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30 years of friendship: Wangerooge celebrates with Luftwaffe Richthofen!
Wangerooge and Air Force Squadron 71 “Richthofen” celebrate 30 years of partnership with a ceremony and festivities.
30 years of friendship: Wangerooge celebrates with Luftwaffe Richthofen!
In a celebratory atmosphere, the community of Wangerooge celebrated 30 years of sponsorship with Tactical Air Force Squadron 71 “Richthofen” last Friday. This special connection, which was originally supposed to be celebrated for the 25th anniversary, was postponed due to the Corona pandemic. Now around 150 guests came together for a colorful ceremony, which took place in the dune hall and started with a tasty lunch prepared by the “Richthofeners”. However, a small mishap caused a stir: the pea soup they had brought with them from Wittmund tipped over and a rescue operation by the volunteer fire department was necessary to remedy the situation. Despite this small mishap, the good mood could not be dampened.
The event featured short but succinct speeches from four speakers, including Commodore Colonel Björn Andersen, who highlighted the deep-rooted friendship between the island community and the air wing. Andersen particularly thanked barracks commander Ralf Sanders, who organized the annual meetings and is now retiring. “A very special friendship,” said Andersen, describing the long-standing relationship between the two partners.
A sign of solidarity
A central element of the celebration was the handover of a banner to the community of Wangerooge. She returned the favor with a souvenir – a wooden counter. “We hope that there will be many more anniversaries to come,” said Rieka Beewen, who conveyed the mayor’s wishes and also acknowledged the partnership. Former councilor Jürgen Wiebach wore the first sponsorship T-shirt that was designed at the time to celebrate.
The squadron has a long and distinguished history that shows individual nations how such sponsorships can forge strong bonds between regions and institutions. As the Air Force's largest organizational unit, the Air Force Association remains active at the tactical level in Germany. From August, Eurofighters will take off and land from the renovated air base in Wittmund, giving the community and cooperation a new dimension. In addition, as part of the 45th bivouac on Wangerooge, ten soldiers carried out paving work on the fire station building, which is another sign of commitment to the local community.
A future full of possibilities
The celebrations are a reminder not only of the past, but also of the future possibilities of cooperation. Wangerooge and the Tactical Air Force Squadron 71 “Richthofen” have had a friendship for more than 30 years now, which is further strengthened through numerous joint activities and projects. This sponsorship is much more than a simple contract; it is a living sign of solidarity and mutual respect.
A colorful celebration that touches the heart of the community and shows that friendships can remain strong even over 30 years if you have a good hand.
You can find more information about the history of the Air Force and the squadron in the articles from NWZonline and Wangerooge current. For a deeper look into the history of the Air Force, visit Chronicles of the Luftwaffe.