Squadrons – Royal Netherlands Air Force

Overview of the squadrons operating the F-104 Starfighter within the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

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306 squadron

Name : "Videre Vincere Est" Airbases : Twenthe AB, Volkel AB, De Peel AB. Types  : RF-104G/TF-104G  Role : AWXR (Reconnaissance) Periods : 01-05-1963 / 03-09-1969 (Twenthe AB), 03-09-1969 / 01-10-1983 (Volkel AB). Remarks: Flew from Volkel Air Base between 1 May and 1 October 1965 due to runway repair at home base Twenthe. Air Base De Peel was the 2nd and spare home base. The aircraft were modernized from generic RF-104G to an special modified F-104G wearing the Orpheus pod (on center-line) from around 1970. The RF-104G's were replaced by RF-16A's in 1983. see 306sq website

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311 squadron

	Name : "Ut aquila preadans" Airbases : Twenthe AB, Volkel AB. Types  : F-104G  Role : FB (Fighter-Bomber) Periods : 03-03-1963 / 01-05-1982 (Volkel AB). Remarks: It was official declared operational 03-03-1965 and was disbanded on 01-05-1982, receiving replacing F-16A's and becoming active again later on.
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312 squadron

	Name : "Audax cum concili" Airbases : Volkel AB. Types  : F-104G  Role : FB (Fighter-Bomber) Periods : 09-03-1963 / 13-06-1984 (Volkel AB). Remarks: It was official declared operational 09-03-1966 and was disbanded on 13-06-1984, receiving replacing F-16A's and becoming active again later on.
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322 squadron

	Name : "Niet praten maar doen" Airbases : Volkel AB, Leeuwarden AB. Types  : F-104G/TF-104G  Role : AWX (All-weather Interception) Periods : 22-06-1963 / 01-10-1980 (Leeuwarden AB) Remarks: Combined with 323 squadron becoming 645 squadron 17-05-1979. F-104G's were replaced by F-16's. (11-09-1981 operational again).
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323 squadron

	Name : "Impetu Feroci" Airbases : Leeuwarden AB. Types  : F-104G/TF-104G  Role : AWX (All-weather Interception) PPeriods : 17-03-1964 / 01-10-1980 (Leeuwarden AB) Remarks: Combined with 322 squadron becoming 645 squadron 17-05-1979. F-104G's were replaced by F-16's. (01-04-1982 operational again).
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CAV (Conversie Afdeling Volkel)

	Name : "Gestaag gespannen" Airbases : Volkel AB. Types  : RF-104G/TF-104G  Role : Fighter-Bomber Training Periods : 15-02-1968 / 01-06-1984 (Volkel AB). Remarks: Later in the 80's the blue circular markings were replaced by a rectangular orange markings.
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TCA (Training Command All-weather)

Name : none Airbases : Leeuwarden AB. Types  : TF-104G  Role : All-weather Interception Training Periods : 01-10-1968 / 15-03-1978 (Leeuwarden AB) Remarks: First without and later the markings got an orange rectangular background added. After it was disbanded the remaining Starfighters were handed over to the 322 and 323 squadron pool. The parrot markings were replaced also accordingly from around 1979 onwards.

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TDM (Twenthe Dutch Masters)

	Name : none Airbases : Twenthe AB. Types  : RF-104G/TF-104G  Role : Training Periods : 01-07-1963 / 01-10-1968 (Twenthe AB). Remarks: Aircraft flew from Leeuwarden AB between 1 May and 1 October 1965 due to runway repair at their home base Twenthe.
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TTF (Target Towing Flight)

	Name : none Airbases : Leeuwarden AB. Types  : F-104G  Role : Dart Target Towing Periods : 1981. Remarks: Target Towing was normally done by operational Starfighters. In 1981 the Dart support team got some phased out Starfighters for them selves and so they decided to give them specific tail markings until the aircraft were delivered to Turkey.
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UFO (Uit Fasering Onderdeel)

Name : none Airbases : Volkel AB Types  : F-104G/TF-104G  Role : Phase out aircraft for finishing pilots. Periods : 28-06-1984 / 21-11-1984. Remarks: While lots of pilot went into the F-16 conversion training, some pilots moved to a different task and needed to fly their demanded hours, for this reason some old phased out Starfighters were selected to serve this role. They got special markings on the flightline.

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645 squadron
Because of the introduction of the F-16 and the conversion of the pilots and ground personnel at Leeuwarden in 1980, Major Heinz Manderfeld (322 squadron commander) took over the 323 squadron command from commander Major Evert Motshagen. With that both squadrons were merged into "645 squadron" (323 + 322). Because of this specific Command situation, the Air Force Command decided to make this official. So 323 squadron was officially incorporated in the "paternal" 322 squadron. Although becoming 645 squadron, the operational Starfighters kept the unit markings (322 and 323 squadron) till the end.