The other stations were at RAF Geilenkirchen, opened on 24 May 1953, RAF Brggen, formed in 1 May 1953 and completed in July of that year, and RAF Laarbruch, opened on 15 October 1954. 1958 Gp Capt M D Bretherton, 3 Nov 1945 The crew had been called out late and had missed the start of the exercise. Gp Capt R H Goodall, xx xxx 1989 Gp Capt A J Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. WebIn the 1970s, Wildenrath served as the initial domestic of the RAF 'Harrier Force', which listed numbers 3, 4, and 20 Squadrons, as living as 21ASRegiment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Phantoms everwhere in 1991 XV408/Z together with XV404/I and in the backgroundXV494/D (Olli Olley, used with permission) Google may use your Personal Data to contextualize and personalize ads in its advertising network. Gp Capt N D Gilbart-Smith (killed in a flying accident - 21 Oct 1954), xx xxx 1954 1975 Gp Capt Wildenrath airfield (Royal Air Force Station Wildenrath, also known as RAF Wildenrath, in German: Fliegerhorst Wildenrath, ICAO: EDUW) was an airfield close to the German-Dutch border. | Celle | Detmold | Eindhoven | Fassburg | The north-east dispersal is completely taken over by sidings, workshops and shunting loops. WebEach ADR Squadron had an effective and close affiliation with its war-time station in Germany as follows: at RAF Gutersloh supporting the Harrier force, 60 (later 48 Fd Sqn when that came under command of the Regiment); 51 Fd Sqn at RAF Laarbruch; 52 Fd Sqn at Bruggen and 53 Fd Sqn at RAF Wildenrath. RAF Canberras on the flightline at Wildenrath, ca. At any rate we split from the mess, with members of 14 Squadron taking the F-4 crew away for beers at the married quarters, and me being royally entertained by the combined efforts of members of 17, 20 and 31 Squadrons elsewhere on the patch. Air P H Cribb, 17 Sep 1959Gp Capt Gp Capt S C Widdows, 23 May 1947 For the purpose of such exercises, other RAF Germany aircraft were generally regarded as hostile targets, with fighter controllers scrambling the F-4s to intercept targets for training. Eject! Thought process he must know what is going on because I certainly dont! The original airfield site and immediate environs are now used by Siemens AG under their Transportation and Automotive business arm (Siemens Mobility), as their railway testing centre; known as the Test and validation centre, Wegberg-Wildenrath. There were two Canadair Sabre F.4 squadrons (Nos 67 and 71 Squadrons RAF), and a Sabre conversion flight. It is a community housing estate for both the Joint Headquarters for NATO, and Javelin Barracks/Elmpt Station. Having arrived in casualty covered in mud and with a cut chin, there was not a soul in sight even though they had been told to expect me. 1970 The ranks shown below, where above Group Captain, indicates higher ranks the former station commanders achieved. Wg Cdr R W F Sampson (OC, No 145 Wing), 8 That over, I sat around seemingly for ages waiting to see a doctor. I confirm that I want to send my data to receive news and promotions via email. Gp Capt J D Thirlwell, xx xxx RAF Germany Communications Squadron also operated dH Devon and dH Heron aircraft. Gp Capt J A Holmes, xx xxx 1959 After closure, the base was handed over to the German authorities. Google uses the Personal Data collected to track and examine the use of this Application, compile reports on its activities and share them with other services developed by Google. [1] He went to become Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of RAF Strike Command in 1994[1] and then Commander-in-Chief of RAF Logistics Command in 1996. By 06/07/2022 ether spiritual energy 06/07/2022 ether spiritual energy Gp Capt M F D Williams (OC, No On 15 January 1956, 88 Sqn reformed with B(I).8 Canberras at Wildenrath, and was renumbered 14 Sqn on 17 December 1962. 1981 Gp Capt R H Palin, 10 Dec D B Leech, 3 Dec ? Left to right: Wing Commander Jez Case and Group Captain Jo Lincoln Image By: SAC Jack Obviously the accident was the result of a monumental cock-up. of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation, RAF Station Commanders - Gp Capt. Hours before this the hooter had sounded at RAF Wildenrath (the Phantom FGR2 base) in the early hours of the morning for a station exercise. Again names greatfully received. They were briefed hurriedly, and were the last to be allocated an aircraft, which was live armed. It was the first of four 'Clutch' air bases of the British air forces in Germany (RAF Germany) during the Cold War. Gp Capt A Ingle, 6 Jul 1945 Even Paddy was in the dark; he had just happened to look back at me in time to see the aircraft explode, and had had the presence of mind to immediately call for me to eject. The locations of their quick-readiness dispersals can still be seen to the south of the old main gate. The F-4s from Wildenrath often painted aircraft to ensure their separation. Webraf wildenrath station commanders. Dario Leone, Via Mazzini 45, 27030, Langosco (Pavia), VAT IT 02787650189. Gp Capt P H Hamley, xx Aug 1946 60 Squadron also acted as visiting aircraft flight for Wildenrath, hosting almost every type of RAF and NATO aircraft and civilian "trooper" BAC-111s and Boeing 747s. Indeed, the operations officer at RAF Wildenrath had not passed the information to the SOC because he was not aware of it himself. 88 (renumbered later to 14) and 17 Squadrons; the former flew B(I)8 Canberras, and was part of the 2nd ATAF tactical nuclear strike force. They took off from RAF Wildenrath to mount a combat patrol under the control of the SOC. Capt C V Winn, 6 Jun 1959Gp Capt H N G G E Ord, 8 Mar 1980 Again names greatfully received. Wegberg hospital was worse than useless. He is a keen restorer of vintage cars and old airplanes, and is president of the Light Aircraft Association. Sqn Ldr N R Stevens, xx Mar 1953 Royal Air Force Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force military airbase near Wildenrath in North RhineWestphalia, Germany that operated from 1952 to 1992. Gutersloh | Hambuhren | Jever | Laarbruch The surviving taxiways are being used for recreational purposes by the local civilian residents. Unlike many other air bases, the airfield was not converted for civilian use as an airport. J H Chaplin, 8 Jul 1968 No 19 Squadron operated from one of the three dispersals on the far (south) side of the airfield, designated 'Bravo Dispersal'. The eastern runway threshold had been turned into a Golf course, rather than the site of Bloodhound surface to air missiles that used to be there. Gp Capt H L Maxwell WebRoyal 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. Until 2006, a YWCA Shop and Cafe existed; but this has now been removed as the YWCA has left the forces community. [10], One of his sons is a glider pilot, while another, James, is a Technical Director of a Formula One team.[11]. WebOn March 1st 1958 the Squadron was formed at Royal Air Force Laarbruch equipped with Canberra B (i)8, the first ones being delivered in February 1958. Gp Capt P Kelly, xx xxx 1957 Still distracted by the vision of Germanic loveliness peering (fondly?) The RAFG Communications Flight later in 1969 adopted the identity of 60 Squadron, which had disbanded as a Gloster Javelin squadron at RAF Tengah in Singapore the previous year. Sep 1945 WebRAF Wildenrath, RAF Brggen, and RAF Laarbruch were physically close to each other, and came under the auspices of NATO's Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF). Always ready / ever prepared: RAF Phantom FGR2 XV439 'D' on short finals for runway 27, RAF Wildenrath, Wildenrath was th Sqn Ldr F A Drury, xx Aug 1956 Around this time, the CO of 2ATAF (former Battle of Britain fighter pilot, Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris) had a Vickers Valetta aircraft as his personal transport. See on the interactive map: 5106'54"N 00612'49"E Left to right: Wing Commander Jez Case and Group Captain Jo Lincoln Image By: SAC Jack Gp Capt P H Cribb, xx May 1953Gp Again names greatfully received. Royal Air Force, Strike Command Media Services (Video) (Production company) Production date 2005-05 Place made GB Dimensions. Unlike other former RAF airbases in Germany (such as Airport Weeze, previously named Niederrhein), it was not turned into a civilian commercial airport. [7], He was Director of Strategy, and subsequently, Operations Director at Jaguar Racing from May 2001 to October 2004. Aircraft and crews had been generated, and the aircraft loaded with live weapons in accordance with normal policy for exercising quick-reaction forces in NATO. Wildenrath was the first of four 'Clutch' stations built for the RAF in Germany during the early 1950s. Educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Allison entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell as a flight cadet in 1961. Gp Capt J C MacDonald, xx xxx xxxx Below are just some of our members who have served at RAF Wildenrath. One crew, who shall remain nameless, were scrambled for such a mission in Phantom FGR2 XV422. In 1993 the first concert, 3 day festival "Rock over Germany", took place. It was later that evening that the Brggen station commander discovered they were in the bar with me, and pointed out that this would not look good for the subsequent board of inquiry since we could be accused of collaborating. WebIn 1960, the Station Commander was Group Captain "Bats" Barthold and 17 Squadron was commanded by Wing Commander Dugald "Buster" Lumsden, who accepted the squadron's colours presented by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle . The following article contains excerpts from Group Captain Steve Griggss story titled With Friends Like These which appears in Ian Halls book Jaguar Boys. The original airfield site and immediate surroundings were taken over by Siemens AG under their Transportation and Automotive business arm (Siemens Mobility) as their railway testing centre. J B Burns, xx May Deputy Commander Operations Air Marshal Harvey Smyth The Deputy Commander of Operations is based at Air Command as the Royal Air Forces senior war fighter. As such, it formed a useful additional resource for 2ATAF senior officers to use to maintain their flying hours. WebRoyal Air Force Wildenrath, commonly known as RAF Wildenrath, was a Royal Air Force (RAF) military airbase near Wildenrath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that operated from 1952 to 1992. Coordinates: 51654.3N 61249.4E / 51.115083N 6.213722E / 51.115083; 6.213722. 1961 Handed over to German Air Force, 1 Jun 1954Gp Capt G W Petre, 29 Dec 1957Gp