Landsberg-Penzing AB, Germany - 08/07/2008

The Exercise ELITE 08 press wagon rolled on to Landsberg-Penzing airbase on Tuesday, home of LTG-61 and their C-160D Transall transport aircraft and UH-1D Huey helicopters.

LTG-61's history dates back to 1957 when the two squadrons making up the wing were activated at Erding AB. 1 Sqn operated C-47s, while 2 Sqn used the Nord 2501 Noratlas.

The first of two subsequent changes of location came the following year when the wing moved to Neubiberg AB, where they stayed for thirteen years until they arrived at their present location of Landsberg-Penzing.

1971 also saw the arrival of the first C-160Ds for the unit, while 1979 was the year the UH-1Ds were added to the compliment.

A third squadron was added in 2000, with them utilising additional UH-1Ds as well as Let L-410s, although the latter have already been phased out of service.

Today, LTG-61 is employed in two distinct roles: Air Transport Missions and Search And Rescue (SAR). The former can include anything from providing support, trooping or cargo drops, medevac missions, providing humanitarian relief to evacuations and unit mobilisations. Additionally, there is a requirement to provide initial, continuation and tactical flying training.

In recent times the unit has been involved in a great many UN and humanitarian missions, including Iraq, Rwanda, Sudan and East Timor. A similarly high-tempoed involvement in military operations has also been experienced, including the Gulf War, IFOR, SFOR, KFOR, ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom, among many others.

As has been the norm this year, the weather for the actual photographic opportunities that were presented could have been better! It had been glorious first thing, but by this stage the sun was very in and out with 'in' becoming increasingly dominant! Still, it was nice to shoot some Luftwaffe Transalls and Hueys, as well as the visiting French Transall and the Polish Casa C295.

After the departures we were taken to a briefing by the unit Commander and also their Electronic Warfare Officer, before returning in time for the recoveries.

There was just enough time for a close-up look of a Transall before the visit drew to a close.

Shot from the bus as we were returning to the main gate were these two (of several) preserved airframes.