Woensdrecht Air Base
Encyclopedia
Woensdrecht Air Base is a military airport near the town of Woensdrecht
, about 10 km south of the city of Bergen op Zoom
in the Netherlands. It is located near highway A58 and the border with Belgium
.
The airport was founded in 1934 as a glider
and training airfield for the Royal Dutch Air Force. During German
occupation in the Second World War, the airfield was expanded. After the war, it was used once again by the Royal Dutch Air Force for training purposes. In 1983 it was decided that Woensdrecht would house 48 Ground Launched Cruise Missile
s fitted with nuclear warheads for the 486th Tactical Missile Wing
of the U.S. Seventeenth Air Force
. The missile wing would have had a maximum complement of 1100 personnel. However, just after completion of the required facilities, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
put a halt to these plans.
The airport currently has one runway, 07/25, which is 2,440 meters (8,005 feet) long. It is now mainly used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force as a training and logistical base and normally does not house any combat units. It currently also has one civilian user, Fokker Services, a company providing maintenance for primarily but not exclusively Fokker
aircraft, the Fokker 50 and Fokker 70 were in use by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and government. Because of the presence of Fokker Services, a large number of Fokker aircraft is usually present at the airfield. The Royal Netherlands Air Force mainly operates the Pilatus PC-7
for initial training from this Air Base.
Woensdrecht
Woensdrecht is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.Woensdrecht is mainly known for Woensdrecht Air Base. In 1983 it was decided that the US would station 48 nuclear armed cruise missiles here, unless the USSR would reduce the number of SS-20 missiles to 378. Since the number was...
, about 10 km south of the city of Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
in the Netherlands. It is located near highway A58 and the border with Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
The airport was founded in 1934 as a glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
and training airfield for the Royal Dutch Air Force. During German
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...
occupation in the Second World War, the airfield was expanded. After the war, it was used once again by the Royal Dutch Air Force for training purposes. In 1983 it was decided that Woensdrecht would house 48 Ground Launched Cruise Missile
Ground Launched Cruise Missile
The Ground Launched Cruise Missile, or GLCM, was a ground-launched cruise missile developed by the United States Air Force in the last decade of the Cold War.-Overview:...
s fitted with nuclear warheads for the 486th Tactical Missile Wing
486th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 486th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time....
of the U.S. Seventeenth Air Force
Seventeenth Air Force
Seventeenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service...
. The missile wing would have had a maximum complement of 1100 personnel. However, just after completion of the required facilities, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. Signed in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on December 8, 1987, it was ratified by the United States Senate on May 27, 1988 and...
put a halt to these plans.
The airport currently has one runway, 07/25, which is 2,440 meters (8,005 feet) long. It is now mainly used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force as a training and logistical base and normally does not house any combat units. It currently also has one civilian user, Fokker Services, a company providing maintenance for primarily but not exclusively Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
aircraft, the Fokker 50 and Fokker 70 were in use by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and government. Because of the presence of Fokker Services, a large number of Fokker aircraft is usually present at the airfield. The Royal Netherlands Air Force mainly operates the Pilatus PC-7
Pilatus PC-7
The Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft, manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying. It has been selected by more than twenty air forces as...
for initial training from this Air Base.
External links
Luchtmacht.nl - Woensdrecht (RNAF website for Woensdrecht Air Base)- Fokker Services
- Bergen op Zoom - Woensdrecht (WOE / BZM / EHWO) photos at Airliners.netAirliners.netAirliners.net is an aviation website founded by Johan Lundgren, Sweden, in 1997, evolving from his previous Pictures of Modern Airliners site started in 1994...