German Air Force Patch 52 AG Reconnaissance RF 4E Phantom 3a 522

German Air Force Patch Aufkurungsgeschwader AG 52 Reconnaissance Wing RF 4E Phantom Recce 522 Staffel Squadron 1980s Leck AB Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 90mm three and one half inches diameter.

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History

Aufkurungsgeschwader AG 52 Reconnaissance Wing 52 was activated on 12 December 1959 at Erding AB equipped with RF 84F Thunderflash aircraft and four T 33A T Bird two seater training aircraft and with personnel newly trained from Waffenschule WS 50 under 3 Air Division. The Wing relocated to Eggebek AB in October 1960 for NATO operations supporting SACEUR SHAPE AFNORTH BALTAP and COMAIRBALTAB. The Wing used a black panthers head as its emblem and became a member of the NATO Tiger Association in 1963. 

The Wing comprised three a Headquarters and Groups Flying Group Technical Group and Aerodrome Group. Flying Group controls the two flying Squadrons of the Wing 521 and 522. Technical Group provided aircraft technical services including maintenance and repair weapons and ammunition survival equipment fuelling fire protection while Aerodrome Group provided non aeronautical activities and tasks including transportation supplies medical services Aerodrome security and defence runway and airfield repair. 

AG 52 transitioned from the Thunderflash to the RF 104G Starfighter and relocated to Leck AB in 1964. Starfighter personnel were trained by Waffenschule WS 10 and the last RF 84F leaving the Wing on 31 August 1966. The Wing hosted the NATO Tiger Meet NTM at Leck AB in 1967.

The Wing converted to RF 4E Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft in 1971 completing the changeover at the end of 1972. AG 52 hosted the NATO Tiger Meet NTM at Leck AB in 1975 and added fighter bomber capability to its role in 1979 and 1980. The Wing hosted the NATO Tiger Meet NTM at Leck AB again in 1984.

The Wing was inactivated on 15 December 1993 and when AG 51 was reactivated on 1 January 1994 it retained the name Immelmann but discontinued its traditional flying red owl emblems and instead adopted the Panther unit emblems and NATO Tiger Association membership of the disbanded AG 52. 

This patch dates from the 1980s.