RAF Rheindahlen
History
RAF Rheindahlen was established shortly after the headquarters of RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) moved from RAF Bad Eilsen when Joint Headquarters Rheindahlen opened in October 1954. It served mainly as the administrative support centre for the headquarters of Second Tactical Air Force until 1 January 1959, when it then became the headquarters of Royal Air Force Germany (HQ RAFG).
The Station Headquarters (SHQ) for RAF Rheindahlen was located on the south side of Queens Avenue, in a crescent of three buildings (nos 139, 141 and 143), with the RAF flagstaff on the small lawn in front. Most of the RAF Rheindahlen units (messes, billets, mechanical transport (MT), stores, medical and dental centre, and sports facilities) were located in the same area of Joint Headquarters Rheindahlen, though the many elements occupying JHQ were not confined to specific areas.
No. 11 Signals Unit (11 SU) was located at RAF Rheindahlen from 1 June 1975 to 31 December 1980.
Closure
RAF Rheindahlen (as a Royal Air Force station entity) was disbanded on 1 April 1993 , becoming Rheindahlen Support Unit (Rheindahlen SU). On the same day, 1 April 1993, No. 2 Group RAF set up headquarters at the then former RAF Rheindahlen, HQ 2 Gp remaining there until 1 April 1996 . After the disbandment of RAF Rheindahlen in 1993, all remaining RAF Rheindahlen facilities were subsequently amalgamated with and occupied by the existing British Army garrison, as HQ United Kingdom Support Command (Germany), the entire area becoming known as the Rheindahlen Military Complex. On 13 December 2013 , all existing British military units left the base, and the whole Rheindahlen Military Complex was officially handed over to the German federal authorities on the same day.
Main units
unit name | start date | end date | notes |
---|---|---|---|
HQ RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2 TAF) | 22 November 1954 | 1 January 1959 | an RAF Command |
HQ RAF Germany (RAFG) | 1 January 1959 | 1 May 1972 | division of 2 TAF |
No 11 Signals Unit | 1 June 1975 | 31 December 1980 | |
HQ RAF Germany (RAFG) | 1 May 1972 | 1 April 1993 | an RAF Command |
HQ No 2 Group (2 Gp) | 1 April 1993 | 1 April 1996 | disbanded and absorbed into No 1 Group |
Band of RAF Germany | 1 April 1993 | ||
Joint Support Unit (JSU) | ?? 1993 | ?? 2013 |
See also
- RAF Hospital Wegberg — the Royal Air Force hospital created nearby to serve RAF Rheindahlen and other nearby British military establishments
- List of former Royal Air Force stations
References
- ^ "RAF Rheindahlen". RAFweb.org. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ BAOR plan Series GSGS 5116B Edition1
- ^ "No 11 Signals Unit, Monchengladbach (AIR 29/4722)". Discovery.NationalArchives.Gov.uk. Kew, Richmond, London, England: UK National Archives. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "More British Troops on Way to Afghanistan – RAF Rheindahlen, Germany". www.RCPBML.org.uk. Vol. 2002, no. 13. London, SW8 2LA: Workers' Daily Internet Edition, Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist). 21 January 2002. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "JHQ eine Fotoausstellung". www.Moenchengladbach.de (in German). Stadt Mönchengladbach. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
External links
- British Army in Germany — via Archive.org