🇩🇪 Wittmundhafen Air Base

Wittmundhafen Air Base (ETNT) is a military airfield located in Wittmund, Germany, and is the home of Tactical Air Wing 71 "Richthofen" (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen"), which operates Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat aircraft. The base also hosts civilian-registered Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and Alpha Jet aircraft from an external service provider.

The site has a long history, initially established as an airship port in 1916. It was re-established as an airfield in 1938, used during World War II, and then demilitarized after the war. Concrete plans for its reactivation began in the mid-1950s, and the base was recommissioned in the spring of 1963, becoming the new base for Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen". The squadron has operated various aircraft over the years, including the F-86 "Super Sabre" (1959-1965), F-104 "Starfighter" (1963-1973), and F-4F "Phantom" (since 1974). The F-4F Phantoms were retired on June 29, 2013, and the squadron transitioned to the Eurofighter Typhoon that same year.

Wittmundhafen Air Base serves as a main operational air base for the German armed forces, primarily used by Tactical Air Wing 71 "Richthofen." Its operations include Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions, training flights for its own squadron and other Bundeswehr and NATO flying units, and air target presentation. The base also accommodates a small amount of civilian air traffic, including training and refueling flights for non-military groups like Lufthansa, the Lower Saxony Police, and sports flying clubs. The QRA mission involves two Eurofighter aircraft and their crews being on 15-minute readiness around the clock to ensure the integrity and safety of German airspace and NATO airspace.

The base underwent extensive renovation and expansion, with flight operations suspended from early 2022 to facilitate work on the runway and other critical infrastructure. The previous runway was removed and a new one, 3 km long and 30 m wide, was constructed, along with new drainage and lighting systems. Flight operational areas, such as taxiways, were also fully renewed to meet the requirements of the Eurofighter. Other new constructions include a noise protection hangar for engine testing, an aircraft maintenance hangar, and a new building for the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) unit.

The first aircraft returned to Wittmundhafen on July 17, 2025, with a gradual resumption of flight operations expected from early August 2025. The QRA mission will continue to be conducted from Rostock/Laage until the full resumption of flight operations at Wittmundhafen, which is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. The overall construction and renewal of the facility are expected to continue until approximately 2031, with planned investments for the period from 2020 to 2031 amounting to around 774 million Euros.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, nlbl.niedersachsen.de, umwelt.niedersachsen.de, de.wikipedia.org*