Einsatzhafen Varrelbusch

52°54'30"N 008°02'39"E

Runway: unk - 1200x80meters/...feet - concrete
Runway: unk - 1200x80meters/...feet - concrete

Operational Field (german: Einsatzhafen) Varrelbusch was a Luftwaffe airbase during World War II.
Construction of the airfield began in 1939, when it was still considered an air field (german: Feldflughafen).
In 1942 it was decided to upgrade the Feldflughaven to Einsatzhafen with a hardened runway.
In 1944 a second and third hardened runway was under construction.
During the final year of war it was severely bombed.
During the war units with He111 and Ju88 bombers were the main users, but Fw190 Fighters have been documented in 1945.


The airbase was demolished in 1951, and the runways were torn up.
The Bundeswehr took over the airfield as an exercise area for paras and air assault units.
On the northern edge of the base a German Nike-Hercules site was based from the 1960s.
Part of the airfield is now in use with a civilian aeroclub, but the hardened runway has been replaced with a grass one.


Little is recognisable today.
Dirt revetments for aircraft can still be seen on the north side of the field
On the south side some WW II-era buildings can still be found.
The Einsatzhafen itself on the other hand is still fairly recognisable in the landscape.






Einsatzhafen Varrelbusch in 2009 (Google Earth) showing
runways in red, aircraft parking in green, and taxiways in blue.
The dark blue areas are of the later (1960s) Bundeswehr Nike-Hercules site.