Jever Air Base

Military Restructuring and Consolidation

While flight operations have ceased and the airfield itself is closed, the site has not been fully abandoned. It has been repurposed for other military and civilian uses.

**Military Use:** The barracks and administrative areas of the former air base remain an active military installation, now known as the 'Standort Schortens' or 'Upjever Kaserne'. It is home to the Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe 'Friesland' (Air Force Force Protection Regiment 'Friesland'), a ground-based unit responsible for the security of Air Force assets and installations, both in Germany and on deployment. The Waffensystemunterstützungszentrum 2 (Weapon System Support Center 2) also has a presence on site.

**Civilian Use:** The former runway and taxiways are no longer maintained for aviation. Parts of the large airfield area are being converted into a large-scale solar park (Photovoltaikpark Upjever). Other sections are used for events, industrial storage, and driver safety training.

Jever Air Base, formerly known by its military ICAO code ETNJ, has a long and significant history.

**World War II Era (1936-1945):**
Constructed by the Luftwaffe in the mid-1930s and opened in 1936, it was a crucial fighter base during World War II. Its primary mission was to defend the German North Sea coast, particularly the major naval base at Wilhelmshaven and the city of Bremen. It hosted various fighter units (Jagdgeschwader) operating aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. The base was a frequent target of Allied bombing raids.

**Post-War and RAF Use (1945-1961):**
After the war, the base was taken over by the Royal Air Force and operated as RAF Jever. It was part of the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany and hosted various squadrons flying aircraft like the de Havilland Vampire, Supermarine Swift, and the iconic Hawker Hunter.

**Cold War and German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Era (1961-2013):**
In 1961, the base was handed over to the newly re-established West German Air Force (Luftwaffe). In 1964, it became the home of the famous Jagdgeschwader 71 (JG 71) 'Richthofen', Germany's first operational jet fighter wing, named in honor of the World War I flying ace Manfred von Richthofen. For nearly 50 years, Jever was one of NATO's most important front-line fighter bases. Its primary role was Quick Reaction Alert (QRA), intercepting unidentified aircraft over the North Sea and protecting Northern German airspace.

Throughout its Luftwaffe history, JG 71 at Jever operated a succession of key NATO fighter aircraft:
- **Canadair Sabre Mk 6** (1961–1963)
- **Lockheed F-104G Starfighter** (1963–1974)
- **McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II** (1974–2013)

The final flight of an F-4F Phantom II from Jever in September 2013 marked the end of its long history as an active fighter base.

There are no known plans or credible prospects for reopening Jever Air Base for flight operations. The closure was part of a long-term, strategic realignment of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) to consolidate assets and reduce costs. The region's fighter operations have been permanently consolidated at the nearby Wittmundhafen Air Base, which took over the 'Richthofen' designation and the QRA mission. The repurposing of the site for ground troops and the development of a large solar park on the former airfield make a future reactivation as an airport highly improbable.