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Woensdrecht: Air Base

Bergen op Zoom, Vliegbasis Woensdrecht

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
CoordinatesN512656 E0042032 (WGS84) Google Maps
Elevation 64 ft
RegionNoord-Brabant
Location indicatorEHWO
Map with location of Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands
The history of the Cold War airfields: Woensdrecht

During World War II

Use

Military airfield.

Situation

Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands, on a map 1943
Woensdrecht Air Base 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

During the Cold War

Use

Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu) base

In the 1950s

Situation

Woensdrecht surrounding airways and restricted areas in 1956
Woensdrecht surrounding airways and restricted areas in 1956 - The square with the "V" below at Vlissingen marks a VHF direction finder

Lights

Red identification beacon with ident "WO"

Radio beacons

  • NDB: 345.0 "PHD"

Radio communication

  • Homer 117.9
  • Tower 117.9, 121.5

During the 1960s

Runways

  • 07L/25R: 2149 m x 23 m
  • 07R/25L: 2441 m x 45 m

Radio beacons

  • NDB: 345 "WDT", at field

Radio communication

  • Woensdrecht Approach Control 362.3, 117.9
  • Woensdrecht Tower 117.9, 136.35, 257.8, 357.1

In the 1970s

Situation

Woensdrecht Air Base, Netherlands, on a map 1972
Woensdrecht Air Base on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1972
Source: ONC E-2 (1972), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin

Overview

Woensdrecht Air Base, on a US satellite image 1977
Woensdrecht Air Base on a US satellite image from 29 August 1977
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

During the 1980s

Runways

  • 07L/25R: 2115 m x 23 m Asphalt
  • 07R/25L: 2442 m x 45 m Asphalt

Radio beacons

  • TACAN: CH 97 "WDT", at field

Pictures of the cruise missile base construction site 1989

At the end of the 1980s, a base for BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile was built in Woensdrecht as part of the NATO Double-Track decision. Three large shelters were erected for this purpose. Each shelter was designed for 4 transport erector launchers, each carrying 4 missiles. Thus Woensdrecht was intended for a total of 48 missiles. Cruise missiles were not stationed in Woensdrecht, however, as they were meanwhile decommissioned under the INF disarmament treaty.
Source: US DoD, Scene Camera Operator: MSGT Patrick Nugent
Buildings are under construction in south of the base.
Buildings are under construction in south of the base.
View to the north to the airfield.
View to the north, in the background is the airfield.
Cruise-Missile base Woensdrecht, Netherlands, under construction.
View to the northeast to the Cruise-Missile base under construction.
GAMA at Woensdrecht Airfield
In the center the three large "GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area" (GAMA), in the background the airfield.
Three shelters for BGM-109G cruise missiles under construction
The three shelters have different degrees of completion.
Shelter in the southeast for Ground Launched Cruise Missile GLCM
The Shelter in the southeast is the least advanced.
Shelter in the southeast and guard tower
Shelter in the southeast and guard tower.
Shelter in the north with details of the ceiling construction
The shelter in the north shows details of the ceiling construction
Shelter in the north
Shelter in the north
Shelter in the southwest
The shelter in the southwest looks largely finished.
GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area GAMA, Woensdrecht, Netherlands
Shelter in the southwest
Garages on the east side of the site.
Garages on the east side of the site.
Garages in the northwester corner
Garages in the northwester corner
Building in the northwest
Building in the northwest
Building on the west side
Building on the west side

Installations

NATO tank farm 5WOD, approx. 3 km northeast of the field, has been demolished.

Sources

Airfields in the vicinity

Recommended

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