Leeuwarden Air Base

Leeuwarden Air Base (Dutch: Vliegbasis Leeuwarden) is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), (IATA: LWR, ICAO: EHLW). The airbase is one of the two F-16 Fighting Falcon bases of the RNLAF. The airbase lies northwest of the capital of Friesland, Leeuwarden.

Leeuwarden Air Base

Vliegbasis Leeuwarden
Exterior sign for Vliegbasis Leeuwarden, until 2019.
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerMilitary of the Netherlands
OperatorRoyal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF)
Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu)
LocationLeeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands
Elevation AMSL1.22 m / 4 ft
Coordinates53°13′43″N 05°45′38″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 2,957 9,701 Asphalt
09/27 1,999 6,559 Asphalt

Leeuwarden Air Base is also one of the three military airbases (together with Gilze-Rijen Air Base and Volkel Air Base) that organise the twice-in-three-years Luchtmachtdagen ('Air Force Days') of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, consisting of air shows and static exhibits. In 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2016 Leeuwarden Air Base hosted these public demonstration days.

History
Sud-Aviation SE3160 Alouette III. These were used in the Search and Rescue (SAR) role at Leeuwarden until 1994. The aircraft is preserved at Soesterberg AF Museum.[1]

The airport of Leeuwarden was built in 1938, and was used as an airport between Schiphol and Eelde. The airport was used only infrequently at first, but that changed after the Germans had invaded the Low Countries in 1940. The Germans used the airport as a base for their fighter aircraft (including the Messerschmitt Bf 109) and bombers. From the airbase the Germans could reach Great Britain. During World War II, and especially on the 16th and 17 September 1944, the airbase was heavily bombed by the British.

After the liberation of the Netherlands the airbase was repaired, and during the first post-war years it was used as a civil airport, and the KLM ran a commercial line to Schiphol. In 1949, Leeuwarden became a dedicated military airbase.

During the 1970s Vliegbasis Leeuwarden was used as a temporary home of the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force. Normally stationed at Soesterberg airbase, they needed to move temporarily in order to allow repairs to the runway.[2]

Current role
See also: Royal Netherlands Air Force § Structure of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

Two F-16 squadrons are based at Leeuwarden Air Base: the "swing-role" 322 Squadron RNLAF and the Tactical Training Evaluation and Standardisation (TACTES) 323 Squadron RNLAF. 323 Squadron stood down as an F-16 Squadron on October 31, 2014 (passing the TACTES task to 322 Squadron on the same day) before being reinstated as the F-35A Test Squadron on November 5, 2014 at Eglin Air Force Base.

In addition, Leeuwarden Air Base was the home base of 303 Squadron RNLAF (Search and Rescue), part of the newly formed Defence Helicopter Command (DHC). It employed three Agusta Bell AB 412SP helicopters before its stand-down on January 1, 2015.

The airport is the location of the Fighter Weapons Instructor Training (FWIT) and the annual multinational NATO exercise "Frisian Flag". On March 31, 2015, six F-15C's from the 125th Fighter Wing Florida Air National Guard landed at Leeuwarden Air Base to take part in Frisian Flag 2015.[3]

In 2016, a squadron of MQ-9 Reapers will be based at Leeuwarden Air Base, scheduled to become fully operational as of 2017. The flight of four MQ-9 Reapers with a Ground Station will be fully air-deployable and self-supporting for global operations. Future use by public services related to homeland security and surveillance (including the National Police; and customs, naval and environmental surveillance) is also planned.

Units
A Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon "J-135". Note the depiction of the Frisian flag and the 322 Squadron mascot Polley Grey on the tail.
  • 303 Squadron Agusta Bell AB 412SP until 1 January 2015
  • 322 Squadron F-16 (TACTESS)
  • 306 Squadron MQ-9 UAV as of 2016
  • 920 Maintenance Squadron
  • 921 Logistics Squadron
  • 922 Support Squadron
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See also
  • The Netherlands in World War II

References
  1. "Google Maps".
  2. Member of US Air Force
  3. "The U.S. Air Force is deploying 12 F-15 jets to Europe as first Air National Guard theater security package". theaviationist.com. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
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