Starfighter Squadron Exchanges 1996-2000
18 till 27 June 1996
This month Belgium Air Force nr 1 squadron at Florennes, rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Cervia AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least four Italian Starfighters flew to Belgium including MM6770/5-30 and MM6881/5-42.
August 1996
This year the Hellenic Air Force 343 mira, flying the F-5 and based at Mikra-Tessaloniki AB (Macedonia), 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 F-5s came to Istrana.
Interesting photo showing Greek F-5s together with Istrana Starfighters
over Istrana AB likely during the F-5 arrival.
26 August till 4 September 1996
This period French Navy squadron 12F at Landivisiau, flying the F-8 Crusader, 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 but at least a number of Starfighters were seen in France being MM6720/9-40, MM6749/9-41, MM6808/9-30, MM6934/9-51 and MM6937/9-42. Aircraft MM6749 was replaced by MM6937/9-42 on 29 August so on average four aircraft were available in France.
1996
This year the Spanish Air Force squadron Grupo 15 based at Zaragoza AB, 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. (The Spanish squadron was named Grupo 15 at this period, before and lateron it was named Ala 15)
1996
This year the Spanish Air Force squadron ALA14 flying the Mirage F1EDA and based at Los Llanos AB, Albacete, rotated with the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.
Early till 11 September 1997
This year the Danish Air Force 723/726 Eskader duo based at Aalborg, flying the F-16 rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Cervia AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but Italians flew to Aalborg being MM6771/5-31, MM6796/5-37, M6881/5-42, MM6920/5-35 and MM6842/5-43. Pre-visit took place on 16 June when Starfighters MM6881/5-42 and MM6936/5-36 arrived and stayed the night.
9 till 19 September 1997
This month the Royal Air Force 12
squadron based at Lossiemouth, rotated with the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo
based at Trapani-Birgi AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a
1 or 2 way rotation but at least Starfighters were seen in Lossiemouth being
MM6713/37-01, MM6825/37-10, MM6925/37-05 and MM6943/37-15 using call-signs "I
6713" and "I 6825".
Aircraft 37-01 and 27-05 already departed on September 18th, while the other
two departed 1 day later. They all flew to and from Lossiemouth via Bruggen
where they made a fuel-stop.
23 September till 2 October 1997
This period the German Air Force JG74 based at Neuburg, 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 but at least Starfighters were seen in Germany being MM6805/4-10, MM6908/4-52, MM6912/4-20, MM6923/4-21 and MM6930/4-21. Aircraft MM6805 arrived on 29 September to replace MM6930 which departed on 30 September.
13 till 22 October 1997
This month the Belgium Air Force 23 smaldeel (10Wing) based at Kleine Brogel AB flying the F-16, 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 Starfighters were seen in Belgium being F-104S/ASA MM6714/51-03, MM6776/51-15 and MM6824/51-04.
1997
This year the Hellenic Air Force 349 mira, flying the (R)F-5, based at Tessaloniki, 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. It was the last rotation for 349 mira which was disbanded officially on 5 September 1997.
29 June till 6 July 1998
This period the Italian Air Force
22 gruppo based at Istrana AB, flying the F-104S/ASA rotated with the German
Air Force JG72, based at Hopsten AB and flying the F-4F Phantom. It is unknown
if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least four Starfighters flew to Germany
being: MM6781/51-14, MM6810/51-11, MM6850/51-12 and commander aircraft MM6940/51-22.
Pre-visit took place with nightstop from 1 to 2 April 1998, being MM6804/51-07
and MM6932/51-05.
Late August till 3 September 1998
This year the Danish Air Force 726 Eskader, based at Aalborg AB and flying the F-16, 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 but at least the Italian Starfighters flew to Denmark being MM6822/9-30, MM6873/9-31, MM6875/9-33 and MM6937/9-42.
1998
This year the Turkish Air Force 172 filo flying the F-4E, based at Malatya-Erhac AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 23 gruppo based at Cervia AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.
1998
This year the Hellenic Air Force 342 mira at Tanagra, flying the Mirage F1CG rotated with the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.
1999 - This year no squadron exchanges were organized between the Starfighter
squadrons and others.
11 till 19 September 2000
This month the Italian Air Force
9 gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the F-104S/ASA rotated with the Norwegian
Air Force 331 and 334 skv squadrons at Bodo AB, flying the F-16. It is unknown
if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Starfighters flew to Norway
being F-104S/ASA aircraft MM6705/4-5, MM6714/4-11, MM6824/4-3 and aircraft MM6825/4-21
using call-signs "I 6943" and "I 6705". Aircraft 4-21 and
4-11 departed on September 19th while the other two left 1 day earlier. All
flew via Jever AB.
During the exchange one TF-104G came by being MM54251/4-34 arriving at Bodo
on 15 September and leaving again on the 18th. Also this TF flew via Jever.
18 till 27 October 2000
This month the Italian Air Force
20 gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the TF-104G and F-104S/ASA rotated with
the Belgium Air Force OCU within 10 Wing at Kleine Brogel AB, flying the F-16.
It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation but at least the Starfighters
flew to Belgium.
Participating Italian aircraft at Kleine Brogel were MM54250/4-33 (callsign
"I 4250"), MM54231/4-34 (callsign "I 4252"), MM54253/4-35
(callsign "I 4253A"), MM54237/4-32 and MM54553/4-44 (callsign "I
4251"). Aircraft 4-44 departed already on October 24th and 4-34 arrived
on October 19th instead of the 18th. On October 25th the F-104S/ASA MM6838/4-58
visited Kleine Brogel and stayed the night.
Pre-visit was made by TF-104G MM54237/4-32 (callsign "I 4237") on
25 September when it also stayed the night.
2000
This year the Italian Air Force 10 gruppo based at Grazzanise AB, flying the F-104S/ASA rotated with the Hellenic Air Force 337 mira at Larissa AB, flying the RF-4E. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.
2000
This year the Italian Air Force 18 gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi AB, flying the F-104S/ASA rotated with the Turkish Air Force 111 filo flying the F-4E and based at Eskisehir AB. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.
2000
This year the Italian Air Force 23
gruppo based at Cervia AB, flying the F-104S/ASA rotated with the Spanish Air
Force ALA14 flying the Mirage F1EDA and based at Los Llanos AB, Albacete. It
is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way rotation.
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