| Fliegerhorst Brumowski
Brumowski Air Base |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: LOXT | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Location | Vienna, Austria | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 594 ft / 180 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 08/26 | 4,620 | 1,400 | Asphalt |
| 08/26 | Grass | ||
| 13/31 | Grass | ||
| 05/23 | Grass | ||
Fliegerhorst Brumowski (Brumowski Air Base) is an Austrian Air Force (German: 'Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte') air force base located approximately 5 km east-southeast of Tulln; about 30 km northwest of Vienna.
Units currently based there are the Short SC-7-3M-400 Skyvan (scheduled for retirement) and Pilatus PC-6 B2H2 Turbo Porter of 4th Air Squadron, Flight Regiment 1; the Sikorsky S-70A-42 Black Hawk of 1st Helicopter Squadron, Flight Regiment 1, the Agusta Bell AB206A Jet Ranger of 2nd Helicopter Squadron, Flight Regiment 1; and the Agusta Bell AB206A Jet Ranger and Bell OH-58B Kiowa of 3rd Helicopter Squadron, Flight Regiment 1.
In addition, the base is the headquarters of the Luftstreifkräfte; it also houses the "Bundesfachschule für Flugtechnik" (Federal School for Aeronatical Engineering) and "Fliegerwerft 1", responsible for overhauls and maintenance.
The construction of Fliegerhorst Brumowski was started in June 1938 for the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) and on 1 October 1939, the first military personnel arrived.
When the war with Yugoslavia started in 1941, the airfield served as a jumping off point for aerial attacks against that country. The Air-war School VII, commanded by Major General Volkmann, was established in the summer of 1942. Base strength was about 2000 personnel, including 120 cadets and about 60 officers. The Germans were trained only in light aircraft called A and B classes. Aircraft assigned included Klen 35s and Gotha 145s; double wing Arado 66s, Blue 131s, HE 72s; single wing FW 140s; 2 and 3 engine 34s, JU 52s, JU 87s, JU 88s, and HE 111s. In the first week of April 1945, the Russians were moving into Austria and the German forces started pulling out.
As part of the Four-Power agreement and the establishment of occupation zones in Austria, the Russians occupied the base until 26 July 1945. The Americans took command of the Base on the 27th. Under United States control, the facility was called Tulln Air Base and was under the command of the United States Air Forces in Europe XII Tactical Air Command. The 1407th AAF Base Unit was the occupation unit at Tulln, and upon their arrival at Tulln, the cadre found Russian troops billeted on the Base. The field was a mess. The German demolition crews had done their job well. One hangar was in pretty good shape except for the windows and other minor damage. All others were demolished. Bomber and fighter planes were scattered all over the field and all salvageable parts were removed. The major portion of the Base was blown to rubble, but one barracks, the headquarters building, the vehicle garages and repair shop and a few other buildings were intact. The usable buildings were a mess with rats, vermin, excrement, and bullet holes everywhere. POW SS troops, guarded by the Rainbow Division, were brought in to do the cleaning up of rubble and house keeping duties.
The major USAAF unit assigned to Tulln Air Base was the 313th Troop Carrier Group, which fliew C-47 Skytrains from 30 September 1946-25 June 1947. Later units assigned were:
In addition, Pan American World Airways operated commercial airline service from the airfield (known as Tulln Airport) from May 1946-May 1955
With the establishment of the United States Air Force in September 1947, the 1407th AAF Base Unit was redesignated the 7360th Base Compliment Squadron. After signing of the Peace Treaty between Austria and the Four Powers, Great Britain, France, Soviet Union, and the United States in 1955, Tulln Air Base was handed over to the Austrian police (B-Gendarmerie), because there were no Austrian military services at that time.
The first Austrian aircraft to arrive were Yakovlev Yak-11 "Moose" and Yakovlev Yak-18 "Max-A" trainers donated by the Soviet Union and Agusta Bell AB47G2 helicopters in late 1955. The base was named for Captain Godwin Brumowski in 1967.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.