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Lechfeld AB, Germany - 09/07/2008

Having arranged press access for Exercise ELITE 08 we were offered the chance to visit Lechfeld the day prior to the 'spotters' day instead.

Lechfeld is home to Jagdbombergeschwader (JaboG, JBG or FBW) 32.

The history of the wing dates back to July 1956 when their commissioning was ordered. Two years later they received their first F-84F Thunderstreaks, which they operated until 1966, amassing some 80,000 hours on the type in the process.

Replacing the Thunderstreak was the iconic F-104G Starfighter. Their 18 years of operation accounted for a massive 204,000 flying hours.

Since the retirement of the 104s in 1984, the unit has operated the Tornado ECR and IDS aircraft it still does today.

FBW 32's primary tasking is in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) role, something which the Tornado ECR is particular good at since it's fast and extremely precise. Other types employed in the role (EA-6B, F-16, F-18 etc) are simply AGM-88 HARM carriers and are unable to localise a transmitter without the assistance of another aircraft, eg E-3, RC-135 etc.

The unit has seen operational involvement in modern times during the Bosnia and Kosovo crises.

As it turned out the weather on the two days we had the choice of attending couldn't have been much more different, with some really heavy rain showers during the morning we were there with predominantly grey/black skies.

There was plenty of Ex ELITE activity, however and we were treated to runway and ramp access (the latter coming between the two missions).

For ease the images are sorted by unit.

8 ELT - Su-22M Fitters - Miroslawiec, Poland