RAF Wildenrath
| RAF Wildenrath | |
|---|---|
| Active | 15 January 1952 – 1 April 1992 |
| Country | Germany |
| Allegiance | UK: British Armed Forces |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Flying station |
| Role | Fighter attack and air defence |
| Part of |
RAF Second Tactical Air Force, then Royal Air Force Germany |
| Garrison/HQ | Wildenrath, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Motto(s) | Immer Bereit ([German] Always ready /ever prepared) |
| Royal Air Force Ensign |  |
| March | Royal Air Force March Past |
| Equipment |
English Electric Canberra, Phantom FGR.2, Harrier, Bloodhound missiles |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Gp Capt JE "Johnnie" Johnson |
| RAF Wildenrath | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military (Airport no longer in operation) | ||||||||||
| Owner | formerly: Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||
| Operator | formerly: Royal Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Wildenrath, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Royal Air Force Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force military airbase near Wildenrath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany that operated from 1952 to 1992. Wildenrath was the first of four 'Clutch' stations built for the RAF in Germany during the early 1950s. It opened on 15 January 1952, and was followed by RAF Geilenkirchen on 24 May 1953, RAF Brüggen in July 1953 and RAF Laarbruch that opened on 15 October 1954. RAF Wildenrath, RAF Brüggen and RAF Laarbruch were close to each other and came under the auspices of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF).
In 1953, the station Commanding Officer was Group Captain JE "Johnnie" Johnson - a top-scoring British "Ace" fighter pilot of the Second World War. There were two Canadair Sabre F.4 squadrons (Nos 67 and 71 Squadrons RAF), and a Sabre conversion flight. Also on site were 724 Signals Unit (Fighter control radar) 402 Air Stores Park, a unit of the RAF Regiment and an Army detachment that maintained land lines (AFS).
In the late 1950s to 1970, Wildenrath was home to Nos. 14 and 17 Squadrons; the former flew B(I).8 Canberras, and was part of the 2nd ATAF tactical nuclear strike force. The locations of their quick-readiness dispersals can still be seen to the south of the former main gate. No. 17 Squadron flew the PR.7 Canberra, and the two squadrons' "in house" T.4 training aircraft were combined into the so-called "T4 Flight" as a separate sub-unit, forming a useful additional resource for 2ATAF senior officers to use to maintain their flying hours. In the early 1960s, 88 Squadron Canberras were also based at Wildenrath. The base was also used for 'CasEvac' (emergency casualty evacuations) usually to the UK.
...
Wikipedia