Faßberg Air Base

Faßberg Air Base (Heeresflugplatz Faßberg) is located 2 km northeast of the municipality of Faßberg, Lower Saxony, Germany. The air base is jointly used by the German Army and the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Its main user is the German Army Aviation Corps.

History
An airfield was established in 1934. However, since Germany was not allowed to possess an air force (Luftwaffe) under the rules of the Treaty of Versailles, the airfield was supposed to serve a future air force.

Between 1934 and 1945 various Luftwaffe units were based on the air base, flying aircraft as diverse as Junkers Ju 52, Junkers Ju 88, Heinkel He 111, and towards the final stages of World War II Messerschmitt Me 163 and Messerschmitt Me 262.

In April 1945 the airfield was overrun by the British Army and subsequently used by the Royal Air Force. It was renamed first Airfield B 152 and later RAF Fassberg. During the Berlin Blockade RAF Fassberg played an important role as a hub for supplying the city.

Whilst being occupied by the British Armed Forces several RAF squadrons were based at Fassberg. These squadrons were equipped with de Havilland Mosquito, de Havilland Vampire and de Havilland Venom.

Following the foundation of the Bundeswehr in 1955 and consequently the establishing of a German air force, Faßberg Air Base was returned to Germany on 1 January 1957. It was home of the Technical School of the Luftwaffe and for some time the Luftwaffe's Officer Training School. For fifteen years a helicopter pilot training school was also located at Faßberg Air base; this school has since been disbanded.



Current use
Faßberg Air Base is home to the army's Transport Helicopter Regiment 10 (Transporthubschrauberregiment 10) which was established in 1971. The regiment was first based at Celle Air Base but was moved to Faßberg in 1981. Transport Helicopter Regiment 10 is equipped with helicopters of the type Bell UH-1D. Other units stationed at the air base are the airforce's training school, a technical-logistical training centre for rotary wing aircraft run by both the air force and the army, part of the Franco-German training facilities for the Eurocopter Tiger, a medical services centre, a family support unit and part of the administration of Bergen-Hohne Training Area.