Gersthofen-Gablingen (Augsburg AHP)

48°27'04"N 010°51'45"E

Runway: 09/27 - 2744x46meters/9003x151feet - TARMAC

Airfield Gersthofen-Gablingen (german: Flugplatz Gersthofen-Gablingen, also known as Augsburg AHP, ICAO EDOX (until 1992)) was an airfield north of Augsburg in Bavaria, Germany
Between 1904 and 1918 the airfield was a subordinate unit to the Flying School at Schleissheim (german: Fliegerschule Schleißheim) of the Royal Bavarian Flying Troops. During World War I it was known as 'Fliegerschule V'. In order to be able to build aircraft maintenance hangars very fast, the Bavarian Flying Troops developed a design with an iron skeleton. As a result of this design Gersthofen received one such hangar, which stood until 1980, when it was pulled for military security reasons.

During World War II it took the Allied reconnaissance aircraft a very long time to recognise the airfield. This could happen because it was very well camouflaged with cardboard cows and paint that made the airfield look like a small lake. The airfield was home to the Pilot Schools A5 and C7, Night Fighter School 1, and an Me163 'Komet' test-unit. Parts of the 'Amerikabomber' (Me 264) were stored here in late 1943 to make room for the production of Me410 at the Messerschmidt plant.
According to American soldiers that had been stationed at the site the area is littered with tunnels, sometimes several levels deep. At least one of them was large enough to house a production facility for rocket fuel. One access tunnel is known to be on the site of the former airfield, but it is inaccessible because that is a restricted military area.
On 16 March 1944 the airfield was attacked by two Bomber Wings from England flying 100-120 B-17s and B-24s. On 24 April 1944 a second attack followed bu 120 B-24s.


Allied map of Gablingen, ca. 1944


Photoreconnaissance proof of a successful airstrike in 1944

Between 1945 and 1955 the airfield was designated R-77 and used as Air Base Barracks Gablingen. In 1956 the 188th Airborne Infantry Regiment was stationed at the field, later followed up by the 187th. The US 7th MEDCOM brought 6 UH-1H Hueys of the 236th MedDet to the field.
Somewhere around 1970 a SIGINT unit came to the base, for which a circular antenna was built: 40 meters high, and 365meters across, known locally as 'the elephant cage'. The antenna allowed interception of short wave radio communications several thousand miles away.

In 1985 some 1800 people worked in the underground classified facilities, under the supervision of the NSA. The facililty was given up in 1998 and handed over to the Bundeswehr, who alledgedly do not use it. The German Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) lists it as an operational site however, one that is not to be brought to Berlin.

The former airfield is still a restricted military area. From Google Earth you can still recognise the runway, platforms (now in use as parking lots) and taxitracks though. At least one hangar still existed in 2000.


former Augsburg AHP in 2000 (Google Earth)


Antenna array at airfield Augsburg AHP (Gersthofen-Gablingen)