Eurofighters return to Wittmund: cheers from family and friends!

Eurofighters return to Wittmund: cheers from family and friends!

On July 18, 2025, the time had finally come: After an absence of more than three years, the first Eurofighters from Tactical Air Force Squadron 71 “Richthofen” returned to their home airfield in Wittmundhafen. Six of the light fighter jets landed in rather dull weather and light drizzle. The return sent a clear signal and drew great applause from family and friends who saw the planes flying over the base in groups of three and in a V formation. “The absence was an enormous burden for everyone, especially for the families,” explained Colonel Björn Andersen during the celebrations NDR.

The squadron, which secured German airspace during his absence, brought not only the jet pilots, but also 950 soldiers and civilian employees back to Wittmundhafen. Baldwin, as deputy squadron commodore, informed that during this time they completed a total commute of five million kilometers and 10,000 flight hours away from their home base. The return is a significant step for the troops after a long period of absence, which was associated with extensive renovation work at the military airfield.

Comprehensive modernization work

The Eurofighters were stationed in Laage to support renovation work in Wittmund. This work included not only the runway, but also the lighting systems and taxiways. The renovation has now reached costs of around 725 million euros, with the total costs for the modernizations being estimated at around 774 million euros. The project began in 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by 2031. The new buildings include a guard building, aircraft shelter, repair halls, an armory and a noise protection hall District newspaper.

The return was celebrated with a so-called “fly-in” on July 17th, with the first Eurofighters sporting a striking “Red Baron” livery. This is to be understood as a homage to the legendary fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen. The special “Back again” lettering will be visible for a maximum of one year. Even though the return day was not open to the general public, many military fans on the North Sea awaited the event with great anticipation.

Looking into the future

Looking forward, the Air Force has planned to resume normal flight operations at the NATO air base in August 2025. By the end of 2026, all 35 Eurofighters of the Richthofen air squadron should be stationed in Wittmundhafen again. Meanwhile, the northern alarm group will remain in Laage and is expected to return to Wittmund in the third quarter of 2026. These Eurofighters are not only intended for training flights, but also for alert missions, in particular to secure the airspace over the Baltic Sea, where they may have to intervene if Russian military aircraft appear NDR.

The return of the Eurofighter to Wittmund marks a significant step for the Air Force and the region, which can look forward to an exciting summer with new challenges and flight operations at its own base. The traditional history of the air base, which has existed for over 100 years, will therefore remain alive in the future.