Monchengladbach 1973

[Superscouse]

Probably a question for our senior members out there ! Did anyone visit Monchengladbach airfield in the early 1970s ? I paid a short visit on 23 May 1973 and logged the following -

WGAF/WGN Pembrokes :- 5408, 5411, 5412 and 5415 which are all described as "out to grass" plus 5417 and 5421 which appeared flyable. Indeed the latter one took off while I was there. In total there were approximately 12 Pembrokes on the field, mostly stored.

WGAF T6/Harvard :- two unidentified examples in a red colour scheme parked in amongst the Pembrokes.

WGAF OV-10 Broncos :- 5 examples of these of which D-9547 and D-9558 were identified. Both flew whilst I was there. I think these were still in service at this time so a very long shot for the missing 3.

Can anyone help with the missing serials ? Many thanks in anticipation.

Superscouse

[Wolfman]

I visited EDLN ( Mönchengladbach ) on 23.07.1972 and found the following :
Pembrokes Luftwaffe : 5425,5401,5409,5410,5411 , D-CAKI ( ex Luftwaffe )
Pembrokes Marine : 5423,5408,5420,5426,5412,5413,5405
Harvards : D-FABE ( red , ex 52-8578 , ex AA+624 ) , D-FABO ( red , 52-8593 ex AA+603 , crashed and w/o 07.08.1988 Speichersdorf ) , and AA+633 ( wreck )

Hope this helps , Cheers Wolfman

[Superscouse]

Hi Wolfman,

Many thanks for your reply which was very interesting. It is amazing that you were there just two months after my visit, now almost 40 years ago. What I need now is another list from someone who was there after my visit on 23 May 1973 so that I can compare yours with it.

As I suspected the two Pembrokes which I thought were flyable (5421 and 5417) were not seen by you on your visit. Did you happen to note which aircraft (Pembrokes and Harvards) were stored/wfu and which appeared flyable ? Do you have any images you can post on this thread taken at the time of your visit ? Was the wrecked Harvard AA+633 in a red scheme also ?

I have found a small number of b&w images on the Air Britain website but taken September 1975, some two years later. See following link -

http://www.abpic.co.uk/results.php?q=Mo ... 0&limit=50

You will need to scroll to near the end of the list for them. I sent the photographer an email for further information but he has not responded to me as yet.

Thanks once again for your reply but if anyone else can add answers to my queries please feel free to do so.

Regards.

Superscouse

[ehbg]

I took your question as an excuse to take another look in some old 1972 and 1973 Airnieuws magazines.
Unfortunately the only log i found was from 23-07-1973.
Harvard: AA+633
Pembroke: 54+08, 11, 12, 15, 28 + 5 unknown and remains of the scrapped ones.
C45 (ex Aéronavale): 15, 29, 54, 76, 99, 558, 706

[Superscouse]

Hello ehbg,

Thank you for your reply. I have just noticed an error in the date of my visit to Monchengladbach. It was in fact 23 May 1973 not 1972. Doh

I have therefore edited my postings to show the corrected date. So, consequently, your information for 23.07.1973 and Wolfman's previous posting for 23.07.1972 (weird being exactly one year apart) are very useful. Strange I did not log any ex-Aeronavale C-45s on my visit. I guess they must have arrived in the 2 months between the 2 dates.

Again, rather spookily, today I received an email from the person who posted the photo images on the Air Britain website, taken in September 1975. He confirms Pembrokes 5401, 5404, 5408, 5409, 5410, 5411, 5412, 5415 and 5428 were present in September 1975 along with Broncos D-9549, D-9550, D-9551, D-9559 and D-9560 plus Harvard AA+633. Also seen were D0-27s 5731 and 5748 and P-149Ds 9101, 9212 and 9221.

Can anyone add to these sightings at this airfield in 1972 or 1973 ?

I would be interested to find out the name of the military unit or if civilian Company who occupied Monchengaldbach airfield at this time if anybody knows also.

Many thanks.

Superscouse

[Wolfman]

he civilian company was Rhein-Flugzeugbau GmBh.On this Side you will find a short story about Mönchengladbach , it is in German : http://www.mfc-mg.de/cms/index.php?opti ... 3&Itemid=2

[Superscouse]

Hello Wolfman,

Thank you for the information. The link to the history of the activities at the airfield is interesting as it actually mentions the ex-Aeronavale C-45s as having arrived on 23.6.1973 (well 5 of them anyway) so I did not miss them by much.

Regards.

Superscouse