Squadron Exchanges 2001

20 till 29 June 2001

This month the Italian Air Force 20 Gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the TF-104G and F-104S/ASA exchanged with the Spanish Air Force ALA 23, Talavera, Spain, flying the Northrop SF-5B. It is unknown if it was a 1 or 2 way exchange but at least four Starfighters were seen in Spain during this period.

10 till 19 July 2001

This year the Italian Air Force 23 Gruppo based at Cervia AB, flying the F-104S/ASA-M exchanged with the Norwegian Air Force 331/334 Skv duo squadron flying the F-16AM and based at Bodo AFB. It was a one-way exchange. Only the Italian Starfighters visited Norway.

August 2001

These months the Italian Air Force 9 Gruppo based at Grosseto AB, flying the F-104S/ASA exchanged with the Hellenic Air Force 335 mira flying the A-7E Corsair II and based at Araxos AB. It was a two way shifted exchange. First the A-7E aircraft flew to Grosseto in August, then the Starfighters flew to Greece late August.

Mid to 21 September 2001

This month the Italian Air Force 10 Gruppo based at Grazzanise AB, flying the F-104S/ASA-M exchanged with the Norwegian Air Force 332 Skv at Rygge AB, flying the F-16AM. It was a one-way exchange. Only the Italians flew to Norway. Three Starfighters were seen being MM6776/9-46, MM6923/9-30 and MM6930/9-53. All these Italian aircraft flew back to Italy via Lechfeld in Germany. Interesting fact is that the Italian Starfighters visited Aalborg AB in Denmark during the exchange on the 17th of September.