De Kluis Airfield B.91

Military obsolescence. De Kluis Airfield (B.91) was a temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) built for a specific military purpose. It was closed and dismantled after the Allied front line advanced deep into Germany, rendering the airfield's strategic location redundant. It was never intended to be a permanent installation.

The site of the former airfield has been completely returned to agricultural land, primarily consisting of fields and meadows. There are no visible remnants of the runways, taxiways, or support buildings on the ground. The original layout is completely gone. However, in September 2019, a monument named 'Monument Vliegveld B-91 De Kluis' was unveiled near the site to commemorate the airfield, its history, and the Allied personnel who served there.

De Kluis Airfield was a critically important Royal Air Force (RAF) base during the final stages of World War II in Europe. Constructed by the British Royal Engineers in October 1944 on Dutch soil just liberated during Operation Market Garden, its designation 'B.91' signifies it was the 91st British ALG built on the continent. Located just south of the vital Nijmegen bridgehead, its primary role was to provide close air support for the Allied ground forces during the push into Germany.

Operations it handled included:
- **Ground Attack and Armed Reconnaissance:** The airfield was home to wings of Hawker Typhoon fighter-bombers, which were instrumental in attacking German armor, transport, and troop concentrations.
- **Fighter Sweeps and Escort:** Supermarine Spitfire squadrons based at B.91 conducted fighter sweeps to establish air superiority and provided escort for bomber formations.

Notable units based at B.91 included:
- **No. 125 Wing RAF:** With Spitfire squadrons (e.g., No. 132, No. 451, No. 602).
- **No. 143 Wing RCAF:** A Royal Canadian Air Force wing flying Hawker Typhoons (e.g., No. 438, No. 439, No. 440 Squadrons).

The airfield was operational from October 1944 until it was abandoned by the RAF in April 1945 and returned to the Dutch authorities, who promptly reverted the land to its original agricultural use.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening De Kluis Airfield. The land is privately owned farmland, and all infrastructure was removed over 75 years ago. There is no economic or strategic need for an airfield at this location.