The Ghost of RAF Laarbruch
Let me add that I worked at NRN from when it started civil operations in early 2003 until summer 2008. I lived on-site in buildings No 13 and 68, in the southernmost corner of the airfield, behind the tennis court next to the officer's mess. Last summer these buildings, which belonged to the airport company, were sold off to the Dutch fireman training company, my colleagues and I were thrown out, and this was one of the reasons I quit.
Rest assured that Hermann the German is still blamed for all the spooky things that happen on this airfield, e. g. inexplicable power outages, the tower experiencing R/T failures, Dutch low-cost airlines going bankrupt, weird airport opening hours, and severe headaches after barbeques.
Rest assured that Hermann the German is still blamed for all the spooky things that happen on this airfield, e. g. inexplicable power outages, the tower experiencing R/T failures, Dutch low-cost airlines going bankrupt, weird airport opening hours, and severe headaches after barbeques.
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Laarbruch 1953 - 1999
Interested in RAF Laarbruch history?
Please take a look at my flippable Anglo-German book:
Laarbruch Chronik
Now it works on Ipads as well.
Please take a look at my flippable Anglo-German book:
Laarbruch Chronik
Now it works on Ipads as well.
Last edited by 95i; 31st Jul 2014 at 09:48.
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Thank you for your time and efforts 95i, that really is a quite remarkable presentation indeed!
Last edited by glad rag; 18th Apr 2013 at 19:42.
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My first visit to Laarbruch was with 41(F) Sqn from Coltishall in 1988 we operated out of 2 Sqn PBF. Last visit to Weeze Airport 2008 conducted a flying challenge/charity flight. Funny parking our PA28 on a dispersal surrounded by the forest. We were on a tight time schedule when departing and got caught in the morning Ryanair rush through customs!
NM
NM
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I remember the micro brewery at Arcen just a few miles south of Laarbruch, on the R. Maas. They make over a dozen kinds of beer ranging from Trappist style ultra strong stuff to fairly light 'blond', all delicious. All the products were available in the bar next door. One of them was served in a glass boot and you had to surrender a shoe before being served. The shoe went into the freezer (ah those crazy Cloggies).
De Hertog Jan Proeberij was the name of the bar. Proeberij might translate as 'testing facility'; it certainly tested my ability to remain vertical. Happy days.
R
De Hertog Jan Proeberij was the name of the bar. Proeberij might translate as 'testing facility'; it certainly tested my ability to remain vertical. Happy days.
R
Laarbruch
If Carlsberg did postings....
Without a doubt, my favourite.
Re: the Ghost..I was CFI of the gliding club (TRGC) in the 70s and completed my PPL conversion in 78. At one point the GC was accommodated in the NW hangar (We kicked the rocks out) and I recall the half demolished bunker there. - I got partially inside once but bottled it --didn't feel right at all.
In the woods directly opposite the hangar offices there were numerous WWII trenches - overgrown but still obvious. They led to the small escarpment overlooking the old Well Border post where they ran all the way along Quite a large complex. There were many reports of "a presence" in and around the hangar, which I understand continued in the HASs that were built there later.
As an aside, my late brother who was a NATO Fighter Tactics advisor to none other than Eric Hartmann on the Richthofen Wing (Yes.. really!) in the 60s and had to speak fluent German, told me that Laarbruch meant a break in the larches in old (High?) German.
Without a doubt, my favourite.
Re: the Ghost..I was CFI of the gliding club (TRGC) in the 70s and completed my PPL conversion in 78. At one point the GC was accommodated in the NW hangar (We kicked the rocks out) and I recall the half demolished bunker there. - I got partially inside once but bottled it --didn't feel right at all.
In the woods directly opposite the hangar offices there were numerous WWII trenches - overgrown but still obvious. They led to the small escarpment overlooking the old Well Border post where they ran all the way along Quite a large complex. There were many reports of "a presence" in and around the hangar, which I understand continued in the HASs that were built there later. As an aside, my late brother who was a NATO Fighter Tactics advisor to none other than Eric Hartmann on the Richthofen Wing (Yes.. really!) in the 60s and had to speak fluent German, told me that Laarbruch meant a break in the larches in old (High?) German.
85-89 the time of my life on XV. Beer calls in the Golden Hind and the Mally! Buying the biggest of everything in Gifts and Gullibles. Vodka in windscreen wash bottles as it was cheaper than........windscreen wash! Dets to Decci, Goose and Flag.........and special viewings of Top Gun in the Astra when it was released. Manning the MRD on New Year's Day with the hang over from hell, cellar parties, Little City, Schutzen Feste, Xmas markets, HAS parties and raft races at Well Lakes. Wouldn't swap it for the world!
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Accommodation recommendation in Weeze
Hello A"QFI,
I realise it was some while ago, but could you please give me the details of the accommodation in Weeze that you mentioned in your Post.
I was stationed at Laarbruch in the mid-80's and would love to take a trip down memory lane.
Thanks for your time,
Regards,
29Triplex.
I realise it was some while ago, but could you please give me the details of the accommodation in Weeze that you mentioned in your Post.
I was stationed at Laarbruch in the mid-80's and would love to take a trip down memory lane.
Thanks for your time,
Regards,
29Triplex.
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Good afternoon - I can't see that I have ever mentioned any accommodation, only the grilled chicken house in the Hardt woods neat JHQ. If you want somewhere to stay in Weeze I recommend Kev's Pub In wasserstrasse Paddeln auf der Niers :: Bootstouren, Fahrradtouren, Übernachtungen - Kevins Pub €35/pernight/perperson for bed a very good B!
Last edited by A2QFI; 19th Nov 2014 at 09:23.
I was there flying F4s in the 70s, in the Harrier sim in the 90s and I am re-visiting next weekend. I will report back. My B&B is in Weeze, run by an ex-RAF policeman. There is a museum, in one of the former churches.
Cheers
NickB
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What's in a Name ?
29Triplex (your #74 above),
Thank you for resurrecting this Thread (in particular, Rigga's last Post - #72 of 21.4.13.), on the question of the derivation of "Laarbruch". * This gives me the opportunity to ask: "Does anyone know what lies behind the name of "GEILENKIRCHEN" ? "Geilen" has the meaning of "horny" (colloq. "lewd" or "salacious").
Might we have here some equivalent of that Old Monk of Great Renown (who did great deeds in Nottihgham Town), and of whom we sang so lustilly in the days of our not-misspent-enough youth ?) You could hardly ask the padre !
Note *: "Laar" means nothing. But could it be "leer" with a broad accent ? (Leerbruch = "Empty [ie "dry"] Brook"). Would make sense.
D.
Thank you for resurrecting this Thread (in particular, Rigga's last Post - #72 of 21.4.13.), on the question of the derivation of "Laarbruch". * This gives me the opportunity to ask: "Does anyone know what lies behind the name of "GEILENKIRCHEN" ? "Geilen" has the meaning of "horny" (colloq. "lewd" or "salacious").
Might we have here some equivalent of that Old Monk of Great Renown (who did great deeds in Nottihgham Town), and of whom we sang so lustilly in the days of our not-misspent-enough youth ?) You could hardly ask the padre !
Note *: "Laar" means nothing. But could it be "leer" with a broad accent ? (Leerbruch = "Empty [ie "dry"] Brook"). Would make sense.
D.
Last edited by Danny42C; 18th Nov 2014 at 18:24. Reason: Wrong man ! (sorry, Teamchief).
Danny42C
"Does anyone know what lies behind the name of "GEILENKIRCHEN" ?
From the town's web site here:
https://www.geilenkirchen.de/en/the-city/history/
>Geilenkirchen is the place where Gelo, a independent Frank, once built a castle and a church. The name Geilenkirchen has been on record since 1170 (the oldest forms of the name being: Gelenkirken & Gelenkirchen). It is likely that there was a settlement of some kind at the spot well before this date.<
I'd have liked to have entered these using Pprune's "quotes" icon, but it doesn't work with me.
"Does anyone know what lies behind the name of "GEILENKIRCHEN" ?
From the town's web site here:
https://www.geilenkirchen.de/en/the-city/history/
>Geilenkirchen is the place where Gelo, a independent Frank, once built a castle and a church. The name Geilenkirchen has been on record since 1170 (the oldest forms of the name being: Gelenkirken & Gelenkirchen). It is likely that there was a settlement of some kind at the spot well before this date.<
I'd have liked to have entered these using Pprune's "quotes" icon, but it doesn't work with me.
Ah Goch
Last bloke in our family visiting Goch went house clearing with a sten in one hand and a Mills 36 in the other. Damn place got its own back when the wife and I (just visiting to see what the old man had been up to in 45) waited and waited and waited.....for service in a restaurant