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Schoenwalde (Schönwalde)
Runway: 04/22 - 1,000x...meters - concrete
Airfield Schoenwalde (german: Flugplatz Schönwalde) is a former military
airfield of National Socialist Germany near Berlin in Brandenburg,
Germany.The airfield was founded in 1934 by the
Reichsluftfahrtministerium as a base for the (then still illegal) German
Air Force
(illegal, because Germany was prohibited from having an air arm by the
Treaty of Versailles).
It opened as sports airfield Henningsdorf (german: Sportflugplatz
Henningsdorf) in early 1935, and became known as Air Base Henningsdorf (german:
Fliegerhorst Henningsdorf) on 1 August 1935 with the basing of the
Flying Group (german: Fliegergruppe) "Henningsdorf".While construction
was ongoing (including major drainage facilities) the millitary airfield
reopened on 29 September 1935 and the first military trainees began
their course in November.The air base was renamed Fliegerhorst
Schönwalde on 1 January 1936, and the Fliegergruppe Henningsdorf became
FEA42 (renamed once again to FEA12 in October).In 1937 the first pilots
graduated.In 1938 the airfield was connected to the national railway
grid.FEA12 was renamed FAR12 and then FAR11 in 1939.After the Battle of
Britain (in summer 1940) the airfield became the temporary home for III
Group/Jagdgeschwader52.Constrtuction of the concrete runway began in
1942.After several renames the training unit (by then known as FFS A/B
11) moved to Neukuhren/Ostpreußen in 1943.They were replaced by the Air
Transport Group of the XIV Flying Corps.During the autumn of 1944 the
airfield became the temporary (until late December 1944) home to units
of JG4, JG76 and JG77.Also it received IV Group/JG301 "Hindenburg" and
the Ju-352 Test Wing as tennants.In early 1945 an alllied bomb destroyed
the Officers mess, and the base became home to the heavy
transportsquadron Ju352/Fw200 and parts of the Flying Wing of the
Führer.On 22 April 1945 the Luftwaffe deserted the airbase, leaving its
defense to the young boys and elderly men of the Peoples Storm (german:
Volkssturm) millitia.The Red Army captured the airbase almost without
resistance on 24 April 1945.They based Fighter, Bomber and Attack Wings
at the airfield until 1954.Several hangars were demolished between 1947
and 1948.The railway connection was broken up in 1953.Upgrading of the
facilities was not considered a viable option, as the airfield was
located in the Allied Control Zone and in the midle of the air corridor
to Berlin, both necessating tight coordination with Allied Air Traffic
control.Intensive use by fixed wing aircraft was therefore restricted,
and lenghtening of the runway to facilitate jet aircraft was not
executed.In 1955 the Soviet Forces stopped all fixed wing operations,
but they stationed a helicopter Wing at the airbase, which remained
until 1965.All flying at the air base stopped in 1965, and the airfield
became an exercise area for the Soviet troops stationed at the airfields
barracks.activeties on Schönwalde, later the airport was used as a
excercice area for troops stationed here The Russian Army with:
843.AR29.s NaR (FEK)They remained until the CIS forces left former East
Germany in 1992.The former airbase remains as it was left by the
Russians, although 20 years of neglect have left their mark.Part of the
terrain is in use by a local farmer, the rest is fenced off and
guarded.The hangars are dangerous when the wind blows, and the barracks
are trashed.
Below some pictures of end 30`s |
