Squadron Exchanges 1991

April 1991

This year the French Air Force EC 3/12, flying the Mirage F1C, exchanged 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 exchange but at least the Italian Starfighters were seen at Cambrai in April.

9 till 18 April 1991

This month the German Air Force JBG32, based at Lechfeld AB, flying the Tornado IDS, exchanged with the Italian Air Force 22 Gruppo based at Istrana, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a 2 way exchange. At least four Italian Starfighters flew to Lechfeld, being MM6775 code 51-01, MM6828 code 51-04, MM6879 code 51-02 and MM6937 coded 51-16. Beneath some photos taken at Lechfeld by Peter Doll.

MM6828_51-04_Lechfeld_1991MM6828_51-04_Lechfeld_1991_bMM6937_51-16_Lechfeld_1991
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9 till 18 April 1991

This year the Spanish Air Force ALA 12 (121 Escuadron), flying the EF-18A Hornet from Torrejon, exchanged with the Italian Air Force 102 Gruppo based at Rimini, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a 2 way exchange. Italians were seen in Spain including F-104S MM6847 code 5-14, F-104S/ASA MM6845/5-11, F-104S/ASA MM6910/5-04 and F-104S/ASA MM6918 code 5-23. Beneath interesting photos thanks to Roberto Ciocca (taken from RF-4) showing aircraft 5-14 and 5-23 and also two pictures by Danilo Rao showing a mixed formation of aircraft types over Spain during this same formation. The Starfighters flew back to Rimini on April 18th via a fuel stop at Istrana.

MM6847_5-14_102gr_1991
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Late May / early June 1991

This period the Hellenic Air Force 349 Mira at Larissa, flying the F-5A, exchanged 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 exchange but the F-5s at least flew to Italy.

Early till 12 June 1991

This month the Danish Air Force 723 Eskadrille, based at Aalborg AB, flying the F-16A exchanged with the Italian Air Force 21 Gruppo based at Cameri AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a two-way exchange. F-104s at Aalborg were MM6824/53-02, MM6713/53-05, MM6815/53-11 and MM6926/53-12. These aircraft flew back to Cameri on June 12th via Bitburg.

June/July 1991

This year, during late June and early July, the German Navy MFG2, based at Eggebek, flying the Tornado IDS exchanged with the Italian Air Force 9 Gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a two way exchange. The Italian Starfighters which flew to Germany were MM6800/4-1, MM6787/4-7, MM6763/4-9 and MM6771/4-16, all seen for example on June 25th. Aircraft 4-9 had a special color scheme "Magg.Rosso". Transport was by C-130H MM61994/46-08. The aircraft flew via Norvenich where they made a fuel-stop. Two newspaper items can be found beneath thanks to Andrea Zani.

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30 July till 8 August 1991

This month the Turkish Air Force 182 filo (8AJU), based at Diyarbakir, flying the CF-104 exchanged with the Italian Air Force 18 Gruppo based at Trapani-Birgi, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a 2-way exchange. The Turkish Starfighters which visited Italy were 104760/8-760, 104770/8-770, 104806/8-806, 104808,8-808, 104842/8-842 and 104847/8-847 . (Beneath photos of aircraft 104770/8-770, 104806/8-806, 104808/8-808 and 104842/8-842 seen on August 1st, 1991). (thanks to Sergio Bottaro), Also a picture showing two Trapani Starfighters flying over the Ararat mountains in Turkey on August 6th, thanks to pilot Enrico Fantoni. Enrico stated that the Italians arrived in Turkey July 30th and left again on August 8th.

104806_8-806_Trapani_1991104770_8-770_182filo_Trapani_01aug91_SergioBottaro104808_8-808_Trapani_1991
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104842_8-842_182filo_Trapani_01aug91_SergioBottaro
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28 August till 5 September 1991

This year the German Air Force JBG31, 1 Staffel, based at Norvenich, flying the Tornado IDS exchanged with the Italian Air Force 12 Gruppo based at Gioia del Colle, flying the F-104S/ASA. It was a 2 way exchange. Italian Starfighters seen in Germany were MM6805/36-06 (flown by Capt. Magro), MM6825/36-11 (flown by Capt D'Amico) landing on August 28th and MM6774/36-21 and MM6943/36-20 which landed 2 days later. Transport was by C-130H MM61991/46-05 and when leaving Norvenich transport was taken care by G-222 MM62125/46-87 which landed September 5th. Earlier in 1991 the F-104S/ASA MM6850/36-02 was seen on pre-exchange together with an unidentified Starfighter.

MM6774_36-21_Norvenich_1991
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