RAF Oldenburg

Does anyone have an idea of the location of this Station. It is not on the Google Earth link, although I have identified a possible area.

It was a Flying station as well as a Comms station, as I have found 3 squadrons that were there in the 1950's.

Paul.

Hi Paul, RAF Oldenburgh was situated about 5 miles outside the town of Oldenburgh,Germany. I was stationed there in 1952 with 3 MRSU.
The squadrons there at the time were equipped with Vampire aircraft,and later with F-86 Sabres, and finally with Hunters.

My name is Trevor Parry (Taff). I served with 3 MRSU at Oldenburg & Fassburg, SECOND TACTICAL AIRFORCE, Germany national service 1951/52. I played football for the unit & have a photograph of the team. I am trying to find out as much information as possible on the unit. Do anyone have any knowledge of same?
Captain of the football team was David Price. He was also captain of the cricket team. He played centre half & wicket-keeper for the cricket. I played left-wing for the football team & fast-bowled for the cricket team.

COs: Flight Lt Hayward (possibly Haywood)
Flight Lt Winslade (possibly Wynslade)
Sgt Mooney (admin)
Flight Sgt Chipperfield
Sgt Allan (MT)
Cpl McDermot
Cpl Burns

I would be very interested in hearing your history & any other information you have on the unit.

Some other bods:
Taff Richards
Baker (the Arsenal LOGI)
Dixie Stapleton
Walter Kendel
Etheridge
Etherington
Smokey (Jamaican)
Shaw (bowled with me in the cricket team, from Sheffield)
Anderson
Anderton
Cpl Keane (Jock)
Gordon ‘Don’ Snelling (chippie)
Mortimer (goalkeeper)
McGuire
Coyne
George Graham
Taff Griffiths
Finley
Geordie (nickname)
Ron Gibson
Chick Deerling
Geoff Thompson
Ellington (dispatch rider)
George Roper
Tony Houchin
John Hurley
Taff Mummery (North Wales)
Dusty Miller
Jorden (M/T driver)
I would love to hear back from you with any information at all.
Best regards

Trevor Parry (Taff)

Taff

Welcome

By sheer coincidence I was in the National Archives at Kew seeking info for my ongoing project of the History of BAOR in the 1940s

Oldenburg was the scene of the last set piece battles in North West Germany when the Canadian 4th Armoured Division destroyed the remnants of a retreating Parachute Division in late April 1945. They remained in the area till after the German Surrender the following month

Clearly the place inncluding the airfield was badly damaged in the fighting and there is documentary evidence that one unit having been offered the hangars and associated buildings as undercover accommodation decided that they were better off living in field conditions under canvas next to their vehicles

I would be interested to know when the RAF reactivated the airfield as a flying base. We have evidence that the Army not RAF was in the area till atleast Autumn 1949 with Canadian, Danish as well as British units being based there (a similar situation existed at nearby Jever which was not reactivated till the early 50s after extensive modernisation including the building of concrete runways

Any info you can add to the story would be most useful

Greetings Major JPW,
With reference to German Parachute divisions at battle(s) Oldenburg. They used planes type JU52 - 3 propellers; one front, one each wing, which were troop carriers & transporters. These were Luftwaffe's wartime counterpart of Allies C47 Dakota. The JU52 carried the Wearmacht into Norway. They dropped paratroops & carried airborn troops in Crete, Greece. The JU52 was also used to relieve some of the surrounded trrops in Stalingrad, Russia. This plane could land on grass, dirt-track & concrete runways (tarmac) but not known (as yet) if based or used at Oldenburg. Am unable to recall if there were concrete runways being built, or even used, during the time I was there.
I was at Jever in mid-August 1952 (detachment). Flying by then had started there - mostly Vampire aircraft; and yes concrete runways were there by then at Jever.

Whilst I was at Oldenburg, before demobbed, there was a cinema being built.
We had full use of the hangers while at Oldenburg & we were billeted in very modern huts near GSO (German Service Orderlies), also billeted nearby.

MRSU moved into the base at Oldenburg (2 TAF) July 1952.

NB - just found this:
RAF Oldenberg was a German Luftwaffe airfield during the last world war and after the war ended became a Royal Air Force Station.

It was 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division (7th Parachute Division) of the Luftwaffe which as 'Fallschirmjäger-Division Erdmann' had fought at Arnhem during Operation Market-Garden in September/October 1944 and was redesignated as the 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division along with the reminants of other formations and moved to the Western front around Oldenburg & Seedorf area in the Infantry Role, where they were disbanded in April 1945.

Interesting to note that today Oldenburg & Seedorf are again in German hands as the base of Bundeswehr (Fallschirmjäger) Airborne Brigade 31 at first useing C-160D Transall (augmented by Lockheed C130 but being replaced by the Airbus A400M) plus Bell UH-1D (built by Dornier) Iroquois Helicopters (being replaced by NHI NH90's) in the Air Assult Role, the transision by now being complete. Eliments of he Division has seen service in Afghanistan.

Hello Trevor, and all previous writers on the subject of RAF Oldenburg.

I was a child at Oldenburg between 1954 and 1957 after which we moved to Goch. Since 1980 I have been back to the city of Oldenburg every year for holidays and festivals; the last time being January this year. At each visit I made a special tour of the airfield (and the married quarters where we lived), and have photographs of its demise through those years.
The base was returned to the Luftwaffe in 1959 where first F86 Sabres, then Fiat G91s, and finally Alphajets operated from, before it finally closed.
At my last visit this year the buildings, control tower, hangars and all the rest of the make up of the base was as I remembered it from the 50s, except that the swimming pool was empty and in a terrible state. And the cinema was still there.
The reason for its closure was that the city of Oldenburg has expanded so far that it has swamped the area around the base and it is too dangerous to operate as an airfield.
Incidentally, the hospital at Rostrup has also been closed down and both it and the airfield are in the process of being sold off to private concerns.
I have a lot of information about the base and I have acquaintances in Oldenburg who act as my guide whenever I visit the city. One of them lives near to Ahlhorn, where I also have visited but there is no history for me there.
I would appreciate seeing any photographs that you may have of the base in the 50s, and I would love to have access to records of aircraft movements as I have a few unanswered questions about various aircraft I remember from the base.
I particularly want to know what the visit of a large number of Canberras was about. I remember them being parked all over the airfield and their departure was quite spectacular (at least to this child!). I also remember a Royal Visit - I think it was the Duke of Edinburgh.

Best wishes.

[quote="Gerry"]Hello Trevor, and all previous writers on the subject of RAF Oldenburg.

I would appreciate seeing any photographs that you may have of the base in the 50s, and I would love to have access to records of aircraft movements as I have a few unanswered questions about various aircraft I remember from the base.
I particularly want to know what the visit of a large number of Canberras was about. I remember them being parked all over the airfield and their departure was quite spectacular (at least to this child!).

If it's any help Gerry, the Suez Crisis was in '56 and Canberras were in action in the Suez area at that time.

It could well be that a RAFG squadron was sent down there.

Hello "brum"

Many thanks for that information. I had a suspicion that it was due to repositioning of RAF squadrons for Suez but I have never been able to verify it.
It may be of interest to some of our readers that the School at Oldenburg where Army and RAF children attended has been completely rebuilt and is a High School for local children. The school is surrounded now by quite heavily concentrated housing. In my time there, there were only fields and the Floetenteich (lake). The lake is still there and the locals go sailing on it.

Not far from the base is the town of Bad Zwischenahn, and from there in the 1940's the Luftwaffe flew the first of their Me163 Komets. There is a museum on the base at Oldenburg commemorating JG400, and the Me163 that was at St. Athan was first taken to Oldenburg in the 1980's and is now in the Museum at Gatow. The Oldenburg Museum has a website too, if anyone wishes to google it.

[quote="Gerry"]Hello "brum"

............ I had a suspicion that it was due to repositioning of RAF squadrons for Suez but I have never been able to verify it.............


Re-locating Canberras seems about right. Elsewhere it's recorded that 100 were
distributed between Cyprus & Malta for 278 sorties over the canal zone. Can't imagine they came from anywhere else but UK & Germany....... or believe that, once, the RAF had that many to play with !

139 Squadron

Hello,

Would anyone know what German aircraft were based at Oldenburg during the last World War? Trying to find out but can't get any information. Can Luftwaffe records help?

Trevor Taff Parry Ex-3MRSU RAF

Taff

Try the German website fligerhorst-oldenburg.de/gesichte with the link traditionsgemeinschaft. jagdbombergeschwader 43.e.v

You should come to a fairly detailed history of the airfield (with photos) including details of the units and aircraft based there during WW2

Hello, this is most likely a long shot but I am trying to find a person or his relatives who was stationed in Ahlhorn, Oldenburg in the early 1950s. He was in the British Air Force in the 125 Wing working with the Tactical Development Unit. His name is Josef Tay.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. I am searching on behalf of a German friend.

Hi Trevor Parry, It appears that we both served at the same time with 3MRSU I have just comeback on here after a few years absence without leave and saw your post of last year. I remember a lot of the people you mention. Do you remember the 3mrsu song, I remember the tune but I have forgotten the words a long time ago. I remember Flight Sgt Chipperfield, we used to call the Unit Chipperfields Circus. I was sent up to Sylt on a 3MRSU detatchment for my last 14 months in Germany and only returned to Oldenburgh when I was repatriated. Are you in contact with any one from those days, if so I would be interested to know who.I believe I rember your name but cannot put your face to it. My name is John Chambers I was at the unit from whitsun 1952 to September !955.

I would be pleased to hear from you sometime.

I have just discovered this site and have been reading all your comments and questions. I was a national serviceman and went to Oldenburg in January 1957. I was a corporal Instrument fitter serving on 14 Sqadron, which were flying Hunter Mk4's then around May that year were replaced with Hunter Mk 6's.
With regards to JPW about the Canadians taking Oldenburg, this was true. However the story I heard was that when the Canadians were entering the town, there was some firing from the railway station and the leading canadian tank fired a round and blew a large hole in the Bahnhoff building entrance and that was the end of any resistance. I can verify about the station wall, it had been repaired but the evidence of the large repair was there. Also the town was in very good condition with no visible sign of building destruction which was still evident in nearby larger cities like Bremen, Hamburg and Hannover. They were devastated.

Commenting on Gerry who was at school in Oldenburg around the same time that I was there. During 1957 appart from station flight and a contingent or two of RAF regiment there were 3 Hunter Squadrons. 14, 20 and 26sqdn. and they all moved out in September for the emerging German airforce. I believe that 26sqdn was disbanded. 20 and 14 sqdn were relocated to Alhorn for a few months where they were then relocated to RAF Javer. As 14 sqdn was last to leave Olenburg I clearly remember the German airforce planes lined up outside the hangers and they were the American Starfighters.
14 sqdn and 20 sdrn were then relocated to Gutersloh around January 1958.

Regarding comments of Brum I believe the Suez war was indeed the reason for the influx of Canberras. On my entry into the RAF in January 1956, after training half of us were sent to the middle east (Suez) and the rest of us went to Germany. The Canberras mission was to take out the Egyption airforce which they did. Whilst I was in Germany during 1957 canberras of 59sqdn were stationed at Gutersloh. Incidently our runway at Oldenburg were regularly buzzed by Swift FR5 stationed also at Gutersloh and Javer. I think this was the last of this tiny Jet.

Oldenburg was also a large army camp at this time.

I hope these comments are of help.

Regards, Bansman.

Hi Bandsman and welcome to the site.

you might find this site a useful start point: http://www.mil-airfields.de/germany/airbases.htm


It includes sections on both the Old Germanies and the adjacent countries. Some sites have links o more detail.

Since my first comments on other members letters I must correct something I said. My memory definitely let me down. Gerry said that the emerging German Airforce started off with F86 Sabres. He was correct. I have checked several historic comments and this seems to be undisputable. Also my comment that I remembered the side of the runway was lined up with Star Fighters awaiting for the airforce to arrive, was incorrect. The planes were in fact Lockheed P80 Shooting Star fighters. I mixed up the names. My mistake was that I assumed that these shooting Stars were to be used, but obviously they were only being parked there on an empty airfield, awaiting to be shipped off somewhere else.
I hope this clears up these points.
Regards, Bandsman.

Recently found this site whilst browsing for RAF Oldenburg where I was posted to in 1955.  I found all the posts interesting and can add one or two notes to the points raised by "Gerry" and others.    I arrived in February of 1955 (after a rough overnight North Sea crossing and via a transit camp in Beilefeld (I believe), for the second night.

The squadrons stationed there were nos. 14, 20 and 26, flying Sabre F86s then Hunter F4s.  I was a photographer posted to 20 squadron but also having to work in the Control Tower building where photo processing was done.   There were indeed two Royal visits while I was there when the Duke of Edinburgh presented colours to 26 sqdn, I believe, and Princess Margaret presented colours to 20 sqdn.

The cinema referred to was the inevitable "Astra" and was one of the first to have CinemaScope.  One of the other photographers was a projectionist in civvy street and spent many evenings working in the projection box.

Just remembered! Further to my previous post just now, I checked Google Earth for the airfield and was surprised to see that it is now a massive SolarPark. Ah well! No more scraping the ice of the runway in the winter months as I and many did in 1956.

Hello Foto2TAF

Many thanks for your comments, - very much appreciated.   I wonder if you have kept any personal photos of Sabres from your time at Oldenburg.  If so, would (or more precisely, could) you share them with me please?
I recently bought a book called "Sabre - From the Cockpit" which deals with Sabres in RAF service.  The main contributor is an ex 26 Sqdn pilot called Charles Keil.  Do you remember him?  I had a short, but very interesting, correspondence with him about his time in Oldenburg, and there are other articles in the book which discuss life in general in 2ATAF in that period.

You can contact me - I think! - through my profile if you prefer.

Gerry.

Loosely related to this topic perhaps:

Mention is made earlier of the town of Alhorn, this reminded me of the fact that in this area there is a Commonwealth war cemetery which I drive past from time to time.  I have often wondered why it is there and who is laid to rest there.  Perhaps I should take the time to pay a visit next time.

Archie

There was an operational RAF Base there in the 1950's could be victims of fatal flying accidents were buried there. I think the town was captured by units from 2nd Canadian Corps in late April/very early May 1945. The Canadian Government took a policy decision that no Canadian soldier would be permanently buried in German soil, Canadian Soldiers killed in action in the last days of World War Two last resting place therefore is in the Reichswald CWG Cemetery just over the Dutch border near Nijmegen.