markingsddr

East German markings are hard to find, especially a fighter aircraft, like the MiG 21, my favourite fighter, because it reminds me of the cold war, when I took pictures of his opponent, the Lockheed F104 Starfighter. Could only dream to photograph this beautiful fighter. For the “Wende” it was nearly impossible for western photo journalists to shoot some good pictures of military aircraft in the DDR. because….! After “the wall ”has fallen in 1989, all the operational MiG`s where gathered at Drewitz, (On 29-07-1992 were more than 153 MiG`s on Drewitz), Rothenburg and Dresden, First for storage, later a lot of aircraft where dismantled. When they arrived at the airbases for storage, the first thing they lost where there DDR markings, unit markings and serials. Most of the MiG 21’s where reserialled. They got new serials, funny enough from there old exponent the old Starfighter, which had left the German Air force a few years earlier. Some MiG`s got the German Cross between the first two characters (digits) and the last two, they flew a few operational missions under “the” new management. Most of them where not fitted with the Cross, they where demilitarised and sold to museums and some collectors, most of the aircraft where scrapped within a short period of time.

More than a decade later, a lot has changed in former East Germany. You won’t find any MiG`s anymore on Drewitz. The base is now a customs area where each day a lot of cargo trucks have to wait to enter Poland. You need to look very carefully and sometimes you have to be persistent, there are not that many MiG’s left in Germany, the best place to look is at deserted German or Russian airbases or barracks, and the Aircraft museums.

Grossenhain, is such former Russian MiG 27 base. Here is still on a small part of the airfield is in use for civil purposes. There you can find this MiG-21-SPS 780 in former East German markings, a pity the markings are to small but the aircraft is still in a good condition. Although a lot of them are in a less good condition, especially because the colours have faded and the canopies get matt by the wheather conditions. Furthermore most of them are parked on the grass. The “780” SN: 4310 was in service :since 12.09.66 in the JG-8 /Marxwalde since 01.09.69 in the JG-3 / Preschen and since 08.04.78 in the JAG-15 / FAG-15 in Rothenburg flying hours over the live off the airplane is 1837 h by 3128 landings Mr. Wetzstein was the last pilot of the “780”

Some museum’s restore there MiG`s in a very good way, like the MiG 21 MF Fishbed J 686 of JG-8 at Gatow. They did a very good job to park them on the concrete that makes it very nice, with a little imagination brings back the “good old times”! Most of the museums unfortunately haven’t got enough money to restore and preserve them properly, so they have to find a cheaper way to keep them as good as possible. On Merseburg are 3 MiG 21`s in a very good condition, including this beautiful silver one. The MiG 21 SPS Fishbed –D 725 of JAG 1. To protect them against the weather, they make sail shelters for them. Luckily I was just in time to photograph without the covers!

The real MiG 21 lover has to go to Rothenburg in the east of Germany. Near the Polish border were this former NVA base is situated, where you’ll find 7 MiG-21’s, in different variants and all within the correct markings. In 1991 the museum was formed with the purposes to preserve aircraft techniques, especially aircraft and aircraft techniques in DDR service. With the help of the German Military and Aerotec. Since 2002 is the “623” owned by the club “Luftfahrttechnischer Museumsverein Rothenburg e.V.” They rebuilt and restore the airplane, the Rothenburg museum could be build, and the aircraft preserved.

The MiG 21 F-13 Nr-623 74-1916 entered service in 1962 and based at Marxwalde with JG 8, the aircraft was withdrawn from service on 23-10-1985 In total were 76 MiG-21 F-13 in service of the DDR. In 1990 went the 623 to Rothenburg for dismantling but luckily Aerotec took the aircraft over just before it was scrapped. Now they try to rebuilt and restore her in its old collars, bare metal. The MiG-21F-13 could carry two R-3S missiles externally and was the first variant produced in large numbers. This type was produced in the years 1960 till 1965. The MiG-21F and F-13 variants formed the first generation (of four) of the MiG-21 family. For this generation a two seat trainer was built. The MiG-21U had two flight consoles in a tandem cockpit and no gun. An A-12,7 machine gun could be carried externally. Produced in the years 1962 till 1968. The MiG-21PF equipped with the RP-21 RADAR (modified CD-30) and armed with the RS-2US as well as the R-3S. Newer engine was also installed - the R-11F2-300. The plane had a larger fuel capacity – 2780l, and some other minor changes. The plane was produced from 1962 until 1966. Next modification was the SPS flaps, which gave extra lift during take offs and landings. It was installed in the MiG-21PFS, which was quickly replaced by the MiG-21PFM. The MiG-21 PFM had a different canopy opened sideways to the right. A new ejection seat was installed the KM-1, which could be used at any altitude and at the speeds from 130 km to 1250 km. For the second generation of MiGs-21 the MiG-21US trainer was created. Its most important improvements were the SPS system and the R-11F2S-300 engine

The MiG 21 SPSK Nr-545 This aircraft entered service probably at Marxwalde on 31-05-1968. On 23- 09-1988 it was in service with JG-8, later she went to JG-7 at Drewitz where she would be sold. In 1989, this idea was not successful and the aircraft has been exchanged for another aircraft. So it went to Rothenburg where he made his last flight on 06-09-1990, by than it had 1621:04 flying hours and 2680 landings. From the SPS version a 128 where in DDR service, 48 of them where the SPSK variant, the “K” stands for “(kanone”), canon, of the GSch-23 type, which was fitted in a gun bay, the GP-9, which was fitted under the fuselage.

The MiG-21M was the Russian export version with downgraded radar and the R-11F2S-300 / R-11F2SK-300 engine from the MiG-21 SPS . The MiG-21MF was also a popular export version with newer (than the M variant) avionics, engine and radar. Also the MF version is a 3rd generation aircraft and was powered by the Tumanski R-13-300. These aircraft where more powerful than the M version. From May 1972 till February 1974 were 47 MiG 21 delivered direct from Moscow. In May 1975 they got an extra 12 aircraft which where manufactured in Gorky. The airplanes where produced for Vietnam, but the war end in April 1975..and where deliverd to the DDR. Of the 59 MF aircraft, where still 47 on service by 02-10-1990. The MiG 21 MF Fishbed-J Nr: 784 96002170 was one of the 12 delivered aircraft of the Gorky production of May 1975. This aircraft had 1049 flying hours and its last squadron was JG-3 on the airfield of Preschen.

Some attempts were made to increase the fuel load (MT, SMT versions), but the next important step was the fourth generation. The fourth generation MiG 21 entered service with the “Bis” version The new visor Rp-22 was installed, what gave the aircraft a 30 km range for the new missiles, the R-3R and the R-3M infrared. Of the MiG 21 Bis where two variants the Bis-Lasur and the bis-Sau. The Lasur had a commando guide system, which could lead the aircraft with code signals from a ground guarding centre to their target, without using the microphone. The Sau had a new flight system, so it could land with minimum visibility of 40 meters. October 1975 till Mai 1978, they got first 14 MiG 21 Bis-Lasur and from July 1976 they received 32 MiG 21 Bis-Sau. The MiG 21 Bis-Sau Fishbed L/N Nr: 838 75051378. The aircraft was delivered in Sep.1977 on JG-8 at Marxwalde and had a total of 1126 flying Hours.

The MiG-21bis. It was created basing on experience from the Vietnam War and conflicts in the Middle East. The MiG-21bis received a new engine from the Tumanski design bureau the R-25-300 . The operational G limits were increased. A new missile was added. The R-60M was a dog fighting missile. It could engage targets manoeuvring with 7-8Gs. For the third and fourth generation the MiG-21UM trainer was designed with the R-13-300 engine and some minor equipment changes. The production of the MiG-21 was ended in 1987 with an impressive 10158 airframes assembled (plus license production).and had the R-25-300 engine also. The MiG 21US. Mongol-B Nr: 236 5685134-34 series, is a 2e generation aircraft and entered the service on 28-02-1969 by JG-9 on Peenemunde. Later it went to JG-2 on 15-07-1973 in Neubrandenburg . From 13-09-1989 all the MiG 21US were together by JAG-15 on Rothenburg.

With the landing of MiG 21 U-600 was Nr: 292, on 22-03-1990, This was the last flight of a MiG 21U in the NVA. service.This MiG U-600 can now be found on Mirov/ Lartz, a former Russian MiG 23UB and MiG 27 base, unfortunately there are no markings or serials visible. Last flying day of the NVA. at Rothenburg was on 20-09-1990, this was made by Geschwaderkommandeur. Mj.Wetzstein at 15:09 hour. The squadron FAG -15 flew every year 5000 – 6000 hours with 10000 – 14000 Landings. In 1990 all this stoped.

I think it’s really a pity, Germany was so busy with their “Wende” and wipe out all what them reminded on the DDR. Nowadays you see that enthusiasts try to restore the last remaining MiG ‘s. and respore some of the Markings of the DDR I sincerely hope that they will succeed in there efforts so that it will be interesting for my colleague aircraft photographers and me, to visit Germany in the future.

With many tanks to the museums for their corer parathion and especially to the people of the Rothenburg Aircraft Museum.


MiG 21 MF Fishbed J 23 15 at Drewitz dd 20-07-1992 of JG-1 awaiting his faith


MiG 21 F-13 623 Fishbed-Cin maintenance by Aerotec where it will be restored in bare metal again Rothenburg 24-05-2003


MiG 21Bis-Sau Fishbed L/N Nr: 838 75051378. Rothenburg 18-08-2003


MiG 21 U-600 Mongol Nr: 292 Mirov/ Lartz 23-08-2003