The German Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War as the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces of West Germany. After the reunification of West and East Germany in 1990, it integrated parts of the air force of the former German Democratic Republic, which itself had been founded in 1956 as part of the National People's Army. There is no organizational continuity between the current German Air Force and the former Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht founded in 1935, which was completely disbanded in 1945/46 after World War II. The term Luftwaffe that is used for both the historic and the current German air force is the German-language generic designation of any air force.
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot, wing commander, and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. He became the first pilot in aviation history to shoot down 100 enemy aircraft and was highly decorated for his achievements. Mölders developed fighter tactics that led to the finger-four formation. He died in a plane crash as a passenger.
Günther Rall was a highly decorated German military aviator, officer and General, whose military career spanned nearly forty years. Rall was the third most successful fighter pilot in aviation history, behind Gerhard Barkhorn, who is second, and Erich Hartmann, who is first.
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen", formerly known as Jagdgeschwader 71Richthofen is a Fighter wing of the German Air Force. JG 71 was West Germany's first operational jet fighter unit. On 29 June 2013 the last F-4F Phantom fighter flew for the last time, before the type was taken out of service. The wing is now equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73 "Steinhoff", formerly known as Jagdgeschwader 73, is a fighter wing of the German Air Force. The wing is based in north-eastern Germany at Rostock-Laage Airport near Rostock. Its role includes general air defence as well as training for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Günther Josten was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 178 enemy aircraft shot down in 420 combat missions, all of which claimed over the Eastern Front. Following World War II, he served in the newly established West Germany's Air Force in the Bundeswehr.
Friedrich Beckh was a Luftwaffe wing commander and fighter ace of Nazi Germany during World War II. As a fighter ace, he claimed 48 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. This figure includes 44 claims on the Eastern Front and four over the Western Allies, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51 and Jagdgeschwader 52.
F-4 Phantom II non-U.S. operators are the non-U.S. nations with air forces that operate or used to operate the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The Phantom II entered service with the U.S. military in 1960 and served until 1996. During this time it was the primary interceptor, air superiority fighter and fighter bomber with the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force.
Franz-Josef Beerenbrock was a German fighter pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Beerenbrock was credited with 117 aerial victories in approximately 400 combat missions, all on the Eastern Front. In November 1942 he became a prisoner of war for the rest of the war.
The 20th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) squadron. It was most recently part of the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where it operated the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II aircraft, conducting training and air superiority missions. It was inactivated on 20 December 2004.
The 418th Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, and stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where it was activated on 1 October 2021.
Herbert Huppertz was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited between 68 and 73 aerial victories, depending on source, achieved in approximately 380 combat missions. This figure includes 28 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further victories over the Western Allies, including 17 four-engined bombers.
Rheine-Hopsten Air Base is a former German Air Force military airfield, located 9.3 km north east of Rheine in Westphalia, Germany. The runway was closed in 2005 with the retirement of the F-4F Phantom II aircraft.
Nörvenich Air Base is a German Air Force air base in Nörvenich, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany . It has been the home of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 "Boelcke", which flies the Eurofighter Typhoon. Since 2023, Tactical Air Force Wing 33 from Büchel Air Base, the sole remaining German base with nuclear weapons, has been exercising at Nörvenich Air Base, while Büchel´s airfield will be renovated to accommodate for the new F 35 jets by 2026.
Mölders is a German name. It may refer to:
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 "Boelcke", formerly known as Jagdbombergeschwader 31, is a fighter-bomber wing of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The wing is based in west Germany at Nörvenich Air Base. Its role are Air Interdiction, Offensive Counter Air and Close Air Support. The wing flies the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Wittmundhafen Air Base is a military air base in Germany. It is home to Tactical Air Force Wing 71 of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Since May 1974 the F-4F Phantom II was operated from the base. German F-4F Phantoms at the base were retired on 29 June 2013. During 2013, the squadron transitioned to the Eurofighter Typhoon. Prior to May 1974, the base was home to the F-104G Starfighter. Up to the mid/late-1980s the wing operated a handful of Dornier Do 28D. The base currently stores all former F-4F Phantoms of the German Air Force.
Neuburg Air Base is a military air base in Germany. It is located in the district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen on the Danube River, approximately 20 km west-southwest of Ingolstadt. Its primary user is Jagdgeschwader 74 of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), which provides air defence for Southern Germany. Since 2006 Eurofighter Typhoons have been operated from the base. Although Neuburg is the smallest fighter aircraft base in the Bundeswehr, the air base was virtually unaffected by the Bundeswehr reform announced in 2011.
Molder or Molders or variation, may refer to:
Germany 
German Air Force 
