6762/5-37, MM6771/5-31, MM6849/5-33 and MM6920/5-35.

This year the Hellenic Air Force 337 mira, flying the RF-4E, based at Larissa AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.

This year the Turkish Air Force 172 filo, flying the F-4E, based at Malatya-Erhac AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 21 gruppo based at Cameri, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.