Aachen: Merzbrück Airfield

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!

Coordinates	N504924 E0061111 (WGS84) Google Maps
Elevation	623'
Federal state	Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Location indicator	EDCM (-1995), ETBA (planned), EDKA (1995-)

Map with location of Aachen Merzbrück, Germany

Germany during the Cold War Map

The history of the Cold War airfields: Aachen

Location of airfield

5 NM northeast of Aachen.

During the 1920s/1930s

Overview

Aachen Merzbrück Airfield in the Aeronautical Information Manual 1932

Map 1932 - The airfield has an aviation light (black sun) and an aircraft hangar (black symbol). The red numbers indicate the height in meters above the airfield.

Source: Aeronautical information publication (Flughandbuch) 1932

Aachen Merzbrück, Germany, aerial picture

Aerial picture 1932 - The viewing direction is approximately southwest.

Source: Aeronautical information publication (Flughandbuch) 1932

Information from the Aeronautical Information Publication as of June 1932

II. Level Airport Aachen

Business owner / Administrator

Flughafengesellschaft m. b. H., Aachen, Haus Grenzwacht, cable address: Flughafengesellschaft Aachen.

Airfield characteristics at daytime

The airfield is located about 9 km northeast of Aachen in the southwestern corner of the highway Weiden - Eschweiler and the railway line Höngen - Stolberg. On the black roof of the brown aircraft hangar white inscription "Aachen". Next to the hangar is a red and white observation tower, in the northeast corner from the Tegestraße is a 220 m tree gap. Yellow-white administration building. Windsock, landing signal is constantly on display. Airport border in the north by trunk road, in the east by railway embankment, tarmac border marked by red-white roof riders.

Airfield characteristics at night

No permanent night lighting, but:

A. Approach beacon

Installation on a quadrangular lattice mast, extended to an observation tower, directly next to the dark brown aircraft hangar on the north side of the harbour. The red and white lattice mast is 12.50 m above the ground to the ridge of the roof on which the rotating beacon, 1.50 m high, is erected.
Terrain height above sea level: 188 m.
Identification: flashing beacon white. Flashing 0.18 s, pause 3.82 s, return 4.00 s.
Height of fire above ground level: 14 m.
Type of light source: Electric light bulb.
Luminous intensity in Hefner candles: 900 000.
Mean range of fire: 40 km.
Operating times: 1 April to 30 September from 11 p.m. until brightness is reached; otherwise on request.
The fire is guarded by the air police station.
When an aircraft lands, the fire is switched off to avoid glare. There are two red warning lights on the roof of the lattice mast.

B. Warning beacons

8 red warning beacons on the buildings pp. on the north side of the airport which could be an aviation obstacle. 2 light rings each with 3 red warning beacons on the 27 m high factory chimney Merzbrück, 100 m from the north-east corner of the airport, marked as an obstacle near the airport. Operating times as for A, otherwise on request.

C. Landing lights

Landing lights of green, white and red fires in wind direction. It has to land from green over white to red to the right of the row. Landing light operating times: as for A, otherwise on request.

Runways, taxiways, aprons

Good sod on clay soil.
Shortest rolling length: 600 m in nord-south direction.

Hangars

1 aircraft hangar 60 x 20 m, 9 m high, gate width 18 x 5.10 m.

Workshops

Suitable for smaller repairs. Electricity: 220 Volt 25 Amp. alternating current.

Fuel equipment

3 petrol stations (Shell, Olex, Dapolin) each 5000 l, petrol, benzene and lubricants are kept in stock.

First aid in the case of accidents

Medical room with trained personnel available. Next doctor in Vorweiden (2 km away).

Customs

Customs clearance possible, passport check by air police station.

Post office

Merzbrück is equipped with a telephone.

Accommodation of passengers

At the airport in Weiden (2 km away) and in Aachen.

Connections

Shuttle service only during scheduled air traffic, otherwise taxi cabs are on call at any time.

During World War II

Use

Luftwaffe airfield.

Situation

Aachen Merzbrück Airfield, Germany, in World War II on a US map 1943

Aachen Merzbrück as "Aachen East" in World War II on a US map from 1943

Source: McMaster University Library Digital Archive, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 CC BY-NC 2.5 CA

Overview

Aachen airfield on a britsh / US map from 1951 - The time of the state shown here is unknown, but could correspond to the 1930s/40s. Immediately north of the field is the road Reichsstraße 264. This is where the L223 road runs today. The double-tracked section of the railway from Stolberg to Alsfeld east of the field is now single-track.

Source: AMS M841 GSGS 4414, Courtesy Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University

During the Cold War

Usage during the Cold War

Army aviation of the Belgian armed forces in Germany (Les Forces belges en Allemagne FBA, Belgische strijdkrachten in Duitsland BSD) and general aviation.

Overview

Aerial picture from the late 1980s or early 1990s

Source: Datenquelle: Land NRW (2019) Datenlizenz Deutschland - Namensnennung - Version 2.0 www.govdata.de/dl-de/by-2.0

Northwestern part with sports field and practice area

Source: Datenquelle: Land NRW (2019) Datenlizenz Deutschland - Namensnennung - Version 2.0 www.govdata.de/dl-de/by-2.0

Airfield of the Belgian armed forces in the north with control tower and hangars - At this time, this part of the airfield is still used for military purposes as some military vehicles can be seen.

Source: Datenquelle: Land NRW (2019) Datenlizenz Deutschland - Namensnennung - Version 2.0 www.govdata.de/dl-de/by-2.0