RAF Gütersloh



Royal Air Force Station Gütersloh, more commonly known as RAF Gütersloh, was a Royal Air Force Germany military airbase, the nearest Royal Air Force airbase to the East/West German border, in the vicinity of the town of Gütersloh. It was constructed by the Germans prior to World War II. The base was captured by the Americans in April 1945 and was handed over to the RAF in June 1945 as Headquarters No. 2 Group RAF.

History
Its early history is largely undetermined. It is known that construction began in 1935, and the station was active in 1944-45 with Ju-88 Nightfighters of 5./NJG 2 (Nachtjagdgeschwader 2) as part of the Defense of the Reich defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe.

The base was captured by the Americans in April 1945 and designated as "Advanced Landing Ground Y-99". The Americans laid down a 4,000' SMT hardened runway and the Ninth Air Force operated F-4 Lightning and F-5 Mustang reconnaissance aircraft of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group in late April. Also the P-38 Lightning-equipped 370th Fighter Group operated from Gütersloh until the German Capitulation on 8 May. The 370th remained until the airfield was turned over to the RAF as part of the formation of the British Occupation Zone of Germany on 27 June.

RAF Control
The RAF established Headquarters No. 2 Group RAF after the Americans moved south. From 1958 RAF Gütersloh fell under the operational command of 2d ATAF, like all other RAFG bases. The RAF initially built a 1,830 meter long runway, which was later lengthened to 2,252 meters

During its history as an RAF base, it was home to two squadrons of the English Electric Lightning F2/F2A - No. 92 Squadron RAF and No. 19 Squadron RAF from 1968 to 1976. It then became home to No. 3 Squadron RAF and No. 4 Squadron RAF which flew successive variants of the BAe Harrier. After the Harriers departed, the RAF continued to operate helicopters, No. 18 Squadron RAF with the Boeing Chinook and No. 230 Squadron RAF with the Puma HC1.

Gütersloh today
Following the withdrawal by the Royal Air Force in 1993, the base became a British Army Garrison, called the Princess Royal Barracks, Gütersloh, a base for British Army helicopters, and Royal Logistic Corps Regiments.


 * HQ Gütersloh Garrison
 * HQ 102 Logistic Brigade
 * 1 Regiment, AAC
 * 652 Squadron, AAC
 * 661 Squadron, AAC
 * 1 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
 * 74 HQ Squadron
 * 2 Close Support Squadron
 * 12 Close Support Squadron
 * 23 General Support Squadron,
 * 2 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
 * 27 HQ Squadron
 * 22 Close Support Squadron
 * 45 Close Support Squadron
 * 76 General Support Squadron
 * 6 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
 * 60 HQ Squadron
 * 62 Squadron
 * 67 Squadron
 * 68 Squadron
 * 30 Squadron (part of 24 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps)
 * 5 Regiment, Royal Military Police
 * 114 Provost Company
 * 262 Brigade Signal and HQ Squadron, Royal Signals