''Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33'' (Tactical Air Force Wing 33; abbreviated as: ''TaktLwG 33''), formerly known as ''Jagdbombergeschwader 33'' (Fighter-Bomber Wing 33; abbreviated as: ''JaBoG 33'') is a fighter-bomber wing of the

German Air Force The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...

(''Luftwaffe''). The wing is based in west Germany at Büchel Air Base. Its role are Air Interdiction, Offensive Counter Air and

Close Air Support In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...

. The wing flies the Panavia Tornado IDS. The Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader rondle and patch display a top down view of the Tornado IDS. The unit was renamed on 1 October 2013 in the course of the restructuring of the German Air Force.

History

On 13 November 1956 the Luftwaffe raised its first flying school at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base under Major

Walter Krupinski Walter Krupinski (11 November 1920 – 7 October 2000) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace in World War II and a senior West German Air Force officer during the Cold War. He was one of the highest-scoring pilots in the war, credited with 197 ...

. The unit was named ''Waffenschule der Luftwaffe 30'' (Air Force Weapons School 30) and flew Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighters. At the end of October 1957 the unit began its transfer to Büchel Air Base, where on 1 July 1958 the School was officially reformed as ''Jagdbombergeschwader 33''. In May 1959 the wing transferred for a month-long training exercise to Bandirma air Base in Turkey. Since the end of 1960 ''JaboG 33'' regularly visits

Decimomannu Air Base Decimomannu Air Base is an Italian Air Force (''Aeronautica Militare'') air base located approximately north of Decimomannu a ''comune'' in the Province of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia in Italy. It is a military airport located northwest ...

on Sardinia to participate in NATO Dissimilar Air Combat Training exercises. Beginning in August 1962 the wing began transition to Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. On 30 May 1985 the wing had completed its transition to the Panavia Tornado IDS. The German Air Force intends to keep 46 Tornado IDS of ''JaBoG 33'' in service until at least 2025 to ensure Germany's participation in NATO's nuclear sharing concept.

Nuclear sharing

46+22 German Air Force Panavia Tornado ILA Berlin 2016 06

Jagdbombergeschwader 33 is the only remaining unit in the German Air Force capable of delivering nuclear weapons. In bunkers at Büchel Air Base the United States Air Force can store up to 44 B61 nuclear bombs for use on the German Tornados. The number of currently stored bombs at Büchel is classified, but estimated to be between 10 and 20 bombs. The bombs are serviced, guarded and in case of war activated by the US Air Force's 702nd Munitions Support Squadronhttp://www.spangdahlem.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8418 US Air Force Factsheet: 702nd Munitions Support Squadron of the

52d Munitions Maintenance Group 5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on eac ...

52d Fighter Wing The 52nd Fighter Wing (52 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It flies the F-16CJ fighter aircraft. It was activated in 1948, but derives significant elements of its history from the predeces ...

. Due to the Büchel air base having a special mandate to ensure the safety of its nuclear weapons, the wing is the only flying unit of the Air Force to have an attached security squadron, the Luftwaffensicherungsstaffel "S". It is equipped with 429 soldiers, the largest squadron of the Air Force. On 1 April 2013 it was reclassified into two sections.

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Jagdbombergeschwader 033 Military units and formations established in 1958 1958 establishments in Germany