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History of Royal Air Force Jever - Medium Length

This History was compiled for the Headmasters' Visit to RAF Jever on 16May60. Source unknown.

1920s to 1935

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThe history of Jever as an airfield falls into three
distinct periods; from the mid-twenties until 1935 as the
property of a civilian flying club; from 1935 until 1945
as an operational Luftwaffe base and from 1951 until the
present day as an R.A.F. Fighter Station as part of the
N.A.T.O. defence.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesDuring the 1920's the employees of the Focke Wulf
Aircraft Co., of Bremen decided to form a sports flying
club, starting with a nucleus of World War I pilots.   By
1926 they had built up a thriving club with seven light
aeroplanes located on a small aerodrome at the edge of
Upjever forest.   However, within ten years this field was
commandeered for more aggressive purposes and the Luftwaffe
transformed it into a fighter base.

1935 to 1945

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesWork began early in 1935 clearing the forest and
proceeded rapidly.   The Station Headquarters was the first
building to be completed and then the Hangars, Fire Station,
M.T. Buildings, Sick Quarters and underground Petrol
Installations followed in quick succession.   Within the
space of one year the Station was ready for its official
opening which took place on 1st May 1936, when General Milch
handed over to the first commandant, Hauptmann Malrich.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThe first operational unit, a fighter Gruppe of three
Staffeln, occupied Jever in June, 1937.   Even at the time
of the Munich Crisis in 1938 there was still only one
fighter Gruppe here equipped with Me.109B's.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesIn August 1937 the unit had only fifteen fighters
instead of its establishment of thirty-nine and of those
only five were serviceable.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesAt the beginning of September 1939, Jever was once
more in the operational picture with the formation of the
first Gruppe top be equipped with Me.109's and Me.110's,
which in September 1939, were responsible for causing
heavy casualties to a force of 22 Wellington aircraft
carrying out a raid on naval vessels in the Schillig Roads
and Wilhelmshaven.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThis account is not entirely accurate.   Chris Stone, who was
'A' Flight Commander on No. 93 Squadron at RAF Jever, was later the
Station Commander of RAF Wattisham.   He relates the full story
from the History of RAF Wattisham as follows:

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytes"There is, however, a mistake I think in the last paragraph
of page 5 where it references the station's Me 109s and 110s
attacking Wellingtons.   The bombers were, in fact, fifteen Blenheims.
There were five each from Nos 107 and 110 Squadrons based at
RAF Wattisham, and five from No. 139 Squadron based at Wyton.
The raid had the distinction of being the very first to be mounted
against Germany in WWII, and was carried out at low level
against German battleships anchored in the Schilling Roads
on 4th September, 1939.   The 5 aircraft from 139 Sqn failed to
find the target and so returned with their bombs to Wyton.   The 10
aircraft from Wattisham did find the ships, but the bombs that
found their mark merely bounced off the heavy armour plating.
The only German ship to be damaged was the cruiser Emden
when one of the Blenheims, shot up during the attack, crashed
into it.   Just five aircraft returned safely to Wattisham."

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesFrom the beginning of 1940 to July, 1941
there were no tactical units at Jever.   In July
1941 Jever became the Headquarters of the 2nd
Fighter Division and the Fighter Command of the
German Bight, with one squadron of Me.109's and
another two squadrons on the islands of Wangerooge
and Borkum.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesIn 1942 the Headquarters of the 2nd Fighter
Division moved to Stade near Hamburg, leaving Jever
with a Fighter Gruppe of Me.109's.   This Gruppe
took part in the attacks against the first American
Bomber Forces to raid Germany in daylight.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesA formation of Ju.52's, for duties in mine
searching were added to the forces at Jever in
1945.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesTowards the end of the war the fighter forma-
tions left the aerodrome and were replaced by No.4
Night Fighter Wing equipped with Ju.188's.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesShortly before the surrender, all aircraft
were flown to Leck, Schleswig-Holstein, to be
destroyed; consequently when the Polish troops
entered the station on 8th May 1945, there were
no aircraft left on the airfield.

1945 to 1960

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThe Luftwaffe did not develop Jever airfield
to any extent.   After its occupation by the 7th
Armoured Division in 1945 it was listed as an
auxiliary landing ground with no concrete runways,
no radio facilities, and no lighting.   Its grass
runway was 1,300 yards long, the total size of the
field being 1,800 yards from east to west and 1,000
yards from north to south.   In 1947 it was removed
from the list of auxiliary landing grounds.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesBetween 1945 and 1951 the station was occupied
successively by Polish and Canadian Army Units, the
11th Hussars, the Danish Army and by Jewish displaced
persons.   In 1951 the Royal Air Force decided to
develop Jever as a jet fighter base and so began
what is perhaps the most important period of its history
as an operational station.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesDuring 1951 a concrete runway, 6,000 ft by 150 ft was
constructed, radio facilities, lighting and underground fuel
storage tanks were added, accommodation was improved with
the object of making Jever an important contribution to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Scheme.
Development of the airfield has continued since 1955, when
it was nominated a N.A.T.O. main Fighter Base.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesIn March, 1951 No. 5352 Wing Detachment and a small
nucleus of administrative officers arrived to start the
work necessary to expand the station.   On 11th February,
1952, the first British jet, a Vampire, touched down at
Jever.   In early March the first three squadrons arrived,
Nos. 4, 93 and 112, all equipped with Vampires and Meteor
trainers, which served them faithfully until superseded by
Sabre IV's in May, 1953.   July of that year saw the departure
of 112 Squadron from Jever to Bruggen, leaving only 4 and
93 until April, 1955, when No. 98 and No. 118 Hunter
Squadrons moved in from Fassberg.   They operated their
Hunter F.4s until 98 and 118 were disbanded in Jul and
August 1957.   In Jan 1958, No. 2 (F.R.) Squadron,
equipped with Swifts moved in from Geilenkirchen.

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesThe Mess itself was built for the German officers in
1938/39 at a cost which was high even for those days.   It is
said to have been lavishly furnished.   The paintings in the
Ante-Room are an indication of this, as they alone cost in
the region of 8,500,000 reichmarks.   They were painted in
situ by a Professor Paul Scheurich, born in New York in 1885,
pupil at the Berlin Academy of Arts and finally Professor at
the State-Porcelaine-Manufactory in Maissen.   He died during
the war.   The painting on the north wall shows events in
connection with the history of the Jade Busan during the
time of the Gross Kurfeurst (the Great Elector - Frederich
Willhelm, 1640-1686) by whom, it is understood, a harbour
was built for the Brandenburg-Prussian Fleet.   The painting
on the east wall has no known significance but it depicts the
eighteenth century and its title is believed to be "Rider
and Escort on Foot."

1px-trans.gif, 43 bytesAlterations to the Mess made by the Royal Air Force
consist of the addition of the dining-room and sleeping
accommodation and the extension of the kitchens.

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