mI-8 / mI-24 in German Service

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Here's a video showing the Hind with Luftwaffe markings/camo scheme being flown. They actually had them until (Checking dates.) sold to Poland and Hungary. Luftwaffe JG 73 flew the MiG-29G (NATO standard.) until ~2004 when they were sold to Poland. JG 73 flew them as an aggressor squadron but was also assigned an air defence role as well. Many of the former DDR aircraft flew with the Luftwaffe for years especially the transport aircraft that filled a deficiency in the Luftwaffe capabilities at the time. Germany just about RESET the MiG-29s to get them to the NATO "G" Standard, Hinds, Transport to even improve the depot level maintenance of the older MiGs they got. All DDR aircraft were serialized, painted and marked into the Luftwaffe system. I suspect the HINDs were used, but I'm still snooping around to find something more solid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybJDlMqCGw

I'm finding "breadcrumbs" so I'll follow the trail a little longer concerning the HINDs, MiG 29 and later MiG 29G as upgraded along with the larger Transport aircraft are a definite yes. The MiG 24/or 25 (Can't remember now.), MiG-21 & 17 and other aircraft though maintained were either sold off or scraped with no record that I have found to indicate they were actually ever used by the Luftwaffe.
http://www.euro-t-guide.com/See_Coun..._Gatow_3-1.htm

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

To set the record straight on the DDR fighters that transitioned into the Luftwaffe they would be the MiG-21, 23 & 29 also the export version of the Su- 17UM3/Ex Su-22UM3/UM3K (FITTER-G) primarily used as a trainer and also the final version Su-17M4/Ex Su-22M4 (FITTER K). Don't know if they processed the Recon Su-22M4R.
Sorry for any confusion, I'll blame it on catching up on the OGs after work!?! Now to figure out what to blame it on when I start submitting the Patch Posts, but it'll have to be good though!?! Found none of these jets (Except the MiG-29) in Luftwaffen colors on the net to include museums in country.
But here's a pic of a DDR Su-22M4 taken on 3/10/2011 @ Luftfmuseum in Rothenburg Germany...


Well I'm off to bed before another fun filled day at the "office", I hope you all have a great weekend!

Regards,
Pat

[Pibwl]

After a several-year service in Germany, MiG-29s were sold to Poland, for a reasonable price of 1 Euro

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Alright German reunification is officially marked on Oct. 3 1990 after the DDR signed treaties with W. Germany and a separate one with England, France, Russia and the U.S. as required by treaty after WWII. We know the DDR NVA transport planes and LSK/LV MiG-29
(MiG-29G until Dec. 2003.) were fully operational w/Luftwaffe. As it turns out from the below source and others the DDR flew both the Hind D/P models. We have proof the Luftwaffe evaluated the Hind P. I now suspect the following...though as already noted all DDR equipment was fully integrated into German Bundeswehr, that the older MiGs and Hind D (Hungary I believe.) models were sold off/displayed/or scrapped. But Poland didn't get the Hind P until mid '92 it appears so far, though still checking. It doesn't take that long to do a flight eval. So the bottom line for the Hind P is and under the circumstances of the reunification (Trained Flight & Maint. crews, manuals, spare parts etc.) there is a definite window of opportunity that the Luftwaffe had these available if needed for border or combat patrols. I hope to get some answers from the below source and am awaiting activation of my account to do so. Along with getting permission to use these pictures if needed here for the DDR OOB as they are of excellent quality. Refing the thread in question/Pg. 4 as it touches on the 91/92 Hind P Luftwaffe use. This is worth it just for the DDR in flight pics alone throughout the thread as I couldn't find any good ones on Bing or Google.
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=mig-29&page=4
These guys seem "serious" (Sounds familiar!?!) and might provide some useful info from the Wehrmacht, DDR to present.

Regards,
Pat

[Pibwl]

As I've written in a beginning, Poland got Mi-24D (only) in 1995 and Hungary as well or slightly before.

Michal.

BTW: if you're in this forum, ask if they used 80mm or 122 mm rockets under Mi-24.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

For those that are interested, earlier this evening I asked the key questions that might have some impact on both the East Germany and Germany OOB's. Link provided below so as not to violate any one's possible Forum rules. By way of info RAMJET/Steve was a MiG-29 pilot for both the Luftverteidigung/Luftwaffe after unification. I won't be hard to find, currently on Pg. 7.
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=354756
Have a great week!

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

By way of an update...
As the DDR/German MiGs were the MiG-29A it's becoming clear that they were purely used as interceptors as designed. The MiG-29S had some very limited Air Ground capabilities, but it was the MiG-29SM which was designed to fulfill this role. It was this version that is the only one that could be called an F/B though again it's primary role still was to be an interceptor. Also before the MiG-29S all previous versions had very limited range, think earlier Bf-109s, you didn't want to get in a dogfight with it but it wasn't going to hang around long either.

So here's where I'm at for my list...
1. Germany OOB delete both the MiG-29 and Mil-8T. It is now clear the Luftwaffe MiG-29A/G was only used as an interceptor. Also it was the ONLY aircraft from the DDR to fly in the Luftwaffe beyond the evaluation phase.

3. East Germany OOB the same issue as above with the following possible exception of the SEAD version for which I'm awaiting conformation. This one in my mind is possible though not likely. This is why after all the Russians gave the DDR the very good MiG-23ground attack aircraft, also the DDR flew the most advanced versions of it as well which might be an issue of it's own in the OOB.

I of course have other data but the site given in the previous post is confirming all of it thus far and they've been very helpful to my requests.

To the Mil-24 HIND question no response, but my feeling is that since the Russians (Soviets) supplied everything that it is likely the DDR HIND D/P helos carried any of the following rockets, either the 54mm, 80mm, 130mm, 240mm rockets and or AGS-17 30mm GL. The Soviet/Russians did and do.

Regards,
Pat