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RAF Geilenkirchen

Coordinates: 50°57′36.7″N 6°2′32.6″E / 50.960194°N 6.042389°E / 50.960194; 6.042389
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RAF Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany
RAF Geilenkirchen is located in Germany
RAF Geilenkirchen
RAF Geilenkirchen
Shown within Germany
Coordinates50°57′36.7″N 6°2′32.6″E / 50.960194°N 6.042389°E / 50.960194; 6.042389
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Second Tactical Air Force
Royal Air Force Germany
Site history
Built1952 (1952)/3
In useMay 1953 – 28 January 1968 (1968)
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: GKE, ICAO: ETNG
Elevation90 metres (295 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 10,010 metres (32,841 ft) Concrete
MottoCeler Respondere

Royal Air Force Geilenkirchen more commonly known as RAF Geilenkirchen is a former Royal Air Force station in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, built by the British who used the facility mainly as an airfield for RAF fighter squadrons from May 1953 until 21 January 1968.

History

Geilenkirchen squadrons

Post RAF history

The RAF handed over the station to German Luftwaffe in March 1968. The Germans used the airfield as home for a Surface-to-Surface Missile Wing equipped with Pershing missiles with support from the United States Army.

Current use

In 1980, the station became NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, the main operating base for NATO's Airborne Early Warning and Control force, operating 14 Boeing E-3A Sentry aircraft.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 00.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.