The Alabama Air National Guard in Europe, 1952

The Alabama boys of the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron present a nice 4-ship of RF-80s.

Later during their service in Germany, the 160th TRS fancied up their aircraft with the addition of lightning bolts.

The indital destination of the 160th TRS was Toul Rosières Air Base in France. Owing to the base’s less than modern facilities (seen here), the 160th was sent to Neubiberg in Germany. The squadron’s parent group, the 117th, remained at Toul flying RB-26s.

RB-26 of the 1st TRS. The pierced steel planking is evidence of why the 160th and their RF-80 jets opted for a more suitable environment for jet aircraft.

Neubiberg was now home to a couple hundred Alabamians.

RF-80s, a T-33, and several F-84s of the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing.

Maintenance men of the 160th.

Pilots of the 160th.

Colonel Jackson, commander of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group confers with Colonel Laven of the 86th Fighter Bomber Group.

I doubt this was a booster for anyone’s career.

There are three aircraft involved, but all were repaired and put back in service.

The 38th TRS was also at Neubiberg. They later acquired many of the 160th’s aircraft.

Another Neubiberg outfit was the 525th FBS.

F-84E’s of the 86th FBG.

A lone F-84E of the 526th FBS.

One of the nice things about flying a recce fighter is you get to take great pictures and then use them to prove the other guy is not as hot a pilot as the thinks.

Visiting B-29.

Another visitor was this RAF PR 10 (WB156) of No. 541 Squadron, RAF Bückeburg, Germany.

The C-119’s were kept busy during the Germany deployment.

Like many of the men at Neubigerg, this Stinson L-5 Sentinal was a World War II veteran.

The “Skyblazers”, the US Air Force’s in Europe aerial demonstration team.

The 160th could put on a good show as well.

When the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Group(TRG) of the Alabama Air National Guard was activated during the Korean War, its squadrons spent about six months in Europe. Initially deployed to Toul Rosières Air Base in France, the unit found the steel matting and dirt flightline less-than optimal for the 160th TRS and its FOD-sucking RF-80s. (It was fine for the 1st TRS – they had RB-26s). It was decided to send the 160th to Neubiberg Air Base in Germany, where they would share the facilities with the base’s host unit, the 86th Fighter Bomber Group, and their F-84Es. The 160th remained at Neubiberg until de-activated in July 1952. Loaded with souvenir beer steins and lots of memories, they returned home to Alabama.