- No. 322 multi-role F-16 Squadron, RNLAF
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No. 322 multi-role F-16 Squadron, RNLAF Active 12 June 1943 - today Country 
The NetherlandsBranch Royal Netherlands Air Force Type Active Role Swing-role Fighter Squadron Motto Dutch: Niet praten maar doen
("Actions, not words" or "Don't prattle, act")Mascot Polly Grey,[1] the parrot Equipment F-16 Contents
History
During the Battle of the Netherlands, many Dutch planes were destroyed by Nazi Germany's forces, but 350 German planes were shot by the Dutch forces. After the battle, many pilots fled to England to support the Allied troops. Then, on the 12th of June in 1943, a separate squadron within the Royal Air Force was formed by the Dutch pilots flying in the RAF. That was the first official beginning of the No. 322 squadron. From then 322 Squadron also actively participated in the War and fought along the allied forces until the end of the War. After the war, there was no certain future for the squadron. It was deactivated and activated several times. But it did serve in the in then called Dutch East Indies and Netherlands New Guinea. The squadron was stationed on both Twente Air Base and Soesterberg Air Base. In 1964, the squadron was finally stationed on a permanent base, Leeuwarden Air Base. The squadron was then assigned with a permanent task, an air defence-task.
Present
Together with the Volkel Air Base, the 322 squadron is on constant duty, to be ready for a Quick Reaction Alert. From 1964 until today, the squadron is constantly parate on its tasks. Nowadays the squadron has a swing-role task. That includes an air defence- and ground support task, the F-16 fighters can be modified to that task anytime, by changing its weapons loadout. The squadron is constantly active and ready for deployment to crisis situations like Libya and Afghanistan. Because of financial cuts in the ministry of defence, the number of F-16s has decreased to 87 F-16 mulit-role fighter jets. There are five squadrons with around 18 F-16s per squadron, including No. 322 Squadron. The main task is an air-defence and a ground support role, but other tasks are:
- participate in strategic air operations
- perform middle-hight bombing
- support own groundtroots
- get and sustain air superiority
- maintain freedom of own armed forces
- contribute to air embargos
- air reconnaissance
Future
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is, together with the Ministry of Defence, currently working on the Joint Strike Fighter project. Dutch fighter pilots are included in the development program. So are a few departments of the Netherlands Air Force and some private defence companies. It will be likely that the RNLAF will use the JSF in the future, so will the no. 322 Squadron. And ofcourse is the RNLAF constantly updating and developing new weapon systems and flight tactics.
Deployments
From To Mission Country 1947 1949 - Dutch East Indies 1960 1962 - New Guinea 1993 1995 Deny flight Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo 1995 1995 Deliberate Force Bosnia, Herzegovina 1999 1999 - Serbia 2001 Present Enduring Freedom Afghanistan 2002 Present ISAF Afganistan 28-3-2011 Present - Libya Aircraft Operated
From To Aircraft Version 1945 1954 Supermarine Spitfire Mk9 1950 1959 Gloster Meteor F, F Mk8 1956 1964 Hawker Hunter F Mk4 1957 1968 Hawker Hunter F Mk6 1962 1983 F-104 Starfighter - 1979 1998 F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 15 1998 Present F-16 Fighting Falcon F-16 MLU Block 15 2009 Present F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 15 M5 update Gallery
Bibliography
- van den Heuvel, Coen. KLuNu 1991.
- de Jong, Kolonel A.P. , Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Vlucht door de tijd 1988
References
- ^ "Polly Grey | Ministerie van Defensie". Defensie.nl. http://www.defensie.nl/luchtmacht/cultureel/luchtmachtgeschiedenis/periode_1940-1945/polly_grey. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
External links
Categories:- Squadrons of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
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