Schleswig Air Base

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Schleswig Air Base
Bundeswehr Logo Luftwaffe with lettering.svg
Fliegerhorst Schleswig
Jagel, Schleswig-Holstein in  Germany
Aerial image of the Schleswig Air Base.jpg
Germany Schleswig-Holstein adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Schleswig Air Base
Shown within Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Coordinates 54°27′34″N09°30′59″E / 54.45944°N 9.51639°E / 54.45944; 9.51639
Site information
Owner Federal Defence Forces of Germany
Operator German Air Force
Site history
Built1916 (1916)
In use1916-
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: WBG, ICAO: ETNS
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/232,439 metres (8,002 ft)  Asphalt [1]
07/252,463 metres (8,081 ft) Asphalt

Schleswig Air Base is an airbase of the German Air Force, home to Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 (Tactical Air Force Wing 51) "Immelmann" (AKG 51) flying reconnaissance variants of the Panavia Tornado. It was formerly known from c.1945-1958 as RAF Schleswigland in Royal Air Force (RAF) use.

Contents

History

Aerial view of the airfield Schleswig Air Base.JPG
Aerial view of the airfield

The airfield in Schleswig/Jagel was founded in 1916 and has been in military use since. During the Second World War, night fighters were based here, including the Messerschmitt Me 262.

After the end of World War II British Air Force of Occupation took control of the field on 6 May 1945, which they called Airfield B.164. In the summer of 1945 Hawker Typhoon Ibs of No. 121 Wing RAF were based there. In February 1948 RAF Schleswigland became active again as a training field for transport- and glider-aircraft from other stations. RAF Schleswigland was chosen as an operating base for the Berlin Airlift (RAF Codename Operation Plainfare) in the fall of 1948.[ citation needed ] On 11 November 1948 the first transport aircraft, Handley Page Hastings C.1s of No. 47 Squadron RAF arrived. No. 297 Squadron followed later during the airlift. [2] Civilian companies started using RAF Schleswigland to airlift fuel to Berlin, since Schleswigland was well equipped with underground fuel lines dating from German use during the war. Lancashire Aircraft Corp. started flight on 24 November 1948 which specially converted Handley Page Halifax/Haltons, [3] British American Air Services with Handley Page Halton starting 25 January 1949, Westminster Airways with Handley Page Halton starting 29 January 1949 and Scottish Airlines effective 19 February 1949 with Consolidated Liberator. On 6 October 1949 the last airlift flight operated out of RAF Schleswigland, marking the end of Operation Plainfare.

During the 1950s the 2.TTF was based at RAF Schleswigland with de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 [4] used for target towing. In 1955 King Olav V of Norway visited RAF Schleswigland, since the Royal Norwegian Air Force was using the airfield for training from time to time since the end of the Second World War.

Other units:

The Royal Air Force closed RAF Schleswigland in April 1958 and turned the southern part of the field over to German control. In June 1958 the newly formed German Navy based the Marinefliegergeschwader 1, established on 12 March 1957 as Marinefliegergruppe 1 in Kiel, in what was now known as Schleswig-Jagel.

In October 1959, the northern part of the airfield was handed over from the Royal Air Force to the German Navy. But it wasn't until November 1961 when the British left the last building at Schleswigland. [10] (German text only)

On the airfield it is a part of the major maneuver from June 12 to June 23, 2023, held under the leadership of the German Air Force Air Defender 23 it is the greatest exercise of air forces since NATO was announced. [11]

Accidents and incidents

Berlin Airlift casualties at RAF Schleswigland

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References

  1. ↑ "Schleswig Airport". skyvector.com. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 151.
  3. ↑ "Handley Page Halifax C.VIII, G-ALBZ, Lancashire Aircraft Corporation". Abpic.co.uk. 13 June 1949. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "RAF Schleswigland, Germany 1945-1958". Peterpickering.com. 4 May 1945. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 33.
  6. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 43.
  7. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 65.
  8. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  9. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  10. ↑ "CHRONIK DES MFG 1". MFG1.de. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "Germany prepares to host NATO's biggest ever air exercise over Europe". euronews.com. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Handley Page Hastings C.1, TG534, Royal Air Force". Abpic.co.uk. 6 April 1949. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  13. ↑ "Handley Page Hastings C.1, TG510, Royal Air Force". Abpic.co.uk. 19 May 1949. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  14. ↑ "Handley Page Hastings C.1, TG510, Royal Air Force". Abpic.co.uk. 19 May 1949. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "RAF Schleswigland, Germany 1945-1958". Peterpickering.com. 24 February 1956. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "RAF Schleswigland, Germany 1945-1958". Peterpickering.com. 31 October 1953. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  17. ↑ "RAF Schleswigland, Germany 1945-1958". Peterpickering.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  18. ↑ "RAF Schleswigland, Germany 1945-1958". Peterpickering.com. 17 October 1957. Retrieved 24 July 2012.

Bibliography

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