Landsberg-Lech Air Base
Encyclopedia
Landsberg-Lech Air Base is a German Air Force base located near the town of Landsberg am Lech
in Bavaria
.
Landsberg is used as a transport base. Aircraft at the base are Bo-105M, Transall C-160, and UH-1D helicopters.
) in 1935, locations for air bases were selected throughout the entire country. The Penzing area was selected for one of these bases because of the suitable geographical, navigational and other technical aspects. Land was procured in 1935 and by spring of 1936 the construction of Landsberg Air Base was well underway. A small detachment of airmen arrived on 10 February 1937 and a full complement had arrived by 1 March. The Luftwaffe unit was designated Combat Wing 255.
The first assigned aircraft were Dornier 17E and 17M bombers. On 1 August 1939 the Do-17s were replaced by the Heinkel 111, and the unit was designated as Combat Wing 51. During World War II
, this unit saw combat on all war fronts. Landsberg, meanwhile, was utilized primarily for pre-flying and general training.
Late in the war, two attacks by American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers knocked out three of the base's hangars, all the runways, and damaged many of the grounded aircraft. Toward the waning days of the war, most of Germany's best radar technicians were sent to Landsberg Air Base.
In 1945, a U.S. Armored Division swept into the area. On 28 April the base was occupied.
In 1947 the USAF 7280th Air Base Group was established at Landsberg as a detached unit of Erding Air Base
. In 1949, the base was designated as Landsberg Air Base and placed under the command of the 2d Air Division. On 1 May 1950 the base support unit was designated the 7030th Headquarters Support Group.
During the Cold War
, it was a United States Air Force
base.
USAF Units stationed at Landsberg were:
The 7351st Air Base Squadron was activated in January 1953, and assumed control of Landsberg as the host unit on 1 July. On 1 April 1955 the 7351st Flying Training Group (MDAP) was activated to prepare Landsberg as a pilot training center. The group was further expanded and was designated the 7351st Flying Training Wing (MDAP) on 1 October 1955 The wing consisted of three groups, with a total of seven squadrons.
Having joined NATO in 1955, West Germany could begin to re-establish the Luftwaffe. Work soon started on the construction of airfields and training grounds and possibilities for training German pilots were investigated.
Landsberg Air Base was selected as the site for the retraining of the German Air Force. The first flight with American instructors took place on 4 February 1956. There were still many World War II
veterans who could, however, only fly propeller aircraft. They had not seen operational service for ten years and had absolutely no experience with supersonic jet fighters.
The modern jets were not complete strangers to the former German officers, however. For more than two years it had already been quite usual for former Luftwaffe pilots to make familiarization flights on USAF jet fighters.
The new Luftwaffe began building up basic pilot training using forty Piper L-18A Super Cub trainers. Advanced training and jet transition was looked after by the USAF at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
where the Luftwaffe could use several new Lockheed T-33A T-Bird
jet-trainers.
The first ten German jet fighter pilots trained by USAFE instructors received their 'wings' on 24 September 1956. Future German F-86 pilots were also trained at Nellis AFB in Nevada
.
Training continued until 1958 when the 7351st FTG was deactivated and Landsburg turned over to the German Air Force. Within several years the new Luftwaffe would acquire hundreds of F-86 Sabre
s and F-84F Thunderstreaks
via the American MDAP aid programme so training had to be taken in hand very quickly.
Landsberg am Lech
Landsberg am Lech is a town in southwest Bavaria, Germany, about 65 kilometers west of Munich and 35 kilometers south of Augsburg. It is the capital of the district of Landsberg am Lech....
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
Landsberg is used as a transport base. Aircraft at the base are Bo-105M, Transall C-160, and UH-1D helicopters.
World War II
With the re-establishment of the German Air Force (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....
) in 1935, locations for air bases were selected throughout the entire country. The Penzing area was selected for one of these bases because of the suitable geographical, navigational and other technical aspects. Land was procured in 1935 and by spring of 1936 the construction of Landsberg Air Base was well underway. A small detachment of airmen arrived on 10 February 1937 and a full complement had arrived by 1 March. The Luftwaffe unit was designated Combat Wing 255.
The first assigned aircraft were Dornier 17E and 17M bombers. On 1 August 1939 the Do-17s were replaced by the Heinkel 111, and the unit was designated as Combat Wing 51. During 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...
, this unit saw combat on all war fronts. Landsberg, meanwhile, was utilized primarily for pre-flying and general training.
Late in the war, two attacks by American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers knocked out three of the base's hangars, all the runways, and damaged many of the grounded aircraft. Toward the waning days of the war, most of Germany's best radar technicians were sent to Landsberg Air Base.
In 1945, a U.S. Armored Division swept into the area. On 28 April the base was occupied.
USAF use
Company "C" of the Army's 843rd Engineer Aviation Battalion arrived on 17 May to rehabilitate the base. A high priority was assigned to runway repair - to make the airfield operational. With the runway project completed, an Air Depot Group moved in and began repairing buildings for living quarters, mess facilities and so forth. The personnel moved from their tents into rebuilt quarters as they were completed. In January 1946 the 862nd Engineer Battalion arrived to complete the repair of bombed out facilities.In 1947 the USAF 7280th Air Base Group was established at Landsberg as a detached unit of Erding Air Base
Erding Air Base
Erding Air Base is a German Air Force airfield near the town of Erding, about northeast of central Munich in Bavaria...
. In 1949, the base was designated as Landsberg Air Base and placed under the command of the 2d Air Division. On 1 May 1950 the base support unit was designated the 7030th Headquarters Support Group.
During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, it was a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
base.
USAF Units stationed at Landsberg were:
- 1949-1951: HQ, 2d Air Division
- 1955-1958: 7351st Fighter Training Wing
Training The Luftwaffe
Having joined NATO in 1955, West Germany could begin to re-establish the Luftwaffe. Work soon started on the construction of airfields and training grounds and possibilities for training German pilots were investigated.
Landsberg Air Base was selected as the site for the retraining of the German Air Force. The first flight with American instructors took place on 4 February 1956. There were still many 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...
veterans who could, however, only fly propeller aircraft. They had not seen operational service for ten years and had absolutely no experience with supersonic jet fighters.
The modern jets were not complete strangers to the former German officers, however. For more than two years it had already been quite usual for former Luftwaffe pilots to make familiarization flights on USAF jet fighters.
The new Luftwaffe began building up basic pilot training using forty Piper L-18A Super Cub trainers. Advanced training and jet transition was looked after by the USAF at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base is a German Air Force airfield located near the town of Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria, near Munich, Germany....
where the Luftwaffe could use several new Lockheed T-33A T-Bird
T-33 Shooting Star
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
jet-trainers.
The first ten German jet fighter pilots trained by USAFE instructors received their 'wings' on 24 September 1956. Future German F-86 pilots were also trained at Nellis AFB in Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Training continued until 1958 when the 7351st FTG was deactivated and Landsburg turned over to the German Air Force. Within several years the new Luftwaffe would acquire hundreds of F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
s and F-84F Thunderstreaks
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
via the American MDAP aid programme so training had to be taken in hand very quickly.
See also
- German Air Force
- United States Air Force In GermanyUnited States Air Force In GermanySince 7 May 1945 The United States has maintained air bases in Germany initially beginning as postwar occupation forces. During the Cold War, the number of bases was expanded to support NATO....