RAF Wildenrath

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox military installation |name = Royal Air Force Station Wildenrath |ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg |ensign_size = 90px |location = [[Wildenrath]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] |country = [[Germany]] |image = |alt = |caption = |image2 =  |alt2 = |caption2 = |type = Royal Air Force flying station |coordinates = {{Coord|51|06|52|N|006|13|18|E|region:DE-NW_type:airport|display=inline,title}} |pushpin_map = Germany North Rhine-Westphalia#Germany |pushpin_map_caption= Shown within North Rhine-Westphalia |pushpin_label = RAF Wildenrath |pushpin_label_position= |ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence (UK)]] |operator = [[Royal Air Force]] |controlledby = [[RAF Second Tactical Air Force]]<br>[[Royal Air Force Germany]] |open_to_public =  |site_other_label=  |site_other =  |site_area =  |code =  |built = {{Start date|1951}}/2 |used = 15 January 1952{{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=26}} – {{End date and age|1992|04|01|df=y}} |builder = |materials = |height =  |length =  |fate = closed, redeveloped into railway test centre |condition = |battles = |events = |past_commanders= [[Johnnie Johnson (RAF officer)|Gp Capt JE 'Johnnie' Johnson]] |garrison =  |occupants =  |designations = |website = |footnotes =   |IATA= WID |ICAO= EDUW |GPS = |WMO = |elevation =  |r1-number = 09/27 |r1-length = {{Convert|2468|m|0}} |r1-surface= asphalt{{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=30}} |h1-number = |h1-length =  |h1-surface= |airfield_other_label= Motto |airfield_other = ''Immer Bereit'' (German)<br>Always ready / ever prepared }} [[File:Phantom 19sq (24676024525).jpg|thumb|[[F-4 Phantom II|RAF Phantom FGR2]] XV439 'D' on short finals for runway 27, RAF Wildenrath, 7 July 1982.|alt=]] '''Royal Air Force Station 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. Wildenrath was the first of four 'clutch' stations built for the Royal Air Force in [[West Germany]] during the early 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wildenrath|url=https://www.ForgottenAirfields.com/airfield-wildenrath-448.html|website=www.ForgottenAirfields.com|publisher=Forgotten Airfields|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref>

==RAF service== [[File:RAF Jaguar Tactical Meet.JPEG|thumb|left|Visiting [[SEPECAT Jaguar|SEPECAT Jaguar GR1]] of [[No. 2 Squadron RAF]] parked on the flight line during 'Tactical Air Meet '78' at RAF Wildenrath, on 15 May 1978.|alt=]] RAF Wildenrath 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 physically close to each other, and came under the auspices of [[NATO]]'s [[Second Allied Tactical Air Force]] (2ATAF).

In 1953, the Station Commander was [[Group Captain]] [[Johnnie Johnson (RAF officer)|JE 'Johnnie' Johnson]], a top-scoring British '[[flying ace|ace]]' [[fighter pilot]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]]. There were two [[Canadair Sabre|Canadair Sabre F.4]] squadrons (Nos [[No. 67 Squadron RAF|67]] and [[No. 71 Squadron RAF|71]] Squadrons RAF), and a Sabre [[Operational conversion unit|conversion]] [[Flight (military unit)|flight]]. Also on site were 724 Signals Unit (Fighter control radar), 402 Air Stores Park, a unit of the [[RAF Regiment]], and a [[British Army]] detachment that maintained landlines (AFS).

On 15 January 1956, [[No. 88 Squadron RAF|88 Squadron]] reformed with [[English Electric Canberra|B(I).8 Canberras]] at Wildenrath, and was renumbered [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|14 Squadron]] on 17 December 1962.

From the late 1950s to 1970, Wildenrath was home to [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|14 Squadron]] and [[No. 17 Squadron RAF|17 Squadron]]; the former flew [[English Electric Canberra|B(I).8 Canberras]], and was part of the 2nd ATAF [[Tactical nuclear weapon|tactical nuclear]] [[Quick reaction force|strike force]]. The locations of their quick-readiness [[Dispersal (military)|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 '[[Casualty evacuation|CasEvac]]' (emergency casualty evacuations) usually to the United Kingdom. In November 1956, the RAF operated a three-day airlift to fly over {{Convert|100|ST|abbr=off|lk=on}} of humanitarian relief supplies from Wildenrath to [[Vienna]], for the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] to distribute in Hungary during the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian uprising]], before the revolt was ended with Soviet military intervention.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.FlightGlobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1956/1956%20-%201674.PDF|title=Service Aviation: Airlift to Hungary|journal=Flight|date=23 November 1956|page=836|access-date=15 October 2018|publisher=Reed Business Information Limited}}</ref>

In 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 [[Military colours|colours]] presented by [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] [[Sir Dermot Boyle]]. At this time, the [[commanding officer]] of 2ATAF (former [[Battle of Britain]] fighter pilot, Sir [[Christopher Foxley-Norris]]) had a [[Vickers Valetta]] aircraft as his personal transport, its lower fuselage and wings kept highly polished by the ground-crew of the [[RAF Germany]] (RAFG) Communication Flight. The aircraft was eventually declared un-airworthy due to many of its rivet-heads having been polished off. The RAFG Communications Flight later in 1969 adopted the identity of [[No. 60 Squadron RAF|60 Squadron]], which had disbanded as a [[Gloster Javelin]] squadron at [[RAF Tengah]] in Singapore the previous year.

In the 1970s, Wildenrath served as the initial home of the RAF '[[Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier Force]]', which included numbers [[No. 3 Squadron RAF|3]], [[No. 4 Squadron RAF|4]], and [[No. 20 Squadron RAF|20]] Squadrons, as well as 21(AS) Signal Regiment. In 1974–5, the Wildenrath station commander was [[Patrick Hine|Group Captain Patrick 'Paddy' Hine]], who later rose to [[Air Chief Marshal]] and Joint Commander of all British forces during the 1991 [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=The Journal of the Royal Air Force Historical Society|title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine|date=1996|issue=16|page=99|url=http://www.RAFMuseum.org.uk/documents/Research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-16-Seminar-Air-Leadershipin-War.pdf|access-date=3 May 2015}}</ref>

1976-77 saw Wildenrath's role within RAF Germany change, as it became home to the command's [[air defence]] squadrons, with [[No. 19 Squadron RAF|19 Squadron]] and [[No. 92 Squadron RAF|92 Squadron]] moving in from [[RAF Gutersloh]], having converted from the [[English Electric Lightning]] to the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in UK service|McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]], and taking advantage of the Phantom's longer range. 3 and 4 Squadrons went the opposite direction, moving to Gutersloh, while 20 Squadron stood down from the Harrier, reforming at [[RAF Bruggen]] with the [[SEPECAT Jaguar|SEPECAT Jaguar GR1]].

While nominally a communication and light transport squadron, 60 Squadron also had a secondary, covert, role. Initially using the Hunting [[Percival Pembroke]]s, and later the [[Hawker Siddeley Andover]] from the mid-to-late 1980s, they were employed to take photographs of [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and [[East Germany|East German]] armed forces while flying along the [[West Berlin Air Corridor|Berlin air corridor]]s. It also operated [[de Havilland Dove|DH Devon]] and [[de Havilland Heron|DH Heron]] aircraft. In addition to its other overt and covert functions, 60 Squadron also acted as visiting aircraft flight for Wildenrath, hosting almost every type of RAF and NATO aircraft and civilian 'trooper' [[BAC One-Eleven|BAC-111]]s and [[Boeing 737]]s.

Wildenrath was also home to an [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]] (AAC) flight operating light helicopters and fixed wing aircraft such as the [[Westland Scout]] and [[De Havilland Beaver]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://QRA-Magazin.de/en/army-air-corps-in-germany/#wildenrath|title=Army Air Corps in Germany - 31 Flight/ RASC and 131 Flight, Wildenrath|website=QRA-Magazin.de|publisher=Spotting Group Gütersloh|date=4 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712104937/http://qra-magazin.de/en/army-air-corps-in-germany/#wildenrath|archive-date=12 July 2014|access-date=6 March 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref> The flight had its own hangar facilities on the base and various flight designations throughout its tenancy. Known initially as 12 Independent Liaison Flight, it then was renamed to 31 Flight, then 131 Flight Royal Corps of Transport (ex RASC), [[No. 669 Squadron AAC]], and then in its last colours with a return to the 12 Flight title. The flight was crewed by members of the corps under which the flight was named with the [[REME]] providing the technical servicing and maintenance of the aircraft.

On 1 May 1988, two airmen from the RAF Regiment squadron based at RAF Wildenrath were [[1988 IRA attacks in the Netherlands|attacked by IRA armed assailants]] whilst sitting in a car in the nearby Dutch town of [[Roermond]]. One of the airmen died from gunshot wounds, the other was seriously injured.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

In October 1989, an RAF corporal and his infant daughter were shot dead at the petrol station in Wildenrath village, outside the RAF airbase. The [[Irish Republican Army|IRA]] claimed that it was responsible for the murders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gunmen slay British soldier and 6-month-old daughter|url=https://www.APNews.com/c32d6adcb5a4e76bc1f7ed3126fa1fe2|website=www.APNews.com|publisher=[[The Associated Press]]|access-date=23 April 2019|date=27 October 1989}}</ref>

Wildenrath had five separate [[Dispersal (military)|dispersal]] areas around its single [[runway]]. Alpha and Echo were not used in the normal flying operations of the station. No 19 Squadron operated from one of the three dispersals on the far (south) side of the airfield, designated 'Bravo Dispersal'. It also housed the two operational 'Battle Flights' for both fighter squadrons. No 92 Squadron flew from 'Delta Dispersal', with both squadrons using the [[hardened aircraft shelter]]s in 'Charlie Dispersal' for spare space to house Phantoms when necessary. Charlie Dispersal was also used by cross-trained 60 Squadron ground crew to turn around visiting aircraft during station exercises. The [[taxiway]] that ran parallel to the main runway and linked the three dispersals was used as the alternate runway for emergencies if the main runway was compromised. Alpha Dispersal was the site used for the Bloodhound launchers, and Echo Dispersal housed the fuel and lubricants storage section. 60 Squadron operated from the hangar close to the main Squadron Servicing hangar on the 'soft side' (northern) of the airbase.

Wildenrath closed as a flying base on {{End date and age|1992|04|01|df=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pietsch|first=Folkmar|date=22 December 2018|url=https://RP-online.de/nrw/staedte/wegberg/900-jahre-wildenrath-das-ende-der-raf-air-base-in-wildenrath_aid-35117205|title=Das Ende der RAF-Air-Base kam 1992|trans-title=The end of the RAF airbase came in 1992|website=RP-online.de|language=de|publisher=[[Rheinische Post]]|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> The last flying squadron still present at that time, No 60 Squadron, moved to the nearby [[RAF Brüggen]].

==Wildenrath units== [[File:Phantom RAF (13069829335).jpg|thumb|[[F-4 Phantom II|RAF Phantom FGR2]] XV419 'AA' of [[No. 19 Squadron RAF|19 Squadron]] in front of its [[hardened aircraft shelter]] at RAF Wildenrath in October 1991.|alt=]] *[[No. 3 Squadron RAF]];{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=24}} [[Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier GR1 / T2 - later converted to GR3 / T4]] *[[No. 4 Squadron RAF]];{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=25}} Harrier GR1 / T2 - later converted to GR3 / T4 *[[No. 14 Squadron RAF]]; [[English Electric Canberra]] B(I)8 (62–70),{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}} T4 *[[No. 17 Squadron RAF]]; English Electric Canberra PR7,{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=30}} T4 *[[No. 19 Squadron RAF]]; [[F-4 Phantom II]] FGR2<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gledhill|first=David|date=2017|title=Phantom in the Cold War|publisher=[[Pen & Sword|Pen & Sword Aviation]]|location=[[Barnsley]]|isbn=9781526704085|url=https://www.Amazon.co.uk/Phantom-Cold-War-Wildenrath-1977-ebook/dp/B072MGC455#reader_B072MGC455|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> *[[No. 20 Squadron RAF]];{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=31}} Harrier GR1 / T2 - later converted to GR3 / T4 *[[No. 60 Squadron RAF]];{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=44}} [[Percival Pembroke|Percival Pembroke C1 / C(PR)1]], [[Hawker Siddeley Andover|Hawker Siddeley Andover C1 / CC2]] *[[No. 67 Squadron RAF]]; [[Canadair Sabre|Canadair Sabre F4]] 1952/5{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=46}} *[[No. 71 Squadron RAF]]; Canadair Sabre F4, 1952/5{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=46}} *[[No. 88 Squadron RAF]]; English Electric Canberra B(I)8, 1956/62 renumbered to 14 Sqn{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=51}} *[[No. 92 Squadron RAF]]; F-4 Phantom II FGR2{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}} *Flight of [[No. 25 Squadron RAF]]; [[Bristol Bloodhound]] surface to air missiles sometime between 1971/83{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=33}} *[[RAF Second Tactical Air Force|2TAF]] Communications Squadron; Percival Pembroke C1 passenger duties and photo recon. *[[No. 16 Squadron RAF Regiment]] with [[Rapier (missile)|Rapier]] missiles{{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=29}} *[[No. 4 Wing RAF Regiment]]{{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=29}} *RAFG Freight Distribution Centre{{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=29}} *[[21st Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)|21 Signal Regiment]] (Air Support) (1943-){{sfn|Jackson|1986|p=30}}

==RAF Wildenrath today== Since 1997, the original [[airfield]] and immediate environs comprise the [[Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre]], a facility for testing railway vehicles operated by [[Siemens|Siemens AG]].<ref name="siemens">{{Cite web|url=http://www.Mobility.Siemens.com/mobility/en/pub/urban_mobility/rail_solutions/service/testcenter_for_railway_systems/test_und_validationcenter.htm|title=Test- and Validationcenter Wegberg-Wildenrath|website=www.Mobility.Siemens.com|publisher=[[Siemens Mobility]]|access-date=5 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kondruss|first=Bert|title=Wildenrath: Royal Air Force Base|url=https://www.Mil-Airfields.de/germany/wildenrath-air-base.html|website=www.Mil-Airfields.de|publisher=Military Airfield Directory|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> By 2007, the railway test tracks had taken over considerable areas of the airfield. All but the western threshold and overrun of the runway has been obliterated, and the eastern runway threshold is now a golf course, rather than the site of [[Bristol Bloodhound|Bloodhound]] surface to air missiles. The north-east [[Dispersal (military)|dispersal]] is completely taken over by [[Siding (rail)|sidings]], workshops, and [[Shunting (rail)|shunting loops]]. Of the southern dispersals, the central and eastern are bisected by the main railway oval test track. The south western dispersal and [[hardened aircraft shelter]]s have been dismantled and removed, with a small section of surviving [[taxiway]]s being used for recreational purposes by local residents.

The housing areas of the former RAF Wildenrath were originally used as overspill housing for [[RAF Bruggen]], and then used to accommodate other UK military personnel until the end of September 2012, when the land was formally handed back to German local authorities. Since 2015, the former married quarters have been used as temporary accommodation for [[refugee]]s, under the name 'Siedlung Petersholz' (Petersholz Estate) within the 'Zentrale Unterbringseinrichtung Wegberg' (Wegberg Central Accommodation Facility).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wichlatz|first=Helmut|date=18 September 2015|title=Wegberg-Petersholz: Die ersten Flüchtlinge haben Quartier bezogen|url=https://www.Aachener-Zeitung.de/lokales/heinsberg/wegberg-petersholz-die-ersten-fluechtlinge-haben-quartier-bezogen_aid-25657033|website=www.Aachener-Zeitung.de|language=DE|publisher=Zeitungsverlag Aachen GmbH|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Backhaus|first=Anke|date=4 December 2015|title=Bis zu 1200 Menschen sollen in Petersholz unterkommen|url=https://RP-online.de/nrw/staedte/wegberg/bis-zu-1200-menschen-sollen-in-petersholz-unterkommen_aid-20507245|website=Rheinische Post|language=DE|publisher=RP Digital GmbH|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref>

==See also== {{Commons category}} *[[List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons]]

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{Cite book|last=Jackson|first=P.|date=1986|title=Britain's Armed Forces Today: 4 RAF Germany|location=[[Shepperton]], UK|publisher=[[Ian Allan (publisher)|Ian Allan]]|isbn=0-7110-1579-1}} *{{Cite book|last=Jefford|first=C.G.|date=1988|title=RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912|location=[[Shrewsbury]], England|publisher=[[Airlife Publishing]]|isbn=1-85310-053-6}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wildenrath, RAF}} [[Category:Military airbases established in 1952]] [[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Germany]] [[Category:Military airbases closed in 1992]] [[Category:Airports in North Rhine-Westphalia]] [[Category:Defunct airports in Germany]]