Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51

Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann"
(Tactical Air Force Wing 51 "Immelmann")
— III —
Active 1 July 1992–present
Country  Germany
Branch  German Air Force
Role
  • Tactical Reconnaissance
  • Naval warfare
  • SEADS
Part of Kommando 4. Luftwaffendivision
(4th Air Force Division)
Garrison/HQ Schleswig Air Base, Jagel and Kropp, Schleswig-Holstein
Patron Max Immelmann
Commanders
Current
commander		 Oberst Michael Krah
Notable
commanders		 Walter Grasemann
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance Formerly: McDonnell Douglas RF4-E Phantom II
Present: Panavia Tornado

Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (Tactical Air Force Wing 51 "Immelmann"), formerly known as Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (Reconnaissance Wing), is a tactical reconnaissance wing of the German Air Force. The Wing is named after World War I German flying ace Max Immelmann. The wing operates 25 Panavia Tornado aircraft in the tactical reconnaissance role and has two reconnaissance ground stations that can be deployed on overseas operations. The Tornado aircraft are equipped with reconnaissance sensors which are carried in a pod mounted under the fuselage. Depending on the variant used, the reconnaissance pod with optical and infrared sensors, can reconnoiter targets both day and night.

In 2007, to support NATO coalition operations across Afghanistan, Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" deployed Tornados to Mazar-i-Sharif, Northern Afghanistan.[1]

On 1 October 2013, the unit was renamed in the course of adaptations to the new structure of the German Air Force.[2]

Tasks

Originally a pure reconnaissance wing, AG 51 took over the role of naval aerial warfare in 2005 when Germany's Naval Air Wing 2 was disbanded. The role of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses was inherited in April 2013 from Jagdbombergeschwader 32 when the latter unit was disbanded.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Geschichte", Das Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (in German), Federal Ministry of Defence, 7 August 2012, retrieved 17 March 2013
  2. ↑ Schwarz, Karl (20 September 2013). "Luftwaffe: Verbände in 'Taktische Lufwaffengeschwader' umbenannt" [Luftwaffe: units renamed to 'Tactical Air Force Wings']. Flug Revue (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Der Auftrag" [The Task]. German Air Force. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.

Coordinates: 54°27′33″N 9°30′59″E / 54.4593°N 9.5164°E / 54.4593; 9.5164

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