Date: 16 October 2008 Location: Spangdahlem, Region Trier, Germany Originator:Warrant Officer Stu Bowers, 9 Sqn Caption: Out on the flight line outside Air Traffic Control. Also visible are American F-16 Falcons and A10 Thunderbolts The Norfolk based 9 Squadron of RAF Marham on pre-deploymant training in Spangdahlem, Germany. Due to deploy to Al Udeid, Qatar early November in support of operations in Iraq they bring themselves upto operational readiness with a variety of day and night exercises over 2 weeks. They also undertook a variety of sporting and educational activities in their spare time. Background: Originally buily by the French after WWII, the US Air Force took control of Spangdahlem Air Base in 1953 and become the home of 10th Tactical Reconnaisance Wing flying Shooting Stars and Invaders. During its lifetime, Spangdahlem has operated under several Wings flying such aircraft as Canberras, Sabres and Phantoms before the current serving F-16 Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolts of
