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  1st Lt. John van Harmelen (Ret.)

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Name 1st Lt. John van Harmelen (Ret.)
Country
Unit 313th squadron "Tiger"
Crewing F-16s from 1988 until 1994
Contact johnvh Send me a private message
Website
I joined the Royal Netherlands Airforce in 1975 as a HAWK radar operator. In 1981 I retrained to crew chief on the Northrop NF-5 at the 313 Training Squadron at Airbase Twenthe. I was a crew chief on the NF-5B (K-4003) and NF-5A (K-3041).

From 1988 until 1994 I was a crew chief of the F-16A (J-143, J-510 and J-017) at the 313 Squadron, AB Twenthe.

In 1994 I was assigned to the maintenance group of the 313 Squadron.

From 2003 until 2009 I was a technical engineer at the engineering support office at Twenthe AB and Leeuwarden AB.

Since may 2009 I was preparing and deliver, sold F-16's to other countries like Jordan and Chile.

In january 2012 I retired from the RNLAF after 36 years of service.

Current or Favourite assignment

The 313 Squadron was until 1986 a pilot training squadron. After the conversion to the F-16 in 1987 the 313 Squadron received an operational status.

In 1994 the 313 Squadron loses its operational status and was once more responsible for pilot training.

In 2001 the pilot training is transferred to the 306 Squadron at Volkel AB and the 313 Squadron will now once again train to attain an operational status.

As a result of budget cuts and the closing of Twenthe AB, the 313 Squadron is transferred in 2005 to Volkel AB.

My Jets & Assignments

J-143 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 313th squadron "Tiger" [Unit History]
Period 1988 - 1989
Current: 725   FACh Grupo 8 F-16A Block 20 MLU [ act]
J-510 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 313th squadron "Tiger" [Unit History]
Period 1989 - 1991
Current: 250   RJAF 2 sqn F-16A Block 20 MLU [ act]
Delivered from Fokker 30 aug 1989
J-017 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 313th squadron "Tiger" [Unit History]
Period 1991 - 1994
Current: J-017   F-16A Block 20 MLU [ sto]
Delivered from Fokker 25 oct 1991. First RNLAF F-16 with white MLG wheel rims.
Other aircraft/assignments NF-5B K-4003 & NF-5A K-3041
Visitor Comments
finding lost frirnds
Ronald Grinage, Apr 03, 2013 - 03:23 AM

My wife and i are trying to locate an old friend and his wife: Anton Wijtman last name spelling may not be correct. Wifes name was Lydia and they had 2 daughters: Cindy ans Sharon. The lived next to us at 326 beatrixhof, Uden in 1975. How can we find our friends. I think he was an aircraft crew chief but dont know which squadron at Volkel Ab. Csn you help or point us in the right direction?







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