De Peel Air Base

De Peel air base
MIM-104 Patriot from the RNLAF
IATA: none – ICAO: EHDP
Summary
Airport type		Military
Operator		Royal Netherlands Air Force
Location		Venray
Elevation AMSL		98 ft / 30 m
Coordinates		51°31′04″N 005°51′34″E / 51.51778°N 5.85944°E / 51.51778; 5.85944Coordinates: 51°31′04″N 005°51′34″E / 51.51778°N 5.85944°E / 51.51778; 5.85944
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
06/24	9,803	2,988	Concrete/Asphalt

De Peel air base (Dutch: Luchtmachtbasis De Peel) is a military air base in the Netherlands used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force guided missile division. It has currently has only one, though not actively used, runway remaining.

History

The air base was founded as a diversion airfield in 1954 with two parallel runways (06L/24R and 06R/24L) and never served as an active base for aircraft, seeing only incidental usage from the aerial photo reconnaissance unit from nearby Volkel Air Base, even though the base was expanded in 1973 for possible NATO use. In 1993 it was closed as an operational airfield and is now used a by the RNLAF's guided missile division (Groep Geleide Wapens, or GGW). One runway remains however, though not actively used. It is used by gliders however and still incidentally by light aircraft as well. Military aerial exercises also take place in its airspace.

Operators

The airbase is home to 6 squadrons from the RNLAF, 2 of which use the MIM-104 Patriot air defence system; 802 and 803 squadron. The 4 other squadrons are: 800 Squadron (Command and Control), 650 squadron (support), 602 squadron (reserve), 951 squadron (maintenance and logistics support). The Royal Dutch Army houses their ground-to-air units at De Peel known as the Commando Air Artillery (Dutch: Commando Luchtdoelartillerie, or CoLua for short). The Air Artillery uses mobile radar, NASAMS II AMRAAM and Stinger missile systems, the latter either as a shoulder-fired weapon or mounted to either Mercedes Benz or Fennek vehicles.

External links

• Luchtmacht.nl - GGW (Dutch)
• Airliners.net - Photos taken at De Peel