Haslemoen



Haslemoen is a former military base situated in Våler, Hedmark, Norway. It is also the site of Haslemoen Airport and was the site of Haslemoen Station on the Solør Line. Haslemoen is now used as a sporting center, has partially be transformed into farmland and hosts a transit base for asylum seekers.

History
The interest to establish an airfield and military base at Haslemoen was first articulated by the Norwegian Army Air Service in the late 1930s. Their two main air stations in Eastern Norway, Kjeller and Gardermoen, were both too small. They therefore proposed that the relatively flat, forested areas at Haslemoen would be a suitable site for a main air station. Grants to expropriate 5.7 km2 was granted by Parliament in February 1940. Clearing of 2.0 km2 was completed by April. A planned meeting om 9 April concerning further construction was, however, interrupted by the German invasion.

Haslemoen was built in 1943 as a camp for conscripted labor services, serving in the Våler area. Haslemoen served in this capacity until the end of the year, when it was taken over by Luftwaffe. The airfield was taken into use in late 1944, although minor works continued until the end of the war in May 1945. Both a runway, measuring 1800 by, and a taxiway were built, along with auxiliary buildings, barracks, hangars, storehouses and workshops.

Haslemoen Base was rebuilt for the Artillery Battalion and opened on 24 April 1955. The base hosted the World Military Pentathlon Championship in 1964.

The artillery was moved to Rena Base in 2003 and Haslemoen subsequently closed. The 18 km2 property was bought by Våler Municipality for 46 million Norwegian krone in 2007. The military abandonment saw the airport facilities being used for motor sports. The pinnacle was hosting 2007 Rally Norway. The municipality changed the focus away from motor sports and instead initiated a program to cultivate 6 km2 of the former base, including the airport area.