GAF Jagdbombergeschwader 33
Officially there are now B-61 Mk 10 stationed at the Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (FighterBomber Wing 33) near Büchel/Cochem. 😉 😀
During my military draft (in Germany still 9 months 😮 ) I was stationed at the staff of JaBoG 33. So that’s why I know following information:
The GAF Tornados there can be equipped with the “Sonderwaffen” (special weapons) B-61’s. In the cockpit, a comrade told me, there is american hardware, an extra display, to drop the weapon. Some aircraft shelters are combined by an tunnel system. The weapons are stored in an high security ammunition shelter and are transported in a case to a aircraft shelter. The weapons is elevated trough a shaft into the shealter, where it can be mounted on the Tornado.
In the aircraft shelter only security authorised soldiers could walk near that weapon shaft. Once a comrade walked around there, he was on camera, and a few minutes later he had a M16 in his neck.
Because the Federal Republic of Germany is not allowed to have WMD’s (Reasons: history (WW2), constitution and the “2+4 treaty” from 1990), the USAF is in charge of the weapons. In Büchel it is the 817. MUNSS.
The 817. MUNSS controls the inner circle around the high security ammunition shelter and the SS “S” (Sicherrungsstaffel “Sonderwaffen”, NOT Schutzstaffel) of JaBoG 33 controls the outher circle and the aircraft shelters.
During the Cold War the was always an aircraft with engines on, pilot(s) and B-61 on board ready for take off.
Still a few years ago the GAF told the press and public, that only american pilots can drop the bomb.
Tell me, which USAF pilot can fly a Tornado? :confused: :rolleyes: 😉
But still GAF soldiers can only train loading a Tornado with a B-61 (Training version) when USAF soldiers supervise.
I remember seeing a pic the german magazine “Der Spiegel” showing a Tornado being loaded with a B-61 training bomb. Maybe other german readers like Deino might have the pic.
Source: Der Spiegel, 3.02.2001 : “… Die Atomwaffen lagern unter amerikanischem Verschluss, selbst Attrappen dürfen nur unter Aufsicht von US-Soldaten an die deutschen Flugzeuge geklinkt werden. …”
Btw, just after 9-11, the weapons weren’t transported by trucks, but by C-141’s. Normaly the weapons roatate during periods of time, and road transport was that time too dangerous.
Most of this information is known by the public, since officially the defence minister a.D. Scharping confirmed the existence of special weapons at JaboG 33.
But maybe soon there will be no special weapons stationed anymore at Büchel, not because of peace activists, but because of conversion of NATO and American forces in Europe.
Anyway, the german Government says that when JaboG 33 transfer from Tornado to Eurofighter from 2012 on, that the Eurofighter won’t be qualified for special weapons like the B-61’s.
Source: Der Spiegel, 3.02.2001 : “Die Bundeswehr will sich offenbar aus der so genannten nuklearen Teilhabe in der Nato verabschieden und die USA zum Abzug ihrer verbliebenen Atomwaffen bewegen. […]Laut den neuen Plänen zur Bundeswehr-Reform soll das Bücheler Geschwader aber auf den Eurofighter umrüsten, der sich – zumindest nach bisherigen Aussagen der Regierung – nicht als Atombomber eignet. Die Bomben-Lagerung in Büchel wäre damit hinfällig. Reserve-Bunker für amerikanische Nuklearwaffen gibt es auch bei den Tornado-Geschwadern in Memmingen und Nörvenich. Der Memminger Verband soll bis 2003 aufgelöst werden, das Geschwader in Nörvenich steigt ebenfalls auf Eurofighter um. “
Notice: The article was written before 9-11!!!
Those B-61’s will be carried then by Polish F-16’s!
fightingirish
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