Fliegerstaffel 21

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Fliegerstaffel 21
21ème Escadrille
Squadriglia d'aviazione 21
Swiss Air Force 21 Squadron Emblem.JPG
Squadron emblem of Fliegerstaffel 21
Active 1936–1994
Country Switzerland
Branch Swiss Air Force
Role Fighter squadron
Garrison/HQ Raron Military Airfield

Fliegerstaffel 21 was a Swiss Air Force squadron equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft at the dissolution in 1994. Their home base was at the Raron Military Airfield. As a coat of arms, Fliegerstaffel 21 carried a white beaver, firing two guns while riding a red shark. On the shark is the black digit 21.

Swiss Air Force Air component of the Swiss Armed Forces

The Swiss Air Force is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914 as part of the army and in October 1936 as an independent service.

Squadron (aviation) military aviation unit size

A squadron in air force, army aviation, or naval aviation is a unit comprising a number of military aircraft and their aircrews, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force. Land based squadrons equipped with heavier type aircraft such as long-range bombers, or cargo aircraft, or air refueling tankers have around 12 aircraft as a typical authorization, while most land-based fighter equipped units have an authorized number of 18 to 24 aircraft.

Hawker Hunter aircraft

The Hawker Hunter is a transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft that was developed by Hawker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was designed to take advantage of the newly developed Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine and the swept wing, and was the first jet-powered aircraft produced by Hawker to be procured by the RAF. On 7 September 1953, the modified first prototype broke the world air speed record for aircraft, achieving a speed of 727.63 mph.

Contents

History

P-51 Mustang J-2113 of Fliegerstaffel 21 Swiss Air Force P-51 Mustang side view.jpg
P-51 Mustang J-2113 of Fliegerstaffel 21

The unit was founded in 1936 under the designation Fliegerkompanie 21 and used Dewoitine D-27 aircraft. From 1939 until 1945 the Fliegerkompanie 21 used Messerschmitt Bf 109 E, their home base initially being the military airfield at Dübendorf. However, the FlKp21 was stationed during the war on the Airfield Buochs (1942) and the Military Airfield Payerne. In 1945, a unit consisting of the pilots only was formed and named Fliegerstaffel 21. From 1945 to 1948 it used the Morane D‐3800. This was followed by the P-51 Mustang from 1948 to 1958. The transition to the first jet, the De Havilland D.H. 100 Vampire, took place as early as 1956. The Vampire remained their aircraft until 1957 and was then replaced by De Havilland D.H. 112 Mk 4 Venom. De Havilland D.H. 112 Mk 4 Venom was used at the unit until 1960. One year earlier, in 1959, the military airfield at Buochs became the new home base and in the same year, Fliegerstaffel 21 commenced the introduction of the Hawker Hunter. In 1968, Turtmann became the new home of Fliegerstaffel 21. However, this changed again in 1982, and nearby Raron Airfield became the new home base. This remained the location of Fliegerstaffel 21 until it was dissolved in 1993. Above Fliegerstaffel 21 is a gap in the sequence of the squadrons. The Swiss Air Force had 22 squadrons, but there were no Fliegerstaffel 22 and Fliegerstaffel 23. The 22nd squadron was called Fliegerstaffel 24. The Swiss Air Force meant to appear larger during the Second World War than it was.

Dewoitine D.27 aircraft

The Dewoitine D.27 was a parasol monoplane fighter aircraft designed by Émile Dewoitine in 1928.

Dübendorf Place in Zürich, Switzerland

Dübendorf is a fast growing municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.

de Havilland Vampire fighter aircraft; first single-engine jet in RAF service

The de Havilland Vampire is a British jet fighter developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was the second jet fighter to be operated by the RAF, after the Gloster Meteor, and the first to be powered by a single jet engine.

Airplanes

Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft family

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II in 1945. It was one of the most advanced fighters of the era, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. It was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine. From the end of 1941, the Bf 109 was steadily being supplemented by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It was commonly called the Me 109, most often by Allied aircrew and even among the German aces themselves, even though this was not the official German designation.

de Havilland Venom fighter aircraft family

The de Havilland DH 112 Venom is a British post-war single-engined jet aircraft developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Much of its design was derived from the de Havilland Vampire, the firm's first jet-powered combat aircraft.

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Fliegerstaffel 1

Fliegerstaffel 1 was a professional military pilots squadron, therefore belonging to the Überwachungsgeschwader of the Swiss Air Force until its last service in 2003. At that point, it was equipped with Northrop F-5 and used the military airfield of Turtmann as a designated war base. Fliegerstaffel 1 carried a stylized Vogel Rokh as its coat of arms, a red background and a white figure 1 completed their emblem.

Fliegerstaffel 2

Fliegerstaffel 2 was using Hawker Hunter aircraft for the Swiss Air Force at the time of disbandment. Its pilots origined from French-speaking Switzerland and its home was the military airfield of Turtmann then. As a coat of arms, Fliegerstaffel 2 used a white bird taken from the one of Gruyère District on a red background surrounded by a motto saying "En Avant, Advienne Que Pourra". 2ème Escadrille .

Fliegerstaffel 3 of the Swiss Air Force belonged to the Überwachungsgeschwader, thus professional military pilots were grouped in the unit. Their home base on disbandment was Sion and the aircraft flown were the Mirage III RS. Fliegerstaffel 3 carried the AMIR badge as their coat of arms. This badge shows a falcon head drawn in black lines on white ground, the neck of which is filled with blue color. The beak rises above the round badge, above the head of the falcon is the red number 3. Except for the number 3, the badge is identical to the AMIR badge of Fliegerstaffel 10 and Fliegerstaffel 4.

Fliegerstaffel 4

The Fliegerstaffel 4 of the Swiss Air Force, and belonged to the Überwachungsgeschwader with professional military pilots. Their home base at the dissolution was the Payerne Air Base and the Fliegerstaffel 4 was equipped with Mirage IIIRS. The Fliegerstaffel 4 carried as the coat of arms the AMIR badge. This badge shows on a white ground a falcon head drawn with black lines, the neck of which is filled with blue color. The beak rises above the round badge, above the head of the falcon is the red number 4. Except for the number 4, the badge is identical to the AMIR badge of the Fliegerstaffel 10 and the Fliegerstaffel 3.

Fliegerstaffel 5

Fliegerstaffel 5 was a unit of the Swiss Air Force. It belonged to the Überwachungsgeschwader with professional military pilots. It was equipped with the Hawker Hunter. Its home base was Interlaken Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 5 carried as a coat of arms a black lynx with yellow eyes, which stretched its right paw with claws. From his mouth came red flames, which went into the background. The badge was round and had a white base. Under the lynx was written in black 5éme escadrille. Later, the badge was changed into a shield-shaped coat-of-arms with a stylized lynx head, often mistaken as a dragon head.

Fliegerstaffel 6

The Fliegerstaffel 6 of the Swiss Air Force is a militia squadron equipped with Northrop F-5E and is together with the Fliegerstaffel 18 part of the Fliegergeschwader 14. The home base of the Fliegerstaffel 6 is Payerne Air Base. As coat of arms, the Fliegerstaffel 6 carries since 1940 a marching duck, with a proudly swollen breast carrying a halberd. The "Jusqu'au bout" motto means until the bitter end. Before this badge, it was first a six-pointed star with a witch on her flying broom.

Fliegerstaffel 7

Fliegerstaffel 7 was a Swiss Air Force squadron equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft until 1994. Their home base at the time was the Meiringen Air Base. As a coat of arms, Fliegerstaffel 7 carried a jumping yellow Trout named "Jaqueline" on a dark blue background. The badge itself was a isosceles triangle with a black border that stood on top.

Fliegerstaffel 8

Fliegerstaffel 8 «Vandalos» is a Swiss Air Force militia squadron, equipped with Northrop F-5E and forms Fliegergeschwader 13 with Fliegerstaffel 11. The home base of the unit is Meiringen Air Base. As coat of arms, the Fliegerstaffel 8 carries as a red sawfish, floating through the lower opening of a black number 8 on a white ground. The sawfish is called Vandalo .

The Fliegerstaffel 9 of the Swiss Air Force was in its end equipped with de Havilland Venom Combat Aircraft. Their home base at the dissolution was the Sion Airport. The Fliegerstaffel 9 carried as coat of arms the side view of a red witch riding on a red broom. On a rectangular dark blue background. The witch and the broom were drawn without curves. Beneath the witch stands a flight of fliers with white writing. In the upper right corner is a white square 9.

Fliegerstaffel 10

Fliegerstaffel 10 was a Swiss Air Force unit consisting of professional military pilots, belonging to the Überwachungsgeschwader. Their home base at the dissolution was the Military Airfield at Buochs, where ist was equipped with Mirage IIIRS. Fliegerstaffel 10 carried as their coat of arms the AMIR badge. This badge shows on a white ground a falcon head drawn with black lines, the neck of which is filled with blue color. The beak rises above the round badge, above the head of the falcon is a number 10 in red. Except for the number 10, the badge is identical to the AMIR badge of the Fliegerstaffel 3 and the Fliegerstaffel 4.

Fliegerstaffel 11 (Tigers) of the Swiss Air Force is a Berufsfliegerkorps squadron equipped with F/A-18 combat jets and, together with Fliegerstaffel 8, is part of Fliegergeschwader 13. The home base of Fliegerstaffel 11 is Meiringen Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 11 is a full member of the NATO Tiger Association and carries a coat of arms depicting a Tiger head on a black background and the wordmark Staffel 11 below the tiger head as its crest.

Zielflugstaffel 12

Zielflugstaffel 12, former known as Fliegerstaffel 12 of the Swiss Air Force is a militia squadron equipped with Northrop F-5E and Pilatus PC-9 and part of the Flugplatzkommando 7. The home base of the unit is Militärflugplatz Emmen. As coat of arms, the Zielflugstaffel carries a badge with a yellow and black target pattern, a bullseye and the writing “ Zfl St 12”.

Fliegerstaffel 13

Fliegerstaffel 13 of the Swiss Air Force was equipped with Northrop F-5 flown by militia pilots when disbanded in 2000. Their home base at the dissolution was Payerne Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 13 wore a shield-shaped insignia with a blue outer edge, showing an eagle with wings spread out and spread claws ready to capture its prey, against a white background and the red number 13 in front of the upper wing. The old emblem was round with orange background and black border. It showed the stylized side view of a black wasp whose head looks in the direction of the viewer, over its head was the number 13.

Fliegerstaffel 15

The late Fliegerstaffel 15 of the Swiss Air Force was active until 1994 and equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft. The home base of their last service was the airfield at St. Stephan. The Fliegerstaffel 15 carried as their coat of arms a paper aircraft on a blue ground with a red "15". The old badge of the FlSt15 was a black bird of prey with white background and two red circles.

Fliegerstaffel 16

The Fliegerstaffel 16 of the Swiss Air Force was last equipped with Northrop F-5 F aircraft. Their home base was Sion Airport. The Fliegerstaffel 16 had a shield-shaped coat of arms showing the side view of a black dragon with a red eye, red claws, and a red firebeam in front of the white digit 16 and a dark blue background. The old badge was the same, but in round design.

Fliegerstaffel 17

Fliegerstaffel 17 "Falcons" of the Swiss Air Force is a Berufsfliegerkorps squadron of professional pilots flying McDonnell Douglas F/A-18. Together with Fliegerstaffel 6 it forms Fliegergeschwader 11. The home base of the squadron is Payerne Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 17 features a red falcon on a white ground with the black number 17 as its coat of arms.

Fliegerstaffel 18

Fliegerstaffel 18 «Panthers» of the Swiss Air Force is a Berufsfliegerkorps squadron equipped with McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 and forms Fliegergeschwader 14 together with Fliegerstaffel 19. The home base of the Fliegerstaffel 18 is Payerne Air Base. The Fliegerstaffel 18 carries a Black Panther against a green backdrop as its coat of arms.

Fliegerstaffel 19

Fliegerstaffel 19 of the Swiss Air Force is a militia squadron equipped with Northrop F-5E and forms together with Fliegerstaffel 18 Fliegergeschwader 14. The home base of the fliegerstaffel 19 is Sion Airport. The "Fliegerstaffel 19" carries as a coat of arms a stylized swan on a blue background.

Fliegerstaffel 20

Fliegerstaffel 20 was a Swiss Air Force squadron equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft. Their home base at the dissolution was the military airfield at Mollis. The squadron carried as its coat of arms a black Bison on a yellow background. The writing “Fl St 20” below the Bison appeared during in the squadron's history.

References

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