Neubiberg Air Base: Difference between revisions

Neubiberg Air Base is a former German and United States Air Force airfield. It is located 9km south of the city of Munich, Germany.

Originally built in 1933 as a glider field, during World War II, Neubiberg was an active Luftwaffe air base, known as Unterbiberg. In 1944, the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter-bomber was stationed there. It was bombed by 15th Air Force B-24s on 16 February 1945. American armored units captured the base in April 1945.

After Nebiberg's capture, the United States Army Air Force designated the base as Airfield R-85 Camp Rattle and stationed the 225th Anti-Aircraft Artillery searchlight battalion there on 16 June 1945.

Known USAAF/USAF units at Neubiberg were:

• 20 Aug 1946 - 25 Aug 1947: 33d Fighter Group
  • 58th Pursuit Squadron (P-51D)
  • 59th Pursuit Squadron (P-51D)
  • 60th Pursuit Squadron (P-51D)

The 33d Fighter Group moved into R-85 (Neubiberg) Air Base from Camp Shanks, New York and remained there for a year performing various occupation duties. Upon leaving the unit returned to the states, transferring to Andrews Field, Maryland briefly before moving to Roswell AFB, New Mexico on 16 September 1947.

The 86th Composite Group moved to Neubiberg on 12 June 1947 from Bad Kissingen, Germany. Operational squadrons of the 86th were:

• 525th Fighter/Fighter-Bomber (F-47D, F-84E (1950) blue stripe)
• 526th Fighter/Fighter-Bomber (F-47D, F-84E (1950) red stripe)
• 527th Fighter/Fighter-Bomber (F-47D, F-84E (1950) white/yellow stripe)

The 86th Fighter Wing was activated at Bad Kissingen on 20 August 1946 and assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The group was equipped inititally with low-hour P/F-47D "Thunderbolts" removed from storage at various depots in Germany.

Initially, the group performed mostly occupation duty, however escort missions were flown with Consolodated RB-24 Liberator reconnance aircraft along the borders of Czechoslovakiaand the Soviet Zone of Germany, occasionally engaging with Soviet aircraft as they harassed the recon flights.

The mission of the 86th CG changed with the advent of the Berlin Airlift, to escort the cargo flights within the narrow air corridors between the American Zone and Tempelhof Air Base in West Berlin. When the airlift began, the 86th CG was the only tactical air group in USAFE.

In October 1950 the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing ferried ninety-one F-84E "Thunderjets" to Neubiberg from Bergstrom Air Force Base] Texas. The F-47s were distributed to other NATO countries, and the wing was redisignated the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group.

In 1952 the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group became the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization. The lineage and heritage of the World War II 86th Fighter Group (inactivated on 31 March 1946) were transferred to the redesignated 86th FBW. In August 1952, the 86th FBW was transferred west of the Rhine to the newly-completed Landstuhl Air Base.

• 27 January 1952 - 9 May 1953: 160th/32d Tactical Reconnaance Squadron (RF-80A)

The 160th Tactical Reconnaance Squadron was deployed to Neubiberg from Toul-Rosieres Air Base France. The 160th was part of the Alabama Air National Guard 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing which was activated during the Korean War. In 1952, Toul Air Base was unfinished at the time of the wings activation/deployment and not yet ready for jet aircraft. This meant only the Wing HQ was in France, and the two attached RF-80A squadrons were moved to Germany. The 160th to Neubiberg and the 157th to Fürstenfeldbruck.

At the time of their arrival, the 160th's aircraft were silver aluminum, with only the Buzz Numbers on their noses. Later, blue lightning bolts were painted on their vertical stabilizers, and yellow lightning flashes were painted on the center fuselage and wing tip tanks.

On 10 July 1952, the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated in place at Toul AB, absorbing the personnel and equipment of the deactivated 117 TRW. The 160th TRS was redesignated the 32d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and remained at Neubiberg.

The 32d TRS remained at Neubiberg until 9 May 1953 when the 10th TRW was transferred to the newly-opened Spangdahlem Air Base.

• 14 July 1952 - 17 Apr 1957: 317th Troop Carrier Wing
  • 39th Troop Carrier Squadron (C-119)
  • 40th Troop Carrier Squadron (C-119)
  • 41st Troop Carrier Squadron (C-119)

The 317th TCW was moved to Neubiberg from Rhein-Main Air Base in 1952 to address an overcrowded condition. Flying C-119 Flying Boxcars, the Wing remained for almost five years before transferring to Evreux-Fauville Air Base France.

• Nov 1953 - Apr 1954: 782d Troop Carrier Squadron (C-119)

In November 1953, the 782d Troop Carrier Squadron was sent to Neubiberg from Toul Air Base when the 465th Troop Carrier Wing was deployed from Donaldson Air Force Base South Carolina. Construction at Toul forced the deployment of the squadron to Neubiberg. The 782d stayed until April 1954 flying missions with the 317th TCW until enough construction was completed at Toul AB to allow the squadron to use the rebuilt facilities.

Neubiberg was turned over to the German Air Force in 1957. Until the 1990s, it was used primary as a transport/cargo aircraft facility. It was closed in 1991.

• United States Air Force In Germany

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History

• Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present

• USAAF Advance Landing Ground R-85

• Luftwaffe Graveyard at Unter Biberg

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