IAF, German Air Force conduct historic flyover in Germany
The planes flew over the Dachau concentration camp and the airport where Israeli Olympians were murdered by terrorists in 1972. The aerial tribute was held ahead of the IAF's first-ever participation in an exercise on German soil
IsraelDefense
| 20/08/2020
The five jets over Fürstenfeldbruck airport. Photo: Stephen Peterson, German Air Force
The IAF and the German Air Force on Tuesday conducted a joint flyover in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and of the Israelis murdered by terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
The formation consisting of an IAF Gulfstream G550, two IAF F-16s and two German Eurofighter Typhoons flew over Fürstenfeldbruck airport near Munich, where nine Israelis were killed on the tarmac, and then over Dachau concentration camp.
The Gulfstream from the 122nd Squadron was piloted by the squadron's commander, identified only as Lt. Col. G, with the Commander of the IAF, Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, and the Commander of the German Air Force, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, also aboard. Lt. Col. G is a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.
The IAF planes are part of a contingent that arrived in Germany on Monday to participate in a NATO exercise. It marks the first time in history for the IAF to visit Germany.
Lt. Col. Y, commander of the 105th Squadron and leader of the IAF's deployment to Germany, flew in one of the F-16s. "As someone who grew up in a household where the memory of the holocaust was very powerful, and in a Kibbutz where many Holocaust survivors and paramilitary organization soldiers lived, I can say our relationship with Germany wasn't always as open as it is today", he said.
"This flyby represents our commitment to create a better future and strengthen our cooperation with our German allies. It symbolizes the ability of humankind to overcome hardships and care for its future, while also remembering its past and heritage. I feel like I represent the entire Jewish people, those who are here today and those who aren't".
As the formation passed by the Dachau concentration camp, Maj. Gen. Norkin said over the radio: "We are flying together above the valley of darkness, making room for only light ahead as we vow, never again."
The aerial tribute took place ahead of NATO's "MAGDAY" exercise that the IAF will participate in for the first time.
After the flyby, a ceremony was held at Dachau with the German Federal Minister of Defense, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the Israeli Ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, commanders of both air forces and other dignitaries in attendance.
In a speech, Maj. Gen. Norkin said: "I bow my head and clearly remember what happened here not that so long ago: in my mind, I see those families who were erased from the face of the earth so savagely during the war, the Jewish culture which was bitterly demolished, and the atrocities that occurred in this camp. I remember it all - and not for a moment will I ever forget."
"Standing here today, I raise my head and look toward the future. This future encompasses Germany. Germany has become a strategic partner, and the German Air Force a true partner of the Israeli Air Force", Maj. Gen. Norkin said. "The IAF is participating for the first time in history in an aerial maneuver in German skies. We are training and learning, friend from friend, force from force, and military from military. Even amid a global pandemic, we chose to carry out this joint training exercise. This cooperation is powerful and meaningful, especially during these challenging days".
"The Star of David presented by an Israeli F-16 fighter flying by the Dachau Concentration Memorial Site is a strong symbol of Israeli resurrection and power. It also delivers a clear and explicit response to the Holocaust: Never Again", said the Commander of the German Air Force, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz. "Today we established a close partnership between our two air forces. We didn't only train together, we also became close friends. Further, our Heron TP operators receive their training in Israel, and our Eurofighters attended two large exercises in the Negev Desert recently. I feel absolutely honored that the Israeli Air Force is flying side by side with the Luftwaffe in Germany for the first time".
The formation passes over Dachau. Photo: Amit Agronov, IAF
The Israeli F-16s (with desert camouflage) fly alongside the German Eurofighter Typhoons. Photo: Stephen Peterson, German Air Force
Photo: Amit Agronov, IAF
The planes flew over the Dachau concentration camp and the airport where Israeli Olympians were murdered by terrorists in 1972. The aerial tribute was held ahead of the IAF's first-ever participation in an exercise on German soil
The five jets over Fürstenfeldbruck airport. Photo: Stephen Peterson, German Air Force
The IAF and the German Air Force on Tuesday conducted a joint flyover in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and of the Israelis murdered by terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
The formation consisting of an IAF Gulfstream G550, two IAF F-16s and two German Eurofighter Typhoons flew over Fürstenfeldbruck airport near Munich, where nine Israelis were killed on the tarmac, and then over Dachau concentration camp.
The Gulfstream from the 122nd Squadron was piloted by the squadron's commander, identified only as Lt. Col. G, with the Commander of the IAF, Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, and the Commander of the German Air Force, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, also aboard. Lt. Col. G is a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.
The IAF planes are part of a contingent that arrived in Germany on Monday to participate in a NATO exercise. It marks the first time in history for the IAF to visit Germany.
Lt. Col. Y, commander of the 105th Squadron and leader of the IAF's deployment to Germany, flew in one of the F-16s. "As someone who grew up in a household where the memory of the holocaust was very powerful, and in a Kibbutz where many Holocaust survivors and paramilitary organization soldiers lived, I can say our relationship with Germany wasn't always as open as it is today", he said.
"This flyby represents our commitment to create a better future and strengthen our cooperation with our German allies. It symbolizes the ability of humankind to overcome hardships and care for its future, while also remembering its past and heritage. I feel like I represent the entire Jewish people, those who are here today and those who aren't".
As the formation passed by the Dachau concentration camp, Maj. Gen. Norkin said over the radio: "We are flying together above the valley of darkness, making room for only light ahead as we vow, never again."
The aerial tribute took place ahead of NATO's "MAGDAY" exercise that the IAF will participate in for the first time.
After the flyby, a ceremony was held at Dachau with the German Federal Minister of Defense, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the Israeli Ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, commanders of both air forces and other dignitaries in attendance.
In a speech, Maj. Gen. Norkin said: "I bow my head and clearly remember what happened here not that so long ago: in my mind, I see those families who were erased from the face of the earth so savagely during the war, the Jewish culture which was bitterly demolished, and the atrocities that occurred in this camp. I remember it all - and not for a moment will I ever forget."
"Standing here today, I raise my head and look toward the future. This future encompasses Germany. Germany has become a strategic partner, and the German Air Force a true partner of the Israeli Air Force", Maj. Gen. Norkin said. "The IAF is participating for the first time in history in an aerial maneuver in German skies. We are training and learning, friend from friend, force from force, and military from military. Even amid a global pandemic, we chose to carry out this joint training exercise. This cooperation is powerful and meaningful, especially during these challenging days".
"The Star of David presented by an Israeli F-16 fighter flying by the Dachau Concentration Memorial Site is a strong symbol of Israeli resurrection and power. It also delivers a clear and explicit response to the Holocaust: Never Again", said the Commander of the German Air Force, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz. "Today we established a close partnership between our two air forces. We didn't only train together, we also became close friends. Further, our Heron TP operators receive their training in Israel, and our Eurofighters attended two large exercises in the Negev Desert recently. I feel absolutely honored that the Israeli Air Force is flying side by side with the Luftwaffe in Germany for the first time".
The formation passes over Dachau. Photo: Amit Agronov, IAF
The Israeli F-16s (with desert camouflage) fly alongside the German Eurofighter Typhoons. Photo: Stephen Peterson, German Air Force
Photo: Amit Agronov, IAF
