Fritzlar Air Base
Encyclopedia
Fritzlar Air Base is a military air field of the German Army Aviation Corps. It is located near the town of Fritzlar
in northern Hesse
, Germany
. The airfield is part of the Georg-Friedrich
-Kaserne (Georg-Friedrich-Barracks).
Fritzlar is the home of Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36 "Kurhessen" (Attack Helicopter Regiment 36 "Kurhessen"), which is flying the MBB Bo 105 in anti-tank (PAH-1 & PAH-1A1) and light transport (VBH) version. Currently the PAH version is going to be replaced by the Eurocopter Tiger
. Replacement will be finished in 2012.
prohibited Germany to have an air force. The roofing ceremony was held on 17 September 1937.
were established at Fritzlar Airfield. It was equipped with Heinkel He 111 P
. With the start of World War II
the KG 54 left Fritzlar in September 1939. It never returned to its home base.
as maintenance and production site. They constructed barracks between the airfield and the town to house the forced laborers
. In November 1943 the Junkers Ju 352
plane was designed and produced in the hangars. In 1944, after completing 44 planes, production was discontinued because of lack of material. Junkers left the airfield in Oktober 1944.
The bombing of the Eder Dam
on 17 May 1943 had no significant effect on the production lines. Only light buildings like barracks were damaged, and a few weeks later the production lines were working like before.
(III./NJG 1) were based at Fritzlar airfield. The group was equipped with Messerschmitt Me 110 G and Junkers Ju 88 G
.
In March 1945 a training squadron of Nachtjagdgeschwader 101 (Night Fighter Aviation School) was based in Fritzlar. The lack of fuel made the school unable to train new pilots, and so the aviation trainers were assigned for combat duty.
airfield were captured by parts of the 9th Infantry Division on 30 March 1945. A few grounded planes were captured undamaged.
On 12/13 April 1945 parts of the 404th Fighter Group
and 365th Fighter Group Hellcats
moved to Fritzlar and supported ground troops with their P-47 Thunderbolts, until they reached the Elbe river.
After V-E Day, both groups became part of the IX Air Defense Command
.
In the postwar years, the following known USAAF units were assigned to Army Air Force Station Fritzlar:
Air force operations were phased out on 14 September 1947, and the air base was turned over to the United States Army.
(USCON)
were based at Fritzlar Air Base.
The 14th ACR (USCON):
The 1st Battalion left Fritzlar in 1951 and moved to Bad Hersfeld. In 1952 the HQ of the 14th ACR moved to Fulda
, and the presence of US Forces at Fritzlar Air Base came to an end.
in 1948/49, Fritzlar Air Base served as radio beacon and emergency airfield on route back to Frankfurt
and Wiesbaden
.
5th Hussar Regiment with AMX 13 tanks was based at Fritzlar. They renamed the barracks Quartier General Lasalle. With deployment of the Bundeswehr
, the French NATO forces left Fritzlar in 1956.
and renamed Flugplatz Kaserne. In 1964 they were renamed Georg-Friedrich-Kaserne, after the Fieldmarshal Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck
.
Currently the following non-flying units are based in Fritzlar:
Fritzlar
Fritzlar is a small German town in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, north of Frankfurt, with a storied history. It can reasonably be argued that the town is the site where the Christianization of northern Germany began and the birthplace of the German empire as a political entity.The...
in northern Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The airfield is part of the Georg-Friedrich
Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck
Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck was a German and Dutch Field Marshal .In 1641, Waldeck entered the service of the States-General of the Netherlands; later in 1651, in the service of Brandenburg, he reached the highest rank as minister...
-Kaserne (Georg-Friedrich-Barracks).
Fritzlar is the home of Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36 "Kurhessen" (Attack Helicopter Regiment 36 "Kurhessen"), which is flying the MBB Bo 105 in anti-tank (PAH-1 & PAH-1A1) and light transport (VBH) version. Currently the PAH version is going to be replaced by the Eurocopter Tiger
Eurocopter Tiger
The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.-Origins:...
. Replacement will be finished in 2012.
History
Construction of the airfield began in September 1935, although the Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
prohibited Germany to have an air force. The roofing ceremony was held on 17 September 1937.
KG 54
On 14/16 March 1939 the Staff and the first Group of the Kampfgeschwader 54 "Totenkopf"Kampfgeschwader 54
Kampfgeschwader 54 "Totenkopf" was a Luftwaffe bomber wing during World War II .Its units participated on all of the fronts in the European Theatre until it was disbanded in May 1945. It operated two of the major German bomber types; the Heinkel He 111 and the Junkers Ju 88...
were established at Fritzlar Airfield. It was equipped with Heinkel He 111 P
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
. With the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the KG 54 left Fritzlar in September 1939. It never returned to its home base.
Junkers use
In August 1941 the hangars of the airfield were used by JunkersJunkers
Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG , more commonly Junkers, was a major German aircraft manufacturer. It produced some of the world's most innovative and best-known airplanes over the course of its fifty-plus year history in Dessau, Germany. It was founded there in 1895 by Hugo Junkers,...
as maintenance and production site. They constructed barracks between the airfield and the town to house the forced laborers
Forced labor in Germany during World War II
The use of forced labour in Nazi Germany and throughout German-occupied Europe during World War II took place on an unprecedented scale. It was a vital part of the German economic exploitation of conquered territories. It also contributed to the mass extermination of populations in German-occupied...
. In November 1943 the Junkers Ju 352
Junkers Ju 352
-References:...
plane was designed and produced in the hangars. In 1944, after completing 44 planes, production was discontinued because of lack of material. Junkers left the airfield in Oktober 1944.
Effects of Eder Dam bombing
The bombing of the Eder Dam
Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, subsequently known as the "Dambusters", using a specially developed "bouncing bomb" invented and developed by Barnes Wallis...
on 17 May 1943 had no significant effect on the production lines. Only light buildings like barracks were damaged, and a few weeks later the production lines were working like before.
NJG 1 and NJG 101
Between September 1944 and March 1945 the III. Group of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 was a German Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 1 was formed on 22 June 1940 in Mönchengladbach.By the end of the war it was the most successful night fighter unit and had claimed some 2,311 victories by day and night, for some 676 aircrew killed in...
(III./NJG 1) were based at Fritzlar airfield. The group was equipped with Messerschmitt Me 110 G and Junkers Ju 88 G
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
.
In March 1945 a training squadron of Nachtjagdgeschwader 101 (Night Fighter Aviation School) was based in Fritzlar. The lack of fuel made the school unable to train new pilots, and so the aviation trainers were assigned for combat duty.
USAAF use
The barely damaged LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
airfield were captured by parts of the 9th Infantry Division on 30 March 1945. A few grounded planes were captured undamaged.
On 12/13 April 1945 parts of the 404th Fighter Group
404th Fighter Group
The 404th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with III Fighter Command, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 9 November 1945....
and 365th Fighter Group Hellcats
365th Fighter Group
The 365th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 22 September 1945....
moved to Fritzlar and supported ground troops with their P-47 Thunderbolts, until they reached the Elbe river.
After V-E Day, both groups became part of the IX Air Defense Command
IX Air Defense Command
The IX Air Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Neustadt, Germany...
.
In the postwar years, the following known USAAF units were assigned to Army Air Force Station Fritzlar:
- HQ, IX Fighter CommandIX Fighter CommandThe IX Fighter Command is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany. It was inactivated on 16 November 1945....
, July–September 1945 - HQ, IX Tactical Air CommandIX Tactical Air CommandThe IX Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Camp Shanks, New York...
, 26 June–September 1945 - 27th Fighter Group, 20 August 1946-25 June 1947, P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
- 332d Bombardment Group, June–September 1945, B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
- 365th Fighter Group365th Fighter GroupThe 365th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 22 September 1945....
, 13 April-29 July 1945, P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to... - 366th Fighter Group, 14 September 1945-20 August 1946, P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
- 370th Fighter Group, 6 August–September 1945, P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
- 404th Fighter Group404th Fighter GroupThe 404th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with III Fighter Command, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 9 November 1945....
, 12 April-23 June 1945, P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
Air force operations were phased out on 14 September 1947, and the air base was turned over to the United States Army.
US Army use
In 1946 parts of the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment(USCON)
United States Constabulary
The United States Constabulary was a United States Army military Constabulary force. From 1946 to 1952, in the aftermath of World War II, it acted as an occupation and security force in the U.S...
were based at Fritzlar Air Base.
The 14th ACR (USCON):
- Headquarters, Fritzlar
- Headquarters Troops, Fritzlar
- 1st Battalion, Fritzlar
- 2nd Battalion, SchweinfurtSchweinfurtSchweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
- 3rd Battalion, CoburgCoburgCoburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
- 24th Constabulary Squad, HersfeldBad HersfeldThe festival and spa town of Bad Hersfeld is the district seat of Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in northeastern Hesse, Germany, roughly 50 km southeast of Kassel....
The 1st Battalion left Fritzlar in 1951 and moved to Bad Hersfeld. In 1952 the HQ of the 14th ACR moved to Fulda
Fulda
Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district .- Early Middle Ages :...
, and the presence of US Forces at Fritzlar Air Base came to an end.
Berlin Blockade
During the Berlin BlockadeBerlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War and the first resulting in casualties. During the multinational occupation of post-World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway and road access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied...
in 1948/49, Fritzlar Air Base served as radio beacon and emergency airfield on route back to Frankfurt
Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base was a U.S. Air Force / NATO military airbase near the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It occupied the south side of Frankfurt International Airport. Its airport codes are discontinued....
and Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden Army Airfield
Wiesbaden Army Airfield or WAAF is located southeast of the city of Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany. It was selected as the site for Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe on 28 September 1945, in large part due to its proximity to Frankfurt am Main, where the U.S. Seventh Army was...
.
French Army use
As replacement of the US Forces, the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
5th Hussar Regiment with AMX 13 tanks was based at Fritzlar. They renamed the barracks Quartier General Lasalle. With deployment of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
, the French NATO forces left Fritzlar in 1956.
German Army use
In October 1956 the barracks were transferred to the BundeswehrBundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
and renamed Flugplatz Kaserne. In 1964 they were renamed Georg-Friedrich-Kaserne, after the Fieldmarshal Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck
Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck
Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck was a German and Dutch Field Marshal .In 1641, Waldeck entered the service of the States-General of the Netherlands; later in 1651, in the service of Brandenburg, he reached the highest rank as minister...
.
Non-flying units
The following non-flying units were based in Fritzlar:- 1956 Panzergrenadierbataillon 22 (Mechanized InfantryMechanized infantryMechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat ....
Battalion 22) - 1958-1972 Feldjägerdienstkommando Fritzlar (MPMilitary policeMilitary police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
Command Fritzlar) - 1959-1992 Panzergrenadierbataillon 53 (former Panzergrenadierbataillon 22)
- 1961-1971 Flugabwehrbataillon 2 (Anti-Aircraft Battalion 2)
- 1963-1967/1979-1996 Fernspähkompanie 300 (Long Range Reconnaissance Company 300)
- 1967-1994 Verteidigungskreiskommando 441 (Territorial Defense District Command 441)
- 1981-1994 Panzerpionierkompanie 50 (Armored EngineerMilitary engineerIn military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
Company 50) - 1993-1996 3./Instandsetzungsbattalion 310 (3rd company of Maintenance Battalion 310)
Currently the following non-flying units are based in Fritzlar:
- Standortsanitätszentrum Fritzlar (Local Medic Center Fritzlar), since 1996
- Facharztzentrum Fritzlar (Medical Specialist Center Fritzlar), since 2001
Army Aviation Corps units
See also
- Advanced Landing Ground