Straubing Wallmuhle Airport
Encyclopedia
Straubing Wallmuhle Airport is a regional airport in Germany
, located about 3 miles north-northwest of Straubing
(Bavaria); about 250 miles south-southwest of Berlin
It supports general aviation
with no commercial airline service scheduled.
airfield, its primary mission being the training of pilots flying Arado Ar 68 biplane advanced trainer. It remained a training airfield throughout most of World War II
, although in early 1945 some night fighter interceptor units were assigned to the field as part of the Defense of the Reich
campaign.
The United States Third Army moved into the Straubing area and seized the airfield on 30 April 1945 without opposition. C-47 Skytrain
transports began using it almost immediately for supply flights and to evacuate wounded personnel to rear areas. It was designated as Advanced Landing Ground
"R-68". With the war's end on 7 May, the airfield was redesignated as Army Air Force Station Straubing and was used by a succession of fighter units as part of the United States Army of Occupation in the area. The air force units were withdrawn in August 1946 and the facility was turned over to United States Army
units being assigned as part of the Mansfield Kaserne facilities, and later became a NATO facility supporting light military aircraft in the area until 1965 when the West German army (Bundeswehr) replaced the American forces.
The airfield became a civilian airport and today is a well-equipped facility supporting general aviation.
Its single runway was developed from the former military airfield taxiway, the wartime 5,000-foot runway remaining today closed and unused. The former military aircraft parking area remains in use, with several buildings erected on the large asphalted area. No evidence of the wartime ground station remains.
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...
, located about 3 miles north-northwest of Straubing
Straubing
Straubing is an independent city in Lower Bavaria, southern Germany. It is seat of the district of Straubing-Bogen. Annually in August the Gäubodenvolksfest, the second largest fair in Bavaria, is held....
(Bavaria); about 250 miles south-southwest of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
It supports general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
with no commercial airline service scheduled.
History
The airport was built in 1938 as a 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, its primary mission being the training of pilots flying Arado Ar 68 biplane advanced trainer. It remained a training airfield throughout most 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...
, although in early 1945 some night fighter interceptor units were assigned to the field as part of the Defense of the Reich
Defense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe over German occupied Europe and Germany itself during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the destruction of German military and civil industries by the Western Allies...
campaign.
The United States Third Army moved into the Straubing area and seized the airfield on 30 April 1945 without opposition. 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...
transports began using it almost immediately for supply flights and to evacuate wounded personnel to rear areas. It 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...
"R-68". With the war's end on 7 May, the airfield was redesignated as Army Air Force Station Straubing and was used by a succession of fighter units as part of the United States Army of Occupation in the area. The air force units were withdrawn in August 1946 and the facility was turned over to United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
units being assigned as part of the Mansfield Kaserne facilities, and later became a NATO facility supporting light military aircraft in the area until 1965 when the West German army (Bundeswehr) replaced the American forces.
The airfield became a civilian airport and today is a well-equipped facility supporting general aviation.
Its single runway was developed from the former military airfield taxiway, the wartime 5,000-foot runway remaining today closed and unused. The former military aircraft parking area remains in use, with several buildings erected on the large asphalted area. No evidence of the wartime ground station remains.
See also
- Advanced Landing Ground