RAF Rheindahlen

The former Royal Air Force Rheindahlen, more commonly known as RAF Rheindahlen,[1] was a non-flying Royal Air Force (RAF) military administrative base, becoming part of the Rheindahlen Military Complex[1] (JHQ Rheindahlen) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; collectively a part of British Forces Germany (BFG). The Royal Air Force station was named after the nearby town and railway station of Rheindahlen. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was more commonly referred to as RAF Mönchengladbach; due to Rheindahlen being the Army's name for the same JHQ. It was unusual in that the RAF station land was publicly accessible, with public transport routes, and even German civilian mail service (Rheindahlen 2).

RAF Rheindahlen
Part of JHQ Rheindahlen, British Forces Germany
Rheindahlen, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany
The Band of RAF Germany perform at the
RAF Police Dog Trials on the RAF sports fields at
JHQ Rheindahlen, September 1974
RAF Rheindahlen is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
RAF Rheindahlen
RAF Rheindahlen
Location within North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Coordinates51°10′28″N 06°18′34″E
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence (UK)
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byoriginally:
RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
latterly:
Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG)[1]
Site history
Built1954 (1954)
Built forAir Ministry
In use22 November 1954 (1954-11-22) to
1 April 1993 (1993-04-01)[1]

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.[2]

No. 11 Signals Unit (11 SU) was located at RAF Rheindahlen from 1 June 1975 to 31 December 1980.[1][3]

Closure

RAF Rheindahlen (as a Royal Air Force station entity) was disbanded on 1 April 1993 (1993-04-01), becoming Rheindahlen Support Unit (Rheindahlen SU).[4] 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 (1996-04-01).[1] 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,[4] as HQ United Kingdom Support Command (Germany), the entire area becoming known as the Rheindahlen Military Complex.[1] On 13 December 2013 (2013-12-13), 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.[5]

Main units
RAF Rheindahlen main units[1][3][4]
unit namestart dateend datenotes
HQ RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2 TAF)22 November 19541 January 1959an RAF Command
HQ RAF Germany (RAFG)1 January 19591 May 1972division of 2 TAF
No 11 Signals Unit1 June 197531 December 1980
HQ RAF Germany (RAFG)1 May 19721 April 1993an RAF Command
HQ No 2 Group (2 Gp)1 April 19931 April 1996disbanded and absorbed into No 1 Group
Band of RAF Germany1 April 1993
Joint Support Unit (JSU)?? 1993?? 2013

See also

References
  1. "RAF Rheindahlen". RAFweb.org. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. BAOR plan Series GSGS 5116B Edition1
  3. "No 11 Signals Unit, Monchengladbach (AIR 29/4722)". Discovery.NationalArchives.Gov.uk. Kew, Richmond, London, England: UK National Archives. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  4. "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)
  5. "JHQ eine Fotoausstellung". www.Moenchengladbach.de (in German). Stadt Mönchengladbach. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
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