Former Canadian Military Base in Lahr, Germany (Part 1)

This post and my next will be about the former Canadian military facilities here in Lahr.  I shall then be spending the next couple of months in Nova Scotia, Canada.  My blogs from there will showcase some of the food, events and picturesque towns in that part of the world.  In October, I shall be back in Germany writing once again about the food, wine, beer and culture here.

The Flugplatz (Airfield)

Below, two views of the present main entrance to the airfield

The Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 1 Fighter Wing in Marville, France moved to Lahr, Germany in 1967.  That included 439 and 441 Squadrons.  France had opted out of NATO and required all NATO bases in that country to close.  Later, a squadron from #3 Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany, moved to Lahr.  In about 1971, those squadrons moved to the RCAF's No. 4 Fighter Wing in Baden-Söllingen, Germany, about 45 minutes north of Lahr.

That left only 5 Air Movements Unit using the Lahr airfield regularly, moving military members, families, civilian personnel and equipment between Canada and Germany in Boeing 707 and Hercules aircraft.  Later, a small detachment from 412 Transport Squadron in Canada arrived at 5 AMU.  The two pilots flew smaller planes--the Cosmo and then the Dash 7 and 8--regularly between Germany and London, England.

Below, the 5 AMU as it is today; on the right, the door in front facing the main road.

Below, the former Canadian Forces Base Lahr Headquarters building on the airfield.

In 1970, the Canadian Army and Brigade moved to Lahr from several bases in northern Germany.  The Brigade included 122eR, RCR, 4 Service Battalion and 1RCHA.  The 444 Helicopter Squadron also was part of the Army Brigade in Lahr.  The PPCLI were based in Baden-Söllingen.

 Following are some of the buildings still remaining beyond the airfield

Both the Air Force and the Army had a large medical corps, with the Field Ambulance coming down from the north with the Army.  Canadians over the next years had their own hospital with family physicians and specialists, a pharmacy, military postal unit, bank, supermarket, base exchange (Canex), library, schools, a teen centre, swimming pool and gymnasium and various other units and clubs.

The following are pictures of buildings still remaining on the base and pictures of where some of them used to be.

On the left, the picture shows approximately where the "old"  hospital was located (a new one was built near the Kaserne, opening in 1991).  In its place is a huge furniture store, one that was previously in Schuttern.  The picture on the right is a restaurant across the street from where the hospital was located.

Below, the Euro Inn, a hotel with reasonable rates on the same side of the street as the former hospital.  It had been newly built by the Canadian military as a barracks for single service men and women.

Below, a group of restaurants where the Junior Ranks Mess Hall was located. A restaurant 

is part of the old Mess Hall still today.

The following are buildings that remain and are still being used.

Below, the former military Roman Catholic church; on the right, Canex and snack bar building

Below left, renovated barracks; below right, the building just past the AMU, where Legion #4 has their meeting place.

Below left, a bldg just past the AMU; it houses a flying school.  Below right, bldg # 22.

 Two views of the old firehall.

 

Life as we knew it for Canadians in Lahr ended in 1994 when Canadian Forces Base Lahr closed officially.  Canadian Forces Europe Headquarters and Canadian Forces Hospital Europe closed officially in summer 1993, with the Brigade returning to Canada that same year.  Many changes have taken place at the former Canadian and NATO airfield and base, though much from that past era is still evident.

Those intervening 27 years--1967 to 1994--were enjoyed and appreciated and are still remembered by nearly all Canadians who served here and by the many families who visited.  I took these pictures on 10 July 2010.  The temperature was 35.5C, a very hot day!  It reminded me of those earlier sweltering days when a stand-down was called.  The base was then closed for the day except for those services that could not be spared.  Many of the hospital personnel and those at other units were deemed necessary, as any military base must be on watch at all times.

Quite a number of buildings on the Flugplatz (airfield) have been torn down, including the following:  arena, curling rink, gas station, the hospital and the yellow tunnel.  In some instances, grassy areas are the result.  In others, new buildings have emerged.   Although several of the old barracks have been torn down, others have been renovated and are occupied by small businesses.  A new building is being constructed near the  Centennial Club. The former Rod and Gun Club is still in operation, under new owners or tenants, as a private hunting club.  The Senior NCO Mess and the buildings in that area have been sealed off for many years.  They remain standing at this time. 

Below left, new construction is going on with what I think is part of what was the Centennial Club in the background.  At right, a new building near the entrance to the former base.

 

 Below left, the gymnasium with pool facilities (no longer used).  Below right, the abandoned tennis courts. 

Below, the site where the gas pumps were located

The 5 AMU building and its airfield became a private terminal and airport.  Although one plane was on the tarmac on 10 July, the airfield is used very little.  It was for a time quite active.  A flying school is situated there.

Below centre, a lonely aircraft on the tarmac.  Below left, a picture of the airfield today.  On the right, the stairway to the top floor offices of the 5 AMU building are still standing.   At the very bottom, centre, one of the last major construction projects by the Canadian military.  It is located facing the main road to the base and it is now up for sale.

My next blog will have pictures of the  Kaserne, the "new" Canadian Forces Hospital Europe and some of the PMQs in the city of Lahr.  To see any of the above pictures in a larger format, just click on them.  To return to the blog, click on the arrow at the top left corner of the screen.