RNoAF F-16A
block 5 #276 from 332 skv is parked on the tarmac at Aalborg AB on August 26th, 1993.
332 skv was the first Norwegian unit to receive the F-16 fighter in 1980. The squadron was activated specifically for training F-16 pilots after having been disbanded since 1973, operating the F-5A fighter up until then. Norwegian F-16s were manufactured together with their Dutch counterparts at the Fokker factory situated at Schiphol-East. Although the squadron was the first one to receive the brand new jet, it was only the third to become fully operational on the type.
The first task of the squadron was to train all future F-16 pilots so they could be used to equip both 331 and 334 skv. This training program lasted until both squadrons were operational at Bodø AB. The training program then shifted over to Rygge AB itself to train all 332 skv pilots. Afterwards it was shifted over to Ørland AB to train the pilots of 338 skv over there.
RNoAF F-16AM
#277 from 332 skv is taking off from Kabul AB for a mission over Afghanistan.
After 20 years of service with the F-16, a major change happened with the introduction of the Mid-Life Update version of the venerable Falcon in 2001. This resulted in a drastic change in operational use of the aircraft. After the conversion to the MLU platform was concluded, the squadron was transferred from Rygge AB as part of 134 Luftving to Bodø AB as part of 132 Luftving. This change was necessary as with the introduction of the MLU the Norwegian government decided that only 57 airframes would receive the update, hence not enough to equip 4 squadrons at full strength. Therefore 334 skv was disbanded at Bodø AB and 332 skv took its place.
Since the introduction of the MLU, 332 skv still retained its training task as it had done since the introduction of the F-16 back in 1980.
In 2006 the Norwegian military decided that it would be easier to pool all F-16s into one unit, being the Forsvarets Logistikk Organisasjon (FLO) or Air Force Logistic Organisation. This unit controls all F-16 assets and disperses them amongst all F-16 squadrons to have them work more efficiently. F-16s are assigned to squadrons according to their actual needs.
