Wunstorf Air Base

Wunstorf Air Base RAF Wunstorf Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) B-116
Aerial picture prior to 2010's expansion
Coordinates	52°27′17″N 009°25′44″E / 52.45472°N 9.42889°E / 52.45472; 9.42889 (Wunstorf Air Base)
Type	Military Airfield
Site information
Controlled by	Bundeswehr (Air Force)
Site history
In use	1936-Present
Battles/wars	World War II
Garrison information
Occupants	Luftwaffe (National Socialist), 1936-1945   Royal Air Force, 1945-1957   German Air Force (FRG), 1957-Present

Airfield information
IATA: none ICAO: ETNW
Summary
Elevation AMSL	187 ft / 57 m
Coordinates	52°27′17″N 009°25′44″E / 52.45472°N 9.42889°E / 52.45472; 9.42889Coordinates: 52°27′17″N 009°25′44″E / 52.45472°N 9.42889°E / 52.45472; 9.42889
Map
ETNW Location of Wunstorf Air Base
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 03/21 5,573 1,699 Asphalt 08/26 8,193 2,499 Concrete 08R/26L 3.569 1,088 Sod

Wunstorf Air Base is a German Air Force military airfield (air base), located 6 km south-southwest of Neustadt am Rübenberge or 4 km north-northwest of Wunstorf in Lower Saxony, Germany. Wunstorf Air Base is the home to Air Transport Wing 62 (Lufttransportgeschwader 62), the unit to operate all German Airbus A400M Atlas.

The airfield was originally opened in 1936 for the National Socialist Luftwaffe. During the Second World War, it was seized by the British Army on 7 April 1945, in a fierce battle by elements of the 5th Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division. During the battle, in which the 13th Battalion was also engaged, the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion lost 6 killed, and 21 wounded, most from the initial ambush of the four leading trucks of B Company. The airfield was captured with 19 Me 109s, 4 Fw 190s, 2 Ju 88s, 2 Ju 52s and much other valuable equipment.

After the battle, the base was taken over by the Royal Air Force, including Canadian (R.C.A.F.) Wing 126 of the British 2nd Tactical Air Force, and designated as Advanced Landing Ground B-116 Wunstorf.

The airfield features heavily in the book "13 - Lucky For Some" which is about the history of the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion. There are many then and now photographs as well as maps and diagrams of battles that took place in the region.