Goetsenhoven Military Airfield
Encyclopedia
Goetsenhoven Military Airfield is a Belgian Air Component base, located 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Tienen (Brabant Provincie), approximately 26 miles (41.8 km) east-southeast of Brussels
(Bruxelles).
The airfield is used as a training facility for Belgian Air Cadets, equipped with six Piper L21B Super Cubs, and several Schleicher K 8B Gliders.
(Aéronautique Militaire Belge). It's early use was that of observation aircraft of II Group, consisting of 10 Ansaldo A.300 or DH.9 Biplanes.
On 1 November 1939, as part of the wartime buildup, three squadrons of British built Fairey Fox
III fighter/bombers with Nos. 3 (II Group), 5 (III Group) and 7 (IV Group) squadrons were assigned to the airfield as part of the 2e Régiment d'Aéronautique (2nd Air Regiment-Air Combat) In addition to the combat units, Goetsenhoven was also a was a Basic Flight School (Ecole de Pilotage Elémentaire) for the Belgian Air Force, equipped with Stampe SV.4
s.
as part of the initial German attack on Belgium, killing several personnel, and was sized by the Wehrmacht
within a day or two of the invasion. The squadrons of Goetsenhoven had to hastily retreat to other airfields, with the planes that were not destroyed by the Luftwaffe. They were eventually evacuated to France. During the occupation of Belgium, the airfield was used by the Luftwaffe as a reserve airfield, not stationing any units at the field.
In late October 1944, the airfield was attacked by USAAF Ninth Air Force
B-26 Marauder
medium bombers and P-47 Thunderbolt
s mostly with 500-pound General-Purpose bombs; unguided rockets and .50 caliber machine gun sweeps to insure that any German forces at the base were neutralized. Allied ground forces moved into the Tienen area around 20 October and the first American combat engineer units arrived at the airfield shortly afterward.
The USAAF IX Engineering Command 862d Engineer Aviation Battalion laid down a 3600' all weather Pierced Steel Planking runway at Goetsenhoven and rehabilitated some of the buildings for operational use for combat units. On 26 October the airfield was declared operationally ready and was designated as Advanced Landing Ground
"Y-10", also being known as "Le Culot/East Airfield". Shortly after opening, the Ninth Air Force
371st Fighter Group
moved P-47 Thunderbolt
figher aircraft to the airfield, remaining until 20 December until moving east with the advancing Allied ground forces.
Once the American combat units moved out, Goetsenhoven became a transport airfield for C-47 Skytrain
s, which flew frequently in and out of the American controlled airfield, supplying the front line forces with the necessary materiel to support their advance. On return flights to the rear area, casualty evacuation was performed by the transports.
At the end of the war Goetsenhoven was returned to Belgian control by the Americans on 25 June 1945.
In 1996 the flight training of the Belgian Air Force was centralized at Beauvechain Air Base
, and the formal military presence came to an end at Goetsenhoven.
Besides the ESS during the weekends, the airport is also used by the local flying club De Wouw, following the closure of the ESS was working with engine and gliders. The airport is not open for flying on days that is also used by the Olympia Tiense Wielerschool for the training of young cyclists.
Presently two large hangars and a few support buildings comprise the airfield. Behind the hangars is the former military airbase, rebuilt after the war and closed in 1996. It is mostly in a state of decay and disuse.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Bruxelles).
The airfield is used as a training facility for Belgian Air Cadets, equipped with six Piper L21B Super Cubs, and several Schleicher K 8B Gliders.
History
Goetsenhoven Airfield was one of the first airfields of Belgian military aviation. It was built in 1922 as a grass airfield by the Belgian Air ForceBelgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
(Aéronautique Militaire Belge). It's early use was that of observation aircraft of II Group, consisting of 10 Ansaldo A.300 or DH.9 Biplanes.
On 1 November 1939, as part of the wartime buildup, three squadrons of British built Fairey Fox
Fairey Fox
The Fairey Fox was a British light bomber and fighter biplane of the 1920s and 1930s. It was originally produced in Britain for the RAF, but continued in production and use in Belgium long after it was retired in Britain.-Fox I:...
III fighter/bombers with Nos. 3 (II Group), 5 (III Group) and 7 (IV Group) squadrons were assigned to the airfield as part of the 2e Régiment d'Aéronautique (2nd Air Regiment-Air Combat) In addition to the combat units, Goetsenhoven was also a was a Basic Flight School (Ecole de Pilotage Elémentaire) for the Belgian Air Force, equipped with Stampe SV.4
Stampe SV.4
-Bibliography:* Pacco, John. "Stampe & Vertongen SV-4B" Belgisch Leger/Armee Belge: Het Militair Vliegwezen/l'Aeronautique Militaire 1930-1940. Aartselaar, Belgium, 2003, pp. 85-86. ISBN 90-801136-6-2....
s.
World War II
On 10 May 1940, Goetsenhoven was attacked by the 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....
as part of the initial German attack on Belgium, killing several personnel, and was sized by the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
within a day or two of the invasion. The squadrons of Goetsenhoven had to hastily retreat to other airfields, with the planes that were not destroyed by the Luftwaffe. They were eventually evacuated to France. During the occupation of Belgium, the airfield was used by the Luftwaffe as a reserve airfield, not stationing any units at the field.
In late October 1944, the airfield was attacked by USAAF Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
The 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....
medium bombers and P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic 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...
s mostly with 500-pound General-Purpose bombs; unguided rockets and .50 caliber machine gun sweeps to insure that any German forces at the base were neutralized. Allied ground forces moved into the Tienen area around 20 October and the first American combat engineer units arrived at the airfield shortly afterward.
The USAAF IX Engineering Command 862d Engineer Aviation Battalion laid down a 3600' all weather Pierced Steel Planking runway at Goetsenhoven and rehabilitated some of the buildings for operational use for combat units. On 26 October the airfield was declared operationally ready and was designated as Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Ground was the term given to the temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II in support of the invasion of Europe...
"Y-10", also being known as "Le Culot/East Airfield". Shortly after opening, the Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
371st Fighter Group
371st Fighter Group
The 371st Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces stationed at Camp Shanks , New Jersey...
moved P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic 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...
figher aircraft to the airfield, remaining until 20 December until moving east with the advancing Allied ground forces.
Once the American combat units moved out, Goetsenhoven became a transport airfield for C-47 Skytrain
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
s, which flew frequently in and out of the American controlled airfield, supplying the front line forces with the necessary materiel to support their advance. On return flights to the rear area, casualty evacuation was performed by the transports.
At the end of the war Goetsenhoven was returned to Belgian control by the Americans on 25 June 1945.
Postwar use
After the war Goetsenhoven was totally rebuilt, with the metal runway being removed and the airfield returned to its prewar configuration as a grass airfield. It was reopened in 1950, and became the basis of the ESS (Elementary Flying School). In 1969 the flight training was upgraded to the SIAI Marchetti Aermacchi SF.260. Also, two all-weather asphalt runways were laid down on the site, replacing the grass runway.In 1996 the flight training of the Belgian Air Force was centralized at Beauvechain Air Base
Beauvechain Air Base
Beauvechain Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield in Belgium, located south of Beauvechain ; east-southeast of Brussels...
, and the formal military presence came to an end at Goetsenhoven.
Besides the ESS during the weekends, the airport is also used by the local flying club De Wouw, following the closure of the ESS was working with engine and gliders. The airport is not open for flying on days that is also used by the Olympia Tiense Wielerschool for the training of young cyclists.
Presently two large hangars and a few support buildings comprise the airfield. Behind the hangars is the former military airbase, rebuilt after the war and closed in 1996. It is mostly in a state of decay and disuse.
See also
- Advanced Landing Ground