322nd squadron (RNlAF)

"Polly Parrot" 

322 sqn "Polly Parrot" (RNLAF)
Status:
Active
Version:F-16A/B block 20 MLU
Role:Multirole, Air Defense
Tailband: N/A
Motto: Niet praten maar doen (Don't talk but act)
Badge: A macaw (Polly Grey) on a white background.

Sideways profile for 322 sqn in 2007.

F-16 History


RNlAF F-16AM #J-366 seen in November of 2006 at Leeuwarden AB flying with 322 sqn.

The 322nd squadron is the first Dutch F-16 to become operational. This happened on May 1st, 1981. Although it was an interception squadron in the F-104G era, it now became operational in the FBA task. Which was very rare for a Leeuwarden based squadron at that time. The CWI task was added a year later. From that moment onwards it was mainly active in the QRA task.

The 322nd was the first Dutch unit to attend the famous Red Flag exercise. This happened in 1984. It flew together with a Belgian and Danish squadron in this exercise.

On August 31st, 1989 the mascot of the squadron, a real parrot (Polly Grey IV), died. All flying activities where suspended for an indefinite period of time. NATO officers couldn't appreciate the gesture at all and demanded that flying would be resumed immediately. This order was only followed after an interim 'Polly' was found. On October 21st, 1989 a new parrot was accepted by the squadron as their new mascot. It was consequently named 'Polly Grey V'.


RNlAF F-16A block 5 #J-230 of 322 sqn is seen landing at RAF Mildenhall during the Air Fete in 1989.

The squadron had the honor of having the first Dutch F-16 to pass 2,000 flying hours. This happened on August 6th, 1992 with airframe #J-251.

The squadron has participated in the majority of deployments the Dutch Air Force has attended over the past 13 years. This including deployments to Siauliai AB, Lithuania to patrol the airspace over the three Baltic countries and to Afghanistan to be part of the ISAF force.

Aircraft Markings History

1980 - 1982

The markings consisted of the squadron's logo in the middle of the tail.

1982 - 1992

A little adjustment was brought in with the addition of a tailband in blue and white. The squadron's logo didn't change, except that it could be seen on a white circle.

1992 - present

The scheme was toned-down in an overall gray finishing. The tailband could be absent from time to time.


Unit History

  • 1943: Activation of the squadron in Woodvale (UK)
  • 1943: 'Spitfire' Mk. VB
  • 1943: 'Spitfire' Mk. VB (RAF Hawkinge)
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. VC
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. VC (part of 147 Wing (RAF), RAF Acklington)
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. XIV
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. XIV (RAF Hartford Bridge)
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. XIV (RAF West Malling)
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. XIV (RAF Deanland)
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. LF IXE
  • 1944: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (RAF Biggin Hill)
  • 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (Woensdrecht)
  • 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (Schijndel)
  • 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (Twenthe)
  • 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (Varrelbush [Germ.])
  • 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (Wunstdorf [Germ.])
  • 1945: 'Spitfire' Mk. XVIE (RAF Lasham)
  • 1945: Disbanded (active in Dutch-Indies in this period)
  • 1950: Activation of the squadron in Twenthe
  • 1950: 'Spitfire' Mk. IX
  • 1950: 'Spitfire' Mk. IX (Soesterberg)
  • 1952: 'Meteor' F. Mk. 4
  • 1953: 'Meteor' F. Mk. 8
  • 1958: 'Hunter' Mk. 4
  • 1958: 'Hunter' Mk. 6
  • 1960: Deactivated for 4 years (active in Dutch-New Guinee in this period)
  • 1964: F-104G 'Starfighter' (Leeuwarden)
  • 1980: F-16A 'Fighting Falcon'
  • 1998: F-16AM 'Fighting Falcon'

Deployments

'Deny Flight'
Villafranca AB, Italy (April 12th, 1993 to December 20th, 1995)
From the start of the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 operations in former Yugoslavia till December of 1995 it was part of 'Deny Flight'. This was an operation in support of the UN-led UNPROFOR troops stationed in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
'Decisive Endeavour'
Villafranca AB, Italy (December 21st, 1995 to December 21st, 1996)
The switch from the UNPROFOR mission to the IFOR mission also resulted in a name change of the air operations over Yugoslavia. As from December of 1995 it was called Decisive Endeavour.
'Deliberate Guard'
Villafranca AB, Italy (December 22nd, 1996 to June 20th, 1998)
When the UN forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina changed their mandate resulting in a name change from IFOR to SFOR, also the air operations were given another name. Ultimately, 'Deliberate Guard' formed the air asset for the SFOR troops.
'Determined Falcon'
Villafranca AB, Italy (June 15th, 1998 to June 16th, 1998)
Operation 'Determined Falcon' was a one-day operation to show force over Kosovo and Albania. NATO fighters patrolled this airspace coming only within 10nm of Serbian territory. This operation was meant as a warning to Serbian politicians to stop the bloodshed in this Yugoslavian province.
'Deliberate Forge'
Amendola AB, Italy (June 21st, 1998 to July of 2001)
Operation 'Deliberate Forge' was the successor of operation 'Deliberate Guard'. When the SFOR troops were reorganized into a smaller force, the covering air campaign also received a new name. This operation continued until the end of Royal Netherlands Air Force operations in Yugoslavia, which ended in the summer of 2001.
'Allied Force'
Amendola AB, Italy (March 23rd, 1999 to June 10th, 1999)
Operation 'Allied Force' was the codename for the almost three month long air strikes against Serbia. The Royal Netherlands Air Force has flown a majority of attack missions of all Western European countries in this operation.
'Enduring Freedom'
Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan (January 1st, 2003 to June 30th, 2003)
Operation 'Enduring Freedom' was initiated after the 9/11 attacks on the US. In Afghanistan this operation is aimed at fighting the remains of the Taliban which are still present in-country.
'Air Policing Baltic States'
Siauliai AB, Lithuania (April 1st, 2005 to June 30th, 2005)
This operation started when Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia joined NATO. These countries don't have fighters themselves and rely upon NATO for there air coverage. In a three-month rotation, Belgian, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch F-16s will patrol the skies over the Baltic States.
'International Security and Assistance Force'
Kabul AB, Afghanistan (July 1st, 2005 to September 30th, 2005)
The ISAF force is a NATO led operation to bring stability in Afghanistan and support of the local authorities. Also to protect ISAF ground forces during the parliamentary elections held in the autumn of 2005.
'International Security and Assistance Force'
Kandahar AB, Afghanistan (October 1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2006)
The ISAF force is a NATO led operation to bring stability in Afghanistan and support of the local authorities. This is a continuation of this mission.
'International Security and Assistance Force'
Kandahar AB, Afghanistan (April 1st, 2007 to June 30th, 2007)
The ISAF force is a NATO led operation to bring stability in Afghanistan and support of the local authorities. This is a continuation of this mission.

F-16 Airframe Inventory

Photos

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Copyright © 2008 Lieven Dewitte and Stefaan Vanhastel