the airfield was also used by various fighter units. The last Dutch fighter unit at this airfield was 325 Squadron flying the Hawker Hunter, which was inactivated in August 1968. In September 1968 three flying units came to Soesterberg from Ypenburg Air Base. These were 334 Squadron flying the venerable Fokker F27, 298 Squadron flying the Alouette III and the SAR flight also flying the Alouette III. The SAR flight transferred to Leeuwarden Air Base in 1977. In August 1981 however, 336 Squadron was reborn at Soesterberg. The task this time: Patrolling the skies over and around the islands of the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. For the job, two new Fokker F27 200-MAR maritime patrol aircraft were ordered. In September 1981, the first aircraft was delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and received the registration M-1. This aircraft departed to Curaçao in early November 1981, and the first pilot was Mayor G.W.G.F. Rijnders. The aircraft arrived on Hato Air Base on 13 November 1981. The second F27, registered M-2, arrived in March 1982. In 1992 334 Squadron moved to Eindhoven Airport. With this departure, 298 Squadron was the only flying unit at the base until 1995, when 300 Squadron joined 298 Squadron. In the same year, the 298 Squadron converted to the CH-47 Chinook, and passed the Alouette III to Gilze-Rijen Air Base, while 300 Squadron received the AS 532 U2 Cougar. Later the Alouette III returned to Soesterberg and joined 300 Squadron. USAF departure With the end of the Cold War, a major force draw-down occurred in Europe, with the USAF reducing its USAFE fighter force structure. These changes affected the 32nd and, as part of the draw-down, the squadron's F-15 Eagles returned to the United States. The original intent of USAFE was to inactivate the 32d Fighter Group and orders were so issued inactivating the group's subordinate units on 1 July 1994 and the group on 1 October. On 19 April, the group furled its colors in formal ceremonies attended by members of the Royal Family, and the American ambassador. On 1 July, HQ USAFE activated the 632d Air Base Squadron to replace the 32d Fighter Group at Soesterberg to complete closure actions. The same order redesignated the group's 32d Fighter Squadron as the 32d Air Operations Squadron, part of the 32d Air Operations Group. All actions were effective 1 July 1994. In this way, USAFE