Volkel Air Base

Volkel Air Base, located near the village of Volkel in the Netherlands, is a military airfield operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). Constructed in 1940 by the Luftwaffe as a diversion airfield, it was expanded into Fliegerhorst Volkel. During World War II, it hosted Junkers Ju 88, Messerschmitt Bf 109G, Me 262, and Ar 234 aircraft, and was extensively bombed. After liberation in 1944, the British Royal Air Force used it. The Dutch Naval Aviation Service operated from Volkel for training in 1949, before the RNLAF took control in 1950, restoring it as an operational fighter airfield.

Over the decades, Volkel has housed various aircraft, including Gloster Meteor, Lockheed T-33, Republic F-84 Thunderjet/Thunderstreak, and Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. In the 1970s, 32 Hardened Aircraft Shelters were built. From 1982 to 1984, F-16 Fighting Falcons replaced the Starfighters. Currently, the base is transitioning to F-35 Lightning II aircraft, with No. 312 and No. 313 Squadrons operating F-35s. Other RNLAF units include No. 640 Squadron (Base operations), No. 900 Squadron (Maintenance), No. 901 Squadron (Logistics), and the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center (TARC).

Volkel Air Base also hosts the United States Air Force's 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, part of the 52nd Fighter Wing. Since the early 1960s, the base has been a storage site for B61 nuclear bombs, with 22 B61 nuclear bombs confirmed present in 2013. These are stored in Weapons Storage and Security System (WS3) vaults. In 2021, training with the B61-12 modification commenced. The base features two parallel asphalt runways, 06L/24R (3,029 meters) and 06R/24L (2,886 meters). In addition to military operations, the base supports a trauma helicopter service operated by ANWB Medical Air Assistance and is utilized by the Dienst Luchtvaart Politie.