Hohn airbase 

Hohn airbase was a temporary inactive airbase activated especially for Air Defender 2023. Formerly operating C160 Transalls of LTG63 this airbase has a single runway which can be entirely seen from the Southern side - perfect for photographing. I also found this to be the best airbase during this exercise: it would be the homebase for a large number of Air National Guard F15 Eagles and US Navy Super Hornets and Growlers of the USS Gerald R. Ford. Next to these exotic types/ units a detachmentof Finnish (legacy) Hornets and British RAF Typhoons operated out of Hohn. 

The US Navy aircraft consisted of some special aircraft; one of them being the (Growler) CAG-bird. The ANG Eagles also came with two aircraft with other (very rare/ special) unit markings: one with ZZ (Kadena airbase 44FS - Japan) and one with OT (Nellis AFB, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron) markings - both extremely rare to be seen in Europe.

Small account of F15C photo's can be seen beneath - click here for the complete F15 Eagle photo report

All participating F15C's of the 131th Fighter Squadron / Massachusetts  Air National Guard:

All participating F15C's of the 122nd Fighter Squadron / Louisiana  Air National Guard:

Small account of US Navy Super Hornet and Growler photo's can be seen beneath - click here for the complete F18 photo report

All participating aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) (all part of Carrier Air Wing 8 - NAS Oceana):

*side note: VFA-37 "Raging Bulls" also participated the Volkit  exercise held in 1992 at Volkel air base, 31 years ago. See the Volkit photo report for photographs of the legacy F/A-18C this unit flew during the 90's era.

Finnish air force legacy Hornets joined the crowded Hohn flightlines - just like the Eagles these were right opposite the spotter area.

RAF Typhoons supplemented the airbase forces - their take-offs were really impressive: full afterburner, 90 degrees straight up, rolling back and 'kissing the sky'.

Daily Herculesses visited Hohn, for supplies and their training goals. One was in the markings of the AATC - ANG/ AFRC Test Centre - a CONUS domestic unit which is never seen on European soil.