Erding Air Base: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Airport
[[Image:Erdingab-germany.jpg|thumb|350px|Aerial Photo of Erding Air Base - Germany, 2004]]
| name = Erding Air Base
⚫
[[Image:F-86d-52-3900-440FIS.jpg|thumb|300px|North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre Serial 52-3900 of the 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Erding Air Base, 1956]]
[[Image:Roundel of the German Air Force border.svg|40px]]
⚫
'''Erding Air Base''' is a [[Germany|German]] Air Force airfield near [[Munich]]. During the [[Cold War]], it was a [[United States Air Force]] facility, used as an Air Depot, Air Base and an Air Station.
| nativename = Flugplatz Erding
| image = Erdingab-germany.jpg
| IATA = none
| ICAO = ETSE
| type = Military
| owner = Unified Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany
| operator = [[Luftwaffe]] (German Air Force)
| city-served =
| location = [[Erding]], [[Germany]]
| elevation-f = 1,515
| elevation-m = 462
| coordinates = {{coord|48|19|21|N|011|56|55|E|type:airport|display=inline}}
| website =
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 08/26| r1-length-f = 8,271
| r1-length-m = 2,521
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]
| footnotes =
}}
⚫
[[Image:F-86d-52-3900-440FIS.jpg|thumb|220px|North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre Serial 52-3900 of the 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Erding Air Base, 1956]]
⚫
'''Erding Air Base''' is a [[Germany|German]] Air Force airfield near [[Munich]]. It is the home of the 5th Air Defense Missile Squadron and the 1st Air Force Maintenance Regiment.


During [[World War II]] Erding was a [[Luftwaffe]] Airfield
The last public [[airshow]] at Erding was held during the summer of [[1986]].


==History==
Prior to and during [[World War II]], Erding was a [[Luftwaffe]] Airfield. It was seized by the [[United States Army]] in April 1945 and used as a [[United States Air Force]] facility during the early years of the [[Cold War]].

⚫
Erding was used as an Air Depot, Air Base and an Air Station. On 14 Dezember 1957, control of Erding Air Base was returned to the reconstituted [[Luftwaffe|West German Air Force]] as a front line facility where it hosted various F-104, Tornado and other fighter squadrons.

=== USAF Units At Erding AB ===
USAF Units stationed at Erding were:
USAF Units stationed at Erding were:


Line 10: Line 37:
* 1956-1960: 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
* 1956-1960: 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
* 1970-1971: 52nd Tactical Fighter Group
* 1970-1971: 52nd Tactical Fighter Group
[[Image:Amc.jpg|left|110px]]
⚫
Originally developed as an Air Depot in the early postwar years, the mission of the '''7485th Air Depot Wing''' provided depot-level maintenance of USAFE and NATO fighters. With the creation of [[NATO]] in response to [[Cold War]] tensions in Europe, USAFE wanted its major air bases in West Germany moved west of the Rhein River to provide greater air defense warning time.


⚫
Originally developed as an Air Depot in the early postwar years, the mission of the '''7485th Air Depot Wing''' provided depot-level maintenance of USAFE and NATO fighters. With the opening of [[Châteauroux-Déols Air Base]], [[France]] in [[1953]], the mission of Erding Air Depot was transferred and the Air Depot Wing was deactivated.
⚫
With the opening of [[Châteauroux-Déols Air Base]], [[France]] in [[1953]], the mission of Erding Air Depot was transferred and the Air Depot Wing was deactivated. Renamed Erding Air Base, it became an air defense facility in [[1956]] with the assignment of the [[F-86]]D equipped '''440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron''', a detachment of the '''86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing''' at [[Ramstein Air Base|Landstuhl Air Base]] until the arrival of the [[F-102]] in Europe and budget cutbacks in [[1960]] forced it's closure.


⚫
With the creation of [[NATO]] in response to [[Cold War]] tensions in Europe, USAFE wanted its major air bases in West Germany moved west of the [[Rein River]] to provide greater air defense warning time. The establishment of the new bases in the [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] diminished the USAF use of Erding. It became an air defense facility in [[1956]] with the assignment of the [[F-86]]D equipped '''440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron''', a detachment of the '''86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing''' at [[Ramstein Air Base|Landstuhl Air Base]] until the arrival of the [[F-102]] in Europe and budget cutbacks in [[1960]] forced it's closure.
⚫
Erding was turned over to the German Air Force as a front line facility where it hosted various F-104, Tornado and other fighter squadrons.


In [[1966]] with France withdrawing from [[NATO]] it left a gap in the air defense network of Europe. Operation '''Creek Ale''' filled that gap by rotating [[F-102]] interceptors from various squadrons of the '''86th Air Division''' based at Ramstein. Squadrons from
In [[1966]] with France withdrawing from [[NATO]] it left a gap in the air defense network of Europe. Operation '''Creek Ale''' filled that gap by rotating [[F-102|Convair F-102A Delta Dart]] interceptors from various squadrons of the '''86th Air Division''' based at [[Ramstein AB]]. Squadrons from [[Soesterberg Air Base]], [[Zaragosa AB]], [[Hahn AB]], [[Bitburg AB]] and [[Ramstein AB]] rotated to Erding for air defense alert.

Soesterberg, Zaragosa, Hahn, Bitburg and Ramstein rotated to Erding for air defense alert. With the deactivation of the 86th AD in [[1970]], the '''52d Fighter Group''' was formed at Erding with some of the F-102's on a permanent basis. In [[1971]] the F-102s were withdrawn from Europe and the 52d FG was deactivated.
With the deactivation of the 86th Air Division in [[1970]], the '''52d Fighter Group''' was formed at Erding with some of the F-102's on a permanent basis. In [[1971]] the F-102s were withdrawn from Europe and the 52d FG was deactivated.


Relegated to Air Station status, Erding hosted TDY units of CONUS based USAF aircraft though the 1980s for short-term deployments as part of the annual '''Reforger''' exercises.
Relegated to Air Station status, Erding hosted TDY units of CONUS based USAF aircraft though the 1980s for short-term deployments as part of the annual '''Reforger''' exercises.


=== USAF Emblem Gallery ===
It remains an active German Air Force Base today.
<center>

<gallery>
The last public [[airshow]] have been held in summer [[1986]] on the airfield.
Image:United States Air Forces in Europe.png|United States Air Forces In Europe<BR>1945-1955, 1966-1971
Image:Amc.jpg|Air Materiel Command<BR>1948-1954
Image:86ad-ram.jpg|86th Air Division<BR>1966-1971
</gallery>
</center>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[German Air Force]]

* [[United States Air Force In Germany]]
* [[United States Air Force In Germany]]


==References==
==References==
* Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.

* Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
⚫
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.

* Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983

⚫
* Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

* USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html]
* USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html]


Revision as of 14:21, 14 March 2008

Erding Air Base

Flugplatz Erding
File:Erdingab-germany.jpg
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerUnified Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany
OperatorLuftwaffe (German Air Force)
LocationErding, Germany
Elevation AMSL1,515 ft / 462 m
Coordinates48°19′21″N 011°56′55″E / 48.32250°N 11.94861°E / 48.32250; 11.94861
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 2,521 8,271 Asphalt
North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre Serial 52-3900 of the 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Erding Air Base, 1956

Erding Air Base is a German Air Force airfield near Munich. It is the home of the 5th Air Defense Missile Squadron and the 1st Air Force Maintenance Regiment.

The last public airshow at Erding was held during the summer of 1986.

History

Prior to and during World War II, Erding was a Luftwaffe Airfield. It was seized by the United States Army in April 1945 and used as a United States Air Force facility during the early years of the Cold War.

Erding was used as an Air Depot, Air Base and an Air Station. On 14 Dezember 1957, control of Erding Air Base was returned to the reconstituted West German Air Force as a front line facility where it hosted various F-104, Tornado and other fighter squadrons.

USAF Units At Erding AB

USAF Units stationed at Erding were:

  • 1948-1954: 7485th Air Depot Wing
  • 1956-1960: 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  • 1970-1971: 52nd Tactical Fighter Group

Originally developed as an Air Depot in the early postwar years, the mission of the 7485th Air Depot Wing provided depot-level maintenance of USAFE and NATO fighters. With the opening of Châteauroux-Déols Air Base, France in 1953, the mission of Erding Air Depot was transferred and the Air Depot Wing was deactivated.

With the creation of NATO in response to Cold War tensions in Europe, USAFE wanted its major air bases in West Germany moved west of the Rein River to provide greater air defense warning time. The establishment of the new bases in the Rhineland-Palatinate diminished the USAF use of Erding. It became an air defense facility in 1956 with the assignment of the F-86D equipped 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, a detachment of the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Landstuhl Air Base until the arrival of the F-102 in Europe and budget cutbacks in 1960 forced it's closure.

In 1966 with France withdrawing from NATO it left a gap in the air defense network of Europe. Operation Creek Ale filled that gap by rotating Convair F-102A Delta Dart interceptors from various squadrons of the 86th Air Division based at Ramstein AB. Squadrons from Soesterberg Air Base, Zaragosa AB, Hahn AB, Bitburg AB and Ramstein AB rotated to Erding for air defense alert.

With the deactivation of the 86th Air Division in 1970, the 52d Fighter Group was formed at Erding with some of the F-102's on a permanent basis. In 1971 the F-102s were withdrawn from Europe and the 52d FG was deactivated.

Relegated to Air Station status, Erding hosted TDY units of CONUS based USAF aircraft though the 1980s for short-term deployments as part of the annual Reforger exercises.

USAF Emblem Gallery

  • United States Air Forces In Europe 1945-1955, 1966-1971
    United States Air Forces In Europe
    1945-1955, 1966-1971
  • Air Materiel Command 1948-1954
    Air Materiel Command
    1948-1954
  • 86th Air Division 1966-1971
    86th Air Division
    1966-1971

See also

References

  • Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
  • USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present [1]

External links

48°19′21″N 011°57′3″E / 48.32250°N 11.95083°E / 48.32250; 11.95083

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