Frisian Flag 99

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Last updated: 03JAN1999 0000 UTC

All pictures made by Robert van der Leije

Frysian flag

Here are some pictures taken at Leeuwarden airbase, at 7 October 1999, during the RNLAF exercise "Frisian Flag 99". Frysian Flag 99 was held from 27 September till 8 October 1999 and was mainly an air combat exercise held in Dutch and UK airspace, over the Northsea. Apart from some 'opponents' operating from other airbases, many participants were deployed from Leeuwarden during those two weeks.


J-230

Leeuwarden based 322 ("Polly") and 323sq ("Diana") couldn't stay away from a Frysian exercise like this ofcourse. Viper Black & Red were the usual formation callsigns of the Dutchies. Photographed J-230 is a F-16A undoubtly belonging to the 323 Diana's, bowdlerized this time...

111sq

5 Tornado F3 aircraft of the 111sq (RAF Leuchars) taxi out for a morning mission as "Scimitar" flight.

23rdFS

Six USAF F-16's of the Spangdahlem (SP) based 23rd FS participated in the exercise. During the afternoon of 7 October all six 'Fighting Hawks' did their last mission as "Viper Green 1-6".

MFG2

Marineflieger participation consisted of four Tornado IDS aircraft from the Eggebek based MFG2. The normal exercise callsign was "Tailhook". At this picture one of the Marineflieger aircraft starts its take-off run from runway 24.

usn F-18

Five squadrons from the US Navy carrier John F. Kennedy (code AB) send a group of F-18 Hornets, F-14 Tomcat aircraft and EA-6 Prowlers to participate in the second week of the exercise. Here, F-18 '403' of VFA-86 departs as part of the "Marlin" flight.

VMFA-251

Apart from the VFA-82 and VFA-86 squadrons, the US Marines were present with these VMFA-251 F-18 Hornets.

F-14 Tomcats

Two fine F-14 Tomcat aircraft of the VF-101 made their Frysian Flag missions as "Shark" 1 & 2.

The pictures don't show all Frysian Flag participants. There were actually a lot more aircraft involved. A list of the Leeuwarden deployed non-RNLAF aircraft is the following (sources: own spottings, Mil-Scan list & Scramble S.I.S.):

Airforce Squadron Base Aircraft Reg./serial
Luftwaffe JG71 Wittmundhafen 3x F-4F 37+78, 38+07, 38+12
Marineflieger MFG2 Eggebek 4x Tornado IDS 43+87, 45+54, 46+11, 46+20
NATO NAEWF Geilenkirchen 1x E-3A LX-N90445
RAF 111sq Leuchars 5x Tornado F3 ZE341/J, ZE791/N, ZE794/A, ZE839/B, ZE888/T
USAF 23rd FS Spangdahlem 6x F-16C 91-405, 91-407, 91-410, 91-412, 91-415, 91-417
USMC VMFA-251 USS Kennedy 2x (?) FA-18 AB205, AB206
USN VFA-82 USS Kennedy 2 x (?) FA-18 AB311, .....
USN VFA-86 USS Kennedy 2 x (?) FA-18 AB403, AB405
USN VF-101 USS Kennedy 2x F-14 AB103, AB105
USN VAQ-137 USS Kennedy 2x EA-6B ??

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