'Richthofen' anniversary Eurofighter

摘要

THE LUFTWAFFE'S Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 (TaktLwG 71) 'Richthofen' - West Germany's first operational jet fighter unit - planned to celebrate its 60th anniversary on June 29. However, the event at the wing's Wittmund base in northern Germany was cancelled due to the crash of a pair of TaktLwG 73 'Steinhoff Eurofighters five days earlier and the loss of a pilot (see Attrition, p91). On June 28, specially marked Eurofighter 30+25 took to the air for the first time, with the 'Richthofen' wing commander, Oberst Kai Ohlemacher, at the controls. Designed by Stabsfeldwebel Stefan Thrun of TaktLwG 71 'R', the special scheme took a two- man team 13 days to apply. A total of 2,960sq ft (275m~2) of foils were printed and applied to the jet. The markings will remain on the aircraft for 160 flying hours.