336 Skvadron

Callsign :

Nato Tiger Association status : disbanded member

336 Skvadron (Skvadron) of the Luftorsvaret (Royal Norwegian Air Force) was formed on 15 July 1949 at Gardermoen Flystasjon (Airbase).  The Skvadron operated the first jet fighter to enter service Norwegian service, the de Havilland F.3 "Vampire".

As part of the "Mutual Defense Assistance Program”, through which the USA tried to boost defence capabilities in europe during the eraly Cold War years, the unit transitioned to Republic F-84G "Thunderjet" in October 1955, until 3 December 1956 when the Skvadron was disbanded.

9 August 1957 336 Skvadron was re-activated at Rygge Hovedflystasjonen (Main Air Station) where they soon started to receive the North American F-86F "Sabre".

They operated these until they transitioned to the Northrop F-5 "Freedom Fighter" in 1966.  The Norwegian version of the F-5 differed from the standard to cope better with the Norwegian environmental conditions; they were equipped with heated windshield, thicker wing skin coating, drag shoot and arresting hook.  In 336 Skvadron their primary role was as fighter-bomber and for this task the F-5 was satisfying at that time. The aircraft did not have radar and was thus not suited the intercept task.

As the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons was introduced in the Luftforsvaret the need for a fighter lead-in program prior to converting pilots to the F-16 was obvious.  336 Skvadron started the introduction to fighter fundamentals, real weather flying and Norwegian flying operation in 1980-1981.  It was the Sqn's main task until 1996.

For a few months in 1884-1985 the 336th was assigned brand new F-16's, which they flew alongside their F-5's.  Unfortunately for the pilots in the Skvadron the Falcons soon moved on to other Skvadrons.

Between 1985 and the mid-nineties 336 was also used in the aggressor role.  Together with the Fighter Lead-In this was the reason why the Skvadron was not closed down in the mid-eighties.

In 1999, the department had the status of a mobilizable fighter Skvadron for Electronic Warfare.

336 Skvadron was finally disbanded on 30 June 2000.

The Skvadron is planned to be re-established in connection with the acquisition of new transport helicopters.

(all aircraft are to scale, not all drawings show an aircraft in 336 markings)

Aircraft

de Havilland Vampire F.3

Republic F-84G Thunderjet

North American F-86F Sabre

Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter

Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter

Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter

Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter

336 Skvadron (1946-1956)

336 Skvadron (1956-2000)

text & picture sources : own collection & library + the world wide web / No copyright infringement intended : drawings, photos, etc. belong to the rightful owners.