RAF Laarbruch

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RAF Laarbruch (motto: Ein' Feste Burg - "A Fortress Sure"), located on the Germany/Netherlands border, was home to various first-line squadrons, including During the cold war, 31 Sqdn (Canberras)79 Sqdn (Meteor 8's) 80 Sqdn. Canberra PR7's and a Dutch sqdn flying ?? that pranged at regular intervals.II (AC) Squadron flying F-4 Phantom II; and 15 and 16 Squadrons flying BAe Buccaneers in the 1970s, followed by Jaguars in the 1980s. These were replaced by Tornadoes with four squadrons (2, 15, 16,and 20) resident. After the first Gulf War, many of the squadrons were relocated, No. 2 Sqn going back to RAF Marham; and 15, 16, and 20 becoming reserve squadrons. When RAF Gütersloh closed, the Harriers of 3(F) and IV(AC) squadrons moved in along with the helicopters of 18(B) Squadron. Laarbruch was also home to 1 and 26 Squadron RAF Regiment. 18 Squadron returned to RAF Odiham in 1997 with the remaining Harrier squadrons departing to RAF Cottesmore in 1999.

After closing in 1999 the airfield found a new civilian lease of life as the budget airline airport Flughafen Niederrhein (Lower Rhine Airport), now known as Weeze Airport after the nearest large village. The Airfield site is now open (late 2006) to the public. It is an very eerie sensation for ex service personel to walk around. The lawns etc. in front of SHQ are kept tidy. But the ghosts of many SWO's still loiter on the camp.