RAF Ahlhorn

RAF Ahlhorn

(Advanced Landing Ground B-111)
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Ahlhorn, Lower Saxony, Germany
Built 1944 (1944)
In use 1945-1958 (1958)
Elevation AMSL 162 ft / 49 m
Coordinates 52°53′06″N 008°13′57″E / 52.88500°N 8.23250°E / 52.88500; 8.23250Coordinates: 52°53′06″N 008°13′57″E / 52.88500°N 8.23250°E / 52.88500; 8.23250
Map
RAF Ahlhorn
Location of RAF Ahlhorn
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 6,910 2,106 Asphalt

Royal Air Force Ahlhorn or more simply RAF Ahlhorn, is a former Royal Air Force station located 1 mile (1.6 km) south east of the centre of Ahlhorn, Lower Saxony and 11 miles (18 km) north of Vechta, Lower Saxony, Germany

Originally, it was a German airbase for Zeppelins. The Royal Air Force (RAF) disestablished the station and it was closed down in the autumn of 1958 and was transferred to the Bundeswehr.

History

World War I

Originally, the site was a German base for Zeppelins during World War I.[1]

World War II and beyond

During World War II the airfield was used as an Advanced Landing Ground before becoming a permanent RAF station.

Squadron Aircraft From To To Notes
No. 14 Squadron RAF Hawker Hunter F.4/F.6 26 September 1957 15 September 1958 RAF Gütersloh [2]
No. 16 Squadron RAF Hawker Tempest F.2 8 May 1947 20 May 1947 RAF Fassberg [3]
No. 20 Squadron RAF Hawker Hunter F.6 23 September 1957 30 August 1958 RAF Gütersloh [4]
No. 26 Squadron RAF Hawker Tempest F.2
Hawker Hunter F.6		 8 May 1947
7 June 1958		 20 May 1947
8 September 1958		 RAF Fassberg
RAF Gütersloh		 [5]
Reformed here
No. 33 Squadron RAF Hawker Tempest F.2 8 May 1947 20 May 1947 RAF Fassberg [6]
No. 96 Squadron RAF Gloster Meteor NF.11 17 November 1952 12 February 1958 RAF Geilenkirchen Reformed here[7]
No. 149 Squadron RAF English Electric Canberra B.2 24 August 1954 17 September 1954 RAF Gütersloh [8]
No. 193 Squadron RAF Hawker Typhoon Ib 30 April 1945 8 January 1945 RAF Hildesheim [9]
No. 197 Squadron RAF Hawker Typhoon Ib 30 April 1945 8 June 1945 RAF Hildesheim [9]
No. 213 Squadron RAF English Electric Canberra B.2 1 September 1955 22 August 1957 RAF Bruggen Reformed here.[10]
No. 256 Squadron RAF Gloster Meteor NF.11 17 November 1952 12 February 1958 RAF Geilenkirchen [11]
No. 263 Squadron RAF Hawker Typhoon Ib 30 April 1945 8 June 1945 RAF Hildesheim [12]
No. 266 Squadron RAF Hawker Typhoon Ib 4 June 1945 8 June 1945 RAF Hildesheim [13]
No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron Supermarine Spitfire XVI 16 September 1945
31 August 1946		 27 August 1946
7 October 1946		 RAF Sylt
RAF Hethel		 [14]
No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron Supermarine Spitfire XVI 16 September 1945
9 February 1946		 22 January 1946
7 October 1946		 RAF Sylt
RAF Hethel		 [15]
No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron Supermarine Spitfire XVI 15 September 1945
16 August 1946		 July 1946
7 October 1946		 RAF Sylt
RAF Hethel		 [16]

Current use

A number of solar panels are now visible on the site

Jagdgeschwader 73 was formed at Ahlhorn and Oldenburg on 1 April 1959. Jagdgeschwader 71 of the German Air Force were to take residence from June 1959 with 50 Canadair Sabres, Germany's first operational jet fighter unit. They remained at Ahlhorn until 1961.

A number of solar panel are now located on the former site.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Robinson, Douglas (1971). The Zeppelin in Combat (3rd ed.). London: Foulis. p. 398.
  2. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 28.
  3. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 29.
  4. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 31.
  5. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 33.
  6. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 36.
  7. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 53.
  8. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 62.
  9. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 67.
  10. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 71.
  11. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 79.
  12. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 80.
  13. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 81.
  14. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 84.
  15. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 85.
  16. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 86.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G, MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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