Eschwege Airfield is a former military airfield located in
Germany in the northwest part of
Eschwege (Hessen); approximately 170 miles southwest of
Berlin.
Fliegerhorst Eschwege was used during
World War II by the German
Luftwaffe as a transport and support airfield. It was seized in early April 1945 by the
United States Army and used as a
Ninth Air Force combat airfield until the end of the war in Europe. It was closed in January 1946 and was used as a
displaced persons camp until 1949.
The airfield/camp was subsequently dismantled and the facility redeveloped into an industrial area.
History
Eschwege was opened as a Luftwaffe airfield in 1937 as a
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52/3m (nicknamed ''Tante Ju'' ("Aunt Ju") and ''Iron Annie'') is a transport aircraft that was designed and manufactured by German aviation company Junkers.
Development of the Ju 52 commenced during 1930, headed by German Aeros ...
transport airfield, with Kampfgeschwader 25 (KG 25) being formed at the airfield in April 1937. The airfield was used as a transport and support airfield throughout
World War II, with numerous Luftwaffe ground units being formed there and then moved to combat assignments elsewhere.
[ The Luftwaffe, 1933-45](_blank)
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The airfield was captured by United States Army forces in early April 1945. The IX Engineering Command 825th Engineering Aviation Brigade moved in about 6 April and cleared mines and other wreckage from the field, declaring it operationally ready for Allied combat aircraft on 7 April. It was designated as Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) were temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II during the liberation of Europe. They were built in the UK prior to the invasion and thereafter in northwest Europe from 6 June 19 ...
"R-11 Eschwege". The Ninth Air Force 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group moved in on 10 April and remained until July, flying photo-reconnaissance missions from the airfield using a variety of aircraft.[Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. .][Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.]
After the end of the war, the airfield was turned over to Air Technical Service Command
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
, and became a facility for the scrapping of captured Luftwaffe aircraft and other German military equipment. It was closed at the end of 1945.
It became a displaced persons (DP) camp in January 1946, housing approximately 1,770 Jews at the time of its opening. At its peak, on October 19, 1946, Eschwege housed roughly 3,355 Jews. The camp closed on April 26, 1949.
Today the site is an industrial area, with some of the original structures still remaining.Fliegerhorste.de - Eschwege
(German), site retrieved August 19, 2012.
See also
*
Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) were temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II during the liberation of Europe. They were built in the UK prior to the invasion and thereafter in northwest Europe from 6 June 19 ...
References
External links
{{USAAF 9th Air Force UK
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Germany
Airports established in 1937
Airports in Hesse