For me this place is history. Good to see that it is back in use again. I managed to take some pics today. The terminal “Airport Weeze” is what used to be Hangar 1. I have been told that the steel structure inside is listed and has to be preserved. Apparently it was found in southern Germany shortly after the war and was broken up and taken to Laarbruch where it was reconstructed.
The derelict hangar was once Hangar 3 I believe. I don’t know what the building was that looks like the tower.
I have also added an picture of a frying-pan type hardstand. Once there were Meteors, Canberras, Buccaneers and Tornados standing on it – today it was only my car.
The officers’ quarters are inhabited again. It’s really spooky to drive past there from Wemb to Weeze when it’s dark and see all the lights on again.
Peter
By: mike currill - 3rd March 2009 at 22:02
The last time I saw Laarbruch it was supposed to be an active RAF station. Well it still was but without the aircraft as they were all at Wildenrath whilst the runway was resurfaced. Having seen what they did to our runway i’m surprised theirs didn’t need repairing sooner.
By: BeefyBoy - 3rd March 2009 at 11:54
Laarbruch – best posting I ever had! I was on 16 Sqn Buccs 81 – 83 Oh happy days! :diablo:
The hanger in the photo is the old XV shed. We have formed a 16 Sqn Buccaneer Groundcrew website and have a membership of around 115. We went back to Laarbruch a couple of years ago and had a mega ‘p1ss-up’ oops sorry ‘a function’ in ‘Kevs Bar’ in Weeze. It was such a trip down memory lane for all 60 of us who attended. Very strange wandering around the old ‘Q’ site – ‘would never ave append in my day laddie’ 😀
Any ex 16 or XV Bucc groundcrew out there from the ‘Laarparts’ days who may be interested the website address is – www.buccaneer.org.uk
By: FoxVC10 - 3rd March 2009 at 11:08
Looks like the old XV(B) sqn site….
16 SQN 1989-91 then STN OPS 91-93.
Happy days. I am surprised my liver is ok!!
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd March 2009 at 09:12
I was there from 96 to 99 – Sgt’s Mess Block 19, room 22!
Happy days…
By: Mudmover - 3rd March 2009 at 08:35
Laarbruch-Happy Days,II [AC],Neiderrhein Flying Club et al!!
By: pierrepjc - 2nd March 2009 at 23:06
I spent Summer Camp there in 1969 with the ATC, same week first moon landing took place.
Good memories of Canberras, the swiming pool, the beer, the food in the airmans mess, the beer, the heat, the night exercise sleeping under a parachute, oh happy days.
Paul
By: Robert Hilton - 2nd March 2009 at 22:43
I was based at Laarbruch ’80-81 on II (ac).
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd March 2009 at 21:03
just visiting?
Hi Robert, I live about four miles away from Laarbruch on the German side.:)
Peter
By: Robert Hilton - 2nd March 2009 at 21:00
Hi Peter, were just visiting?
I live about 12 miles from Laarbruch on the other side of the border.
A number of the barracks are also in use by Polish immigrant workers.
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March 2, 2009 at 8:56 pm