No. 322 multi-role F-16 Squadron, RNLAF

The No. 322 multi-role F-16 Squadron, being the oldest operational squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, was founded at RAF Woodvale on 12 June 1943 as the No. 322 Dutch Squadron Royal Air Force. Equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon the squadron performs as the other Dutch F-16 Squadrons a dual 'swing role' task: ground support and, stationed on Leeuwarden Air Base, interceptor duties, especially above the North Sea.

History
During the Battle of the Netherlands, many Dutch planes were destroyed by Nazi Germany's forces, but 350 German planes were shot down by the Dutch forces. After the battle, many pilots fled to England to support the Allied troops. Then, on 12 June 1943, a separate squadron within the Royal Air Force was formed by the Dutch pilots flying in the RAF. That was the first official beginning of the No. 322 squadron. From then 322 Squadron also actively participated in the war and fought along the allied forces until the end of the war. After the war, there was no certain future for the squadron. It was deactivated and activated several times. But it did serve in the in then called Dutch East Indies and Netherlands New Guinea. The squadron was stationed on both Twente Air Base and Soesterberg Air Base. In 1964, the squadron was finally stationed on a permanent base, Leeuwarden Air Base. The squadron was then permanently assigned with an air defense task. Probably the most unusual mission in the history of the 322 Squadron was performed on Saturday morning 11 June 1977 at 05:00 AM. Six of its fighter jets flew several times with thundering afterburners very low over a hijacked train, beginning a successful operation ending the 1977 Dutch train hostage crisis. Since the 1990s the squadron took part of several NATO VN missions. During the Yugoslav Wars the 322 Squadron was based a few times at the Villa Franca Air Base near Verona. From there it flew NATO missions over the former Yugoslavia. Since 2003, the squadron has seen action over Afghanistan.

Present
Together with Volkel Air Base, the 322 Squadron is on constant duty, ready for Quick Reaction Alert. Since 1964 when equipped with the F-104G Starfighter until today, the squadron is constantly practicing its tasks. Nowadays, the squadron has a swing-role task. These include air defense and ground support tasks, and the F-16 fighters can be reconfigured to handle new tasks anytime by changing their weapons loads. The squadron is constantly active and ready for deployment to crisis situations like Libya and Afghanistan. Because of financial cuts to the Ministry of Defense, the number of possessed F-16s has decreased to 87 F-16 multi-role fighter jets. There are five squadrons with around 18 F-16s per squadron, including No. 322 Squadron. The main tasks are air defense and ground support roles, but other tasks are to:
 * participate in strategic air operations
 * perform middle-height bombing
 * support own ground troops
 * get and sustain air superiority
 * maintain freedom of own armed forces
 * contribute to air embargoes
 * air reconnaissance

Future
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is, together with the Ministry of Defence, currently working on the Joint Strike Fighter project. Dutch fighter pilots are included in the development program. So are a few departments of the Netherlands Air Force and some private defence companies. It will be likely that the RNLAF will use the JSF in the future, so will the no. 322 Squadron. And the RNLAF is constantly updating and developing new weapon systems and flight tactics.