Danny Reijnen was at Leeuwarden Air Base on July 5, to witness the departure of the Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons operated by the resident 322 Squadron.
![322 Sqn RNLAF F-16s at Leeuwarden on 05-07-21 [Danny Reijnen]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/Lead_322%20.4%20nwm-1.jpg)
![322 Sqn RNLAF F-16 at Leeuwarden on 05-07-21 [Danny Reijnen]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/04_FAREWELL%204%20%20nwm-1.jpg)
Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands finally bade farewell to the F-16 on July 5, after 42 years of operations. The F-16 has been the backbone of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) during most of that time, tasked with the country’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions and participating in air campaigns over Afghanistan, Libya and the former Yugoslavia.
The F-16s’ departure comes nearly two years after the first F-35A touched down at Leeuwarden on October 31, 2019. This milestone has meant a huge change for 322 Squadron ‘Polly’ and marked the beginning of the end for F-16 operations. No 322 (Dutch) Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) is the eldest squadron of the RNLAF. Founded on June 12, 1943, it was the first squadron of the RAF to consist entirely of Dutch soldiers. Ten F-35As have been delivered to Leeuwarden and the unit aims for initial operational capability b…
