A trip to Northern Germany.

 

A major airshow at the German Army base at Buckeburg in Northern Germany meant that yet again we would be heading to the continent. A look at the map and some event schedules, as well as some Wrecks and Relics locations gave us a good outline for another European excursion.

 

            So, around midnight (as usual) on Saturday morning we set off from Suffolk to catch the early ferry from Dover to Calais. After P&Os finest breakfast, we disembarked at Calais and headed East and then South into Belgium to have a quick look at the aircraft present for the current TLP course. Greek Air Force F-16s were the highlight, alongside a good selection of other fighters from Norway, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the UK and the USA.

 

            Following this, we continued south into Germany, to catch a USArmy UH-60 at Landstuhl, before a look in at the vast USAF base at Ramstein. A good collection of visiting C-17s, C-130s, and C-5s were there, plus a KC-10 and KC-135 as well as the locally based C-130s.

 

            Slightly ahead of schedule, we agreed we could spare some time and stop in the Technical and Warfare Museum in Koblenz, as it was not too far off our route. An OV-10 Bronco was missing since my last visit a couple of years ago, but it was a first visit for the rest of the party. Highlights included:-

 

Mi-24 98+33

MiG-23 20+48

MiG-21 24+20

F-104CCV 98+36

Alphajet 98+55

Mirage III 10

G.91 32+06

AlouetteII 75+52

Noratlas 199

 

             After the museum we stopped in quickly at Koln-Bonn airport, and then headed to our hotel in Essen and a good meal in a local restaurant.

 

            Sunday morning was a very early start, but we quickly collected an F-86 Sabre in nifty “Leopard” pattern at nearby Bochum as we headed north to Ladbergen via Ahlen to pick up the 5th member of our team. A quick stop at the “Museum” at Bad Oeyhausen/Rheme to have a look at the overgrown MiGs and other airframes was followed by a visit to the airfield at Porta Westfalica. Here we were surprised and delighted to find an ex-Swedish Hughes 269, still in a dark green scheme but with German civil registration.

 

            The main purpose of our trip was next, the well reported airshow at Buckeburg. The German Army played superb hosts, and this was a thoroughly enjoyable airshow, with almost all helicopters and airframes on base easily visible, as well as a great range of static participants from countries as far away as Norway, Finland, and Hungary etc. A small selection of images below can give you a flavour of the show.

                               

 

            After departing the airshow, we stopped in at the nearby Museum in the local town, which houses a large number of helicopters from various countries, including the following:-

 

100406    Fa.330

75+05    Alouette II

58-5348    OH-13H

55-4109    OH-23C

77+17    Alouette II

XN348    Skeeter

556    Mi-2

81+09    H-34G

78+20    Sycamore

83+07    H-21C

67-16955    TH-55

62-4547    HH-43F

7        Djinn

 

 

            Wunstorf was our next port of call as we headed north, and as usual there were around a dozen C.160 Transalls outside, as well as the small Museum location near the main gate.

 

            Oyten was visited next; a MiG-21 has been stored here for a number of years.

 

            Just below Oldenburg is the small airfield of Hatten, and whilst here we were treated to a flyby by one of the highlights of the trip, an ex-Egyptian Air Force Gomhouria, still in its overall yellow markings.

 

            The old Luftwaffe airfield at Oldenburg is now part of the suburbs of the town, but even though flying operations have ceased, it is still in use as a military establishment. Inside, three aircraft are preserved here including this Sabre, G.91 and Alphajet.

 

            This signified the end of the Sunday for us, so we then made or way to our hotel in Bremen (again) and a good chat and the odd drink.

 

            Monday had a couple of visits arranged, but on the way to the Luftwaffe base at Wittmund we stopped at the nearby Richthofen Kaserne to see the Starfighter and Sabre that are preserved here. Wittmund itself is host to JG-71, an F-4F Phantom wing, and a successful visit here was had by all.

 

            Wilhelmshaven is the large naval port on the coast, and has a Starfighter preserved at the German Naval Museum.

 

            The second visit of the trip was to Jever. This former Tornado base is still home to many aircraft, including an F-4 deep maintenance unit, as well as the stripping and scrapping and disposal of numerous surplus Tornadoes.

 

            After this visit it was time to head for home, and our route took us via Aurich to see yet another Starfighter, Leer to see the recently arrived Mi-2, and Teuge in the Netherlands, location of a number of stored ex Dutch Air Force Bolkow Bo.105s.

 

            So, another long weekend in Europe was over with, and around about 2,000 miles were driven over the three days.

 

Again, a good European Map is needed (or a great GPS system like we use with all the locations pre-programmed in), take European Wrecks and Relics with you, and for up to date information check out http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk