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During this time, taxying a little
far for telelens, the jockeys of one of the Bitburg based
Phantoms F-4D AF 68711 of USAF 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
seem to play the harversters with oxygen masks in place and open
canopies...
History of this squadron begins at Rio hato Canal Zone during
january 1941, being the 53rd Pursuit Squadron. Associated to 36th
Fighter Group, the unit was renamed 53rd Fighter Squadron and
became a true part of 36th FG in June 1943. Successive aircraft
had been P-39s, P-40s and finally P-47s from September 43. April
1944 saw the 53rd install at Liverpool in England but, very
flexible, the unit operated from several airfields in France and
Germany until WWII ceased, totalling some 2432 combat sorties.
Impressive... Germany was left during February 1946 to come back
two years later fitted with Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star jet
fighters. Fürstenfeldbruck was its first airfield until July
1953, date of transfer to Bitburg. Between 1950 and the post 1970
era with all-weather F4-D Phantoms, the squadron always used high
performance fighters. Pilots are wearing black flight suits with
a dorsal patch featuring a tiger wearing uniform, cap and proudly
walking as a fierce soldier...
