Bad Langensalza

51°07'47"N 010°37'27"E

Runway 09/27 - 700x35meters - grass

Airfield Langensalza (Flugplatz Langensalza, also known as Fliegerhorst Langensalza, ICAO EDEB) is a special airfield located northwest of Erfurt in Thuringia, Germany.
The airfield was founded in 1927, and upgraded between 1937 and 1938 in preparation of war (World War II).
Amongst others it was used to test the Gothaer assault glider, but it was also the home base of a Ju86 Stuka Wing (III./ Stukageschwader 2 "Immelmann") and a pilot school.


In 1943/44 Ju 352 "Herkules" aircraft were built at the airfield, followed by Ju88s.
From 1944 units of I./ NJG 2 operated from the airfield in defense of the Reich.
The field was overrun by US forces in April 1945.
When the Americans handed the airfield over to the Russians they had little use for the airfield, which was then greatly reduced in size.
They did station an army unit in its barracks though.
What was left of the airfield (most was converted to agricultural use) became a runway for cropduster aircraft like the An-2 Colt and gliders.


Unfortunately no maps or images of the airfield before 2000 were located.


The airfield became a sports aviation airfield (under German law classified as a "special rules airfield", or Sonderlandeplatz) after the reunification of Germany in 1990.
It is owned and operated by the 'Otto Liliental' aviation club.

 


The area of the WW-II Fliegerhorst in 2000.

 


Detail of above photo, showing the east-west runway and a small aircraft taxiing to the platform.

 


Bad Langensalza heading east.