Rheine Air Base
Encyclopedia
Rheine Air Base is located near the village of Bentlage, 2 km northwest of the city
of Rheine
, North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
.
In 1939 works to build an air base for the Luftwaffe
began. These works were completed in 1940. During World War II
extensive use was made of the air base, particularly by night and day fighter squadrons. After the war the air base was abandoned.
In 1960, following the founding of the German Armed Forces
in 1955 and the establishing of a new branch within the German Army
, the Aviation Corps, completely new military installations, hangars and a small runway
made of asphalt
, were constructed on the grounds of the former German Air Force base.
Since 1960 various units of the German Army Aviation Corps have been stationed at Rheine Air Base. Initially, these units flew helicopters of the type Sikorsky H-34
which were used extensively during the relief operation following the disastrous North Sea flood of 1962
. Another type of helicopter that was stationed in this period at Rheine Air Base was the Alouette II.
In 1974, the CH-53 replaced the by now obsolete Sikorsky H-34 and has been in service ever since. A small number of Bo 105VBH is also stationed at Rheine. In 1975, the air base was officially named Theodor Blank
Barracks after the first Federal Minister of Defence
of Germany.
Since then helicopters from Rheine saw action in as different places as Italy
, Greece
and the Pyrenees
mainly by offering help and logistic support after natural disasters.
Since unification of Germany in 1990, units from Rheine were deployed in as various part as the Balkans
, Iraq
and Afghanistan
under the auspices of either NATO, the UN or the EU.
All units stationed at Rheine Air Base were incorporated into Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 in 2003.
In 2004, after a further restructuring of the Bundeswehr, during which a large number of bases were closed, Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 was given the honorary name Münsterland, this being the result of the German Army's continuing commitment to the base at the time.
Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 is part of Airmobile Operations Division
.
In October 2011 the German Federal Ministry of Defence
announced a reorganisation/reduction of the German Armed Forces. As a consequence, Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 and all auxiliary units will be disbanded. The only remaining military personnel will be employed at the defence depot. This means that the number of military personnel at the air base will be reduced by almost 94 per cent to 120. The helicopters stationed at Rheine Air Base will be relocated to Laupheim Air Base in Southern Germany where they will be integrated into a newly created German Air Force squadron.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Rheine
Rheine
Rheine is a city in the district of Steinfurt in Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest city in the district and the location of Rheine Air Base.-Geography:Rheine is located on the river Ems, approx. north of Münster, approx...
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1939 works to build an air base for the Luftwaffe
History of the Luftwaffe during World War II
The German Luftwaffe was one of the strongest, most doctrinally advanced, and most battle-experienced air forces in the world when World War II started in Europe in September 1939. Officially unveiled in 1935, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, its purpose was to support Adolf Hitler's...
began. These works were completed in 1940. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
extensive use was made of the air base, particularly by night and day fighter squadrons. After the war the air base was abandoned.
In 1960, following the founding of the German Armed Forces
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
in 1955 and the establishing of a new branch within the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, the Aviation Corps, completely new military installations, hangars and a small runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
made of asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
, were constructed on the grounds of the former German Air Force base.
Since 1960 various units of the German Army Aviation Corps have been stationed at Rheine Air Base. Initially, these units flew helicopters of the type Sikorsky H-34
H-34 Choctaw
The Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw was a piston-engined military helicopter originally designed by American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky for the United States Navy for service in the anti-submarine warfare role....
which were used extensively during the relief operation following the disastrous North Sea flood of 1962
North Sea flood of 1962
The North Sea flood of 1962 was a natural disaster affecting mainly the coastal regions of Germany and in particular the city of Hamburg in the night from 16 February to 17 February 1962...
. Another type of helicopter that was stationed in this period at Rheine Air Base was the Alouette II.
In 1974, the CH-53 replaced the by now obsolete Sikorsky H-34 and has been in service ever since. A small number of Bo 105VBH is also stationed at Rheine. In 1975, the air base was officially named Theodor Blank
Theodor Blank
Theodor Anton Blank was a German politician of the CDU. He was one of the founders of the CDU in 1945....
Barracks after the first Federal Minister of Defence
Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of Defence is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany...
of Germany.
Since then helicopters from Rheine saw action in as different places as Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
mainly by offering help and logistic support after natural disasters.
Since unification of Germany in 1990, units from Rheine were deployed in as various part as the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
under the auspices of either NATO, the UN or the EU.
All units stationed at Rheine Air Base were incorporated into Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 in 2003.
In 2004, after a further restructuring of the Bundeswehr, during which a large number of bases were closed, Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 was given the honorary name Münsterland, this being the result of the German Army's continuing commitment to the base at the time.
Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 is part of Airmobile Operations Division
Airmobile Operations Division
Airmobile Operations Division is a division of the German Army. Its staff is based at Veitshöchheim near Würzburg. The division was founded on July 1, 2002 and reported for duty October 8, 2002 . It incorporates units from various branches of the German Army. These units are stationed all over...
.
In October 2011 the German Federal Ministry of Defence
Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of Defence is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany...
announced a reorganisation/reduction of the German Armed Forces. As a consequence, Army Aviation Medium Transport Regiment 15 and all auxiliary units will be disbanded. The only remaining military personnel will be employed at the defence depot. This means that the number of military personnel at the air base will be reduced by almost 94 per cent to 120. The helicopters stationed at Rheine Air Base will be relocated to Laupheim Air Base in Southern Germany where they will be integrated into a newly created German Air Force squadron.
See also
- German Army Aviation Corps
- History of the German Army Aviation Corps
- German ArmyGerman ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...