Last German Phantoms detachment in Decimomannu

14 F-4 Phantom belonging to the JG71 of the German Air Force have been operating from Decimomannu airbase, in Sardinia from Aug. 2, 2010. Most probably, this will be the the last F.4 deployment in Italy for the German Phantoms, as they are expected to cease the operations at Wittmund airbase next year. The F-4s were joined by 2 A-4s of the BAE Systems (former Israeli Air Force Skyhawk that replaced the F-100Fs in 2002) employed for target-towing during gunnery practice, that landed in Deci on Aug. 17 and will be operating along with the Phantoms until Sept. 16, 2010, when the detachment is expected to leave. One of the JG71 birds, the special coloured “37+75” was handed over as a base gate guardian.
Giovanni Maduli went to Decimomannu on Aug. 18, 2010, and took the following pictures of the flying activity taking place in the ItAF base.

About David Cenciotti

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.