71st Tactical Air Force Wing "Richthofen", German Air Force
71ST TACTICAL AIR FORCE WING "RICHTHOFEN", GERMAN AIR FORCE
| German | blazon wanted |
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
Raised as 71st Fighter Wing on 6 Juni 1959. Named in honour the "The Red Baron" Manfred von Richthofen of World War I fame on 21 April 1961, the 43rd Anniversary of the Baron's death. Due to restructuring of the German Air Force the Wing was on 1 October 2013 downgraded to Tactical Air Force Group "Richthofen" subordinate to 31st Tactical Air Force Wing "Boelcke". This was reversed and the Group was once again upgradig to independent Wing status on 5 July 2016. The red R alludes to the baron von Richthofen, to wich has been added a NATO compassrose to make it distictive from the World War II era Fighter Wing 2 "Richthofen" insignia. This was a red R on a white shield, see the Historical Germany Military Heraldry section on this Website.