This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2012) |
Melsbroek Air Base(ICAO:EBMB) is aBelgian Air Componentfacility inSteenokkerzeel,6.5NM(12.0 km; 7.5 mi) northeast[1]ofBrussels,the capital ofBelgium.It is located on the northern side ofBrussels Airport,with which it shares runways and ground and air control facilities.
Melsbroek Air Base (Advanced Landing Ground B-58) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Belgian Air Component | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Brussels | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Steenokkerzeel | ||||||||||||||||||
| ElevationAMSL | 184 ft / 56 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 50°54′05″N004°29′04″E/ 50.90139°N 4.48444°E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  EBMB Location in Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
The15th Air Transport Wingoperates from Melsbroek Air Base with following types:
- Airbus A310(retired)
- Airbus A330(retired)
- Airbus A321
- Dassault Falcon 20
- Dassault Falcon 900
- Dassault Falcon 7x
- Embraer 135 & 145
- Lockheed C-130(being replaced by A400M)
- Airbus A400M Atlas
History
editThe aerodrome was constructed by the GermanWehrmachtduringWorld War II.After the 1944liberation of Belgium,Melsbroek was operated by theRoyal Canadian Air Forceand theRoyal Air Forcewhen it was known asB58 Melsbroek.
Operation Bodenplatte,the German aerial attack of 1 January 1945, hit Melsbroek hard. According toEmil Clade(leading III./JG 27), the AAA positions were not manned, and aircraft were bunched together or in lines, which made perfect targets. The attack caused considerable damage among the units based there and was a great success. TheRecceWings had lost two entire squadrons worth of machines.No. 69 Squadron RAFlost 11Vickers Wellingtonsand two damaged. Possibly allNo. 140 Squadron RAF′sde Havilland Mosquitoaircraft were lost. At least fiveSupermarine SpitfiresfromNo. 16 Squadron RAFwere destroyed.No. 271 Squadron RAFlost at least sevenHandley Page Harrowtransports "out of action". A further 15 other aircraft were destroyed.139 Wingreported fiveNorth American B-25 Mitchellbombers destroyed and five damaged. Some 15 to 20United States Army Air Forces(USAAF) bombers were also destroyed.[2][3]Another source states that 13 Wellingtons were destroyed, as were five Mosquitoes, fourAustersand fiveAvro Ansonsfrom the Tactical Air Forces 2nd Communications Squadron. Three Spitfires were also lost and two damaged.[4]At least oneRAF Transport CommandDouglas Dakotawas destroyed.[5]
After the war, Melsbroek replacedHaren Airfieldas the Belgian national airport. That title is now carried by theZaventemterminal on the same aerodrome, built for the1958 world exposition.At that time, the existing terminal was taken over by the then Belgian Air Force.
WhenTrans European Airwaysexisted, its head office was in Building 117 of Melsbroek Airport.[6]WhenCityBirdexisted its head office was in Building 117D.[7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^abEBMB – BRUSSELS / Melsbroek (MIL)(alsoPDF).Aeronautical Information Publication(AIP) from AIM Belgium viaskeyes.,EBBR – BRUSSELS / Brussels-National(alsoPDF).Aeronautical Information Publication(AIP) from AIM Belgium viaskeyes.
- ^Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 217.
- ^Weal 2003, p. 117.
- ^Franks 2000, p. 134.
- ^"CL 2934".Imperial War Museum.Retrieved3 June2012.
- ^"World Airline Directory."Flight International.1 April 1989.126.
- ^"CityBird Offices."CityBird.Retrieved on 3 November 1999.