Neubiberg Air Base Flugplatz Neubiberg |
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Summary | |
Airport type | Military |
Owner | Unified Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany |
Operator | German Air Force |
Location | Munich, Germany |
Elevation AMSL | 1,703 ft / 519 m |
Coordinates | 48°04′23″N 011°38′10″E / 48.07306°N 11.63611°E |
Map | |
Location of Neubiberg Air Base |
Neubiberg Air Base is a former German Air Force and United States Air Force airfield which was closed in 1991. It is located 9 km south of the city of Munich, Germany.
Today the former base area holds the campus of Bundeswehr University of Munich. There is also student housing in the area. The runways are used as a recreation area and for scientific testing of vehicles. Some houses have already been built and there are plans to add parks and housing where the ground is still covered by asphalt. The runway crosses over the Munich-Salzbug autobahn.
Neubiberg was originally built in 1933 as a glider field under the name "Flugplatz München Süd" (Munich South Airfield). Starting in 1935 and during World War II Neubiberg was an active Luftwaffe air base known as Unterbiberg. In 1944 Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter-bombers were stationed there. It was bombed by 15th Air Force B-24s on 16 February 1945. American armored units captured the base in April 1945.
After Neubiberg's capture, the United States Army Air Forces designated the base as Airfield R-85 Camp Rattle and stationed the 225th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion there on 16 June 1945.
On 21 July 1945, the 357th Fighter Group transferred from its base at RAF Leiston, England, to Neubiberg to take on occupation duties. It remained there until it was inactivated on 20 August 1946 and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 33d Fighter Group. The 357th was supported by the 439th Air Service Group. In November, the 70th Fighter Wing moved to Neubiberg, along with its 328th Signal Company, Wing (later 21st Communications Squadron). The base was restored for operational use by Companies A and B of the 843d Engineer Aviation Battalion, which were stationed at Neubiberg for most of 1945.