US Army Facility in Illesheim, Germany
Storck Barracks/Illesheim Kaserne
Illesheim Airfield Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) R-10 Main gate at Storck Barracks, 1968
Site Information
| Type | Military Garrison |
|---|---|
| Controlled by | United States Army |
| Location | Coordinates 49°28′24″N 010°23′11″E / 49.47333°N 10.38639°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1936 |
| Built by | Luftwaffe |
| In use | 1936-1945 (Luftwaffe) |
| April 1945-May 1947 (USAAF) | |
| May 1947-Current (United States Army) |
Storck Barracks
class=notpageimage| Location of Storck Barracks, Germany
Storck Barracks, also known more formally as Illesheim Kaserne, is an active military installation operated by the United States Army. Situated in close proximity to the village of Illesheim, Germany, this facility lies approximately 15 miles northwest of Ansbach in Bavaria, and about 240 miles south-southwest of Berlin. A rather specific location, if you're into precision, or perhaps just planning your next strategic retreat.
This installation functions as an integral component of the United States Army Garrison (USAG) Ansbach. Its designation, Storck Barracks, pays tribute to Colonel Louis J. Storck, a figure whose military career was marked by notable service and an unfortunate posthumous distinction. Colonel Storck served with distinction as the Executive Officer for the 4th Armored Division, commanded both Combat Command A and the 37th Armor Regiment, and held roles as S-3 and Commander of the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion during the tumultuous period of World War II. His gallantry in action near Raids, France, between July 17 and 25, 1944, earned him the Silver Star, awarded after his death. A fitting, if tragically belated, recognition for someone who apparently knew how to get things done, even when the odds were stacked against him.
Currently, Storck Barracks serves as the home base for several key aviation units. Among them are the 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, and the 3rd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment. Both of these battalions are equipped with the formidable Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters – because nothing says 'peacekeeping' quite like an advanced aerial predator. These units, along with D Company, 412th Aviation Support Battalion, are all integral parts of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. Additionally, the 3rd of the 58th Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB) maintains operations here, ensuring that the skies remain... well, operational. For the mundane necessities of life, the barracks once offered a commissary, though it was slated for closure in March 2016 – a subtle reminder that even military life isn't immune to budget cuts and 'progress.' A gas station and a shoppette still cater to immediate needs, alongside an elementary school and family housing, because apparently, life, in all its inconvenient forms, must continue, even adjacent to a military airfield.
History
The narrative of Storck Barracks, like many things of consequence, begins with an act of defiance, leading to a long and complex history of military occupation and adaptation.
Fliegerhorst Illesheim
The origins of what is now Storck Barracks can be traced back to the construction of Fliegerhorst Illesheim, initiated by the German Luftwaffe in 1934. The construction phase reached completion by 1936, a rather swift timeline that hints at the strategic importance placed upon it. This development was undertaken in conjunction with the Hohenfels Maneuver Training Area (MTA), and, perhaps more significantly, in direct contravention of the agreements established after World War I. Treaties, it seems, are often merely suggestions when ambition takes flight.
Upon its operational activation in 1936, the airfield primarily functioned as a vital supply, maintenance, and repair facility for the burgeoning Luftwaffe. The less glamorous, but utterly indispensable, logistical backbone of military power. For its command and administrative functions, the nearby Castle Berlichingen in Illesheim was pressed into service, lending a rather incongruous medieval backdrop to modern military operations. In the same year, the necessary infrastructure of a Bahnhof (train station) and a Post Office were also established, cementing its role as a functional, if nascent, military hub. During the late 1930s, only one combat unit was permanently assigned to Illesheim: Zerstörergeschwader 52 (ZG 52). This unit, equipped with early-model Messerschmitt Bf 109Ds, arrived in mid-1939, a clear harbinger of the storm that was soon to engulf Europe. [1]
German use during World War II
With the inevitable outbreak of World War II, Illesheim's role expanded and intensified. The airfield became a temporary home for several bomber units, including Kampfgeschwader 76 (KG 76) and KG 51. KG 76, for instance, underwent a crucial transition here in 1940/41, upgrading its fleet from the Dornier Do 17Z light bombers to the more potent Junkers Ju 88A mediums. KG 51, another significant unit, spent a considerable ten-month period during 1942 at Illesheim, undertaking intensive transition training from the Ju 88 to the advanced Messerschmitt Me 410 before being deployed to the Western Front. [1] This steady flow of units and continuous upgrade training underscored the airfield's critical importance to the German war effort.
Beyond its role in training and unit transitions, Illesheim served as a major supply depot, funneling vital resources to German Wehrmacht forces engaged in campaigns as far afield as Sicily and Crete. However, for reasons of security – a term often used to justify inconvenient measures – only approximately 20% of the material managed by the depot was actually stored on the airfield itself. The bulk of the supplies was prudently, or perhaps desperately, distributed throughout the surrounding villages, effectively turning local civilian areas into dispersed logistical nodes and making them unwilling participants in the war. [1]
By 1943, as the tide of the war began to turn and Allied air attacks on Germany intensified, the strategic focus of the base shifted dramatically. Illesheim was transformed into a day/night interceptor airfield, becoming a vital component of the desperate "Defense of the Reich" campaign by the Luftwaffe. Over the subsequent two years, a succession of fighter and interceptor units rotated through Illesheim, operating a diverse array of aircraft including Bf 110s, Me 410s, Bf 109Gs, Fw 190As, and Ju 88s. Notably, Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 (NJG 6), a unit specialized in night operations and equipped with radar-guided Bf 110 night interceptors, was credited with a grim tally of 200 confirmed Allied kills from this location. [1]
Despite its critical role in the German defense, Illesheim was, surprisingly, subjected to only two direct attacks between 1943 and 1944. One strike targeted the railroad tracks, while the other hit the airfield itself, resulting in the destruction of two drone aircraft. Perhaps the Allies had bigger fish to fry, or perhaps their intelligence simply underestimated its significance. As the war drew to its inevitable conclusion in early April 1945, the last remaining Luftwaffe unit, Zerstörergeschwader 101 (ZG 101), operating a mix of Bf 110s and Ju 88s, began its final retreat. In a last, desperate act of scorched-earth policy, they took with them everything that could be transported and meticulously burned the rest, leaving behind a testament to their final, futile resistance. [1]
USAAF use
The Illesheim Airfield, against all odds and the general devastation of the war, emerged from the conflict relatively unscathed by Allied air attacks. On April 13, 1945, elements of the United States Army's 101st Cavalry Group advanced into the village and airfield, encountering no opposition from the retreating Wehrmacht. It seems the Germans had decided to leave the unenviable task of tidying up to their successors. Just three days later, on April 16, the USAAF IX Engineering Command, deploying its 819th and 831st Engineering Aviation Brigades, moved in. Their immediate and rather pressing mission was to repair the operational facilities and, more importantly, to meticulously clear the area of unexploded mines and other dangerous munitions. Because nothing says 'welcome' quite like the lingering threat of unintended explosions.
By April 17, with the immediate dangers mitigated and essential repairs completed, the airfield was declared operationally ready for transport use. It was subsequently designated as Advanced Landing Ground "R-10 Illesheim" – a rather utilitarian name for a site with such a dramatic recent past. [2]
Immediately following its activation, C-47 Skytrain transports began to utilize the airfield, flying in critical supplies for the rapidly advancing ground units and, in a more somber role, evacuating casualties to rear areas. The relentless push of the Allied forces meant a constant demand for logistical support. A mere week later, the Ninth Air Force's 48th Fighter Group, flying their robust P-47 Thunderbolts, moved into Illesheim, conducting their very last combat sorties of the war from this location. [3] Their presence was soon augmented on May 3 by the arrival of the 362d Fighter Group, also equipped with P-47s. [4] As the German forces found themselves in full retreat by late April 1945, with many units beginning to surrender to the American forces, Illesheim Airfield was quickly repurposed. It was pressed into service as a Prisoner of War Camp, holding the influx of German POWs who were then, quite pragmatically, put to work repairing the damaged buildings and cleaning up the extensive debris left in the wake of the conflict. [5] A rather ironic turn of events, wouldn't you agree?
In the immediate aftermath of the war, as Europe grappled with the monumental task of reconstruction, the German POWs at Illesheim were organized into several labor battalions. These battalions were then transported to various damaged areas to assist in the initial, arduous reconstruction efforts. The USAAF established the 1348th Labor Supervision Company and the 201st Labor Supervision Center, Aviation, to oversee and coordinate these vital efforts. [6] [7] The P-47 combat groups, their mission accomplished, departed by the end of July 1945. Their departure paved the way for the arrival of the Air Technical Service Command's 42d Air Supply Squadron and 30th Air Depot, which collectively formed the Illesheim Air Depot. These units served as crucial supply and maintenance centers for the ongoing needs of the USAAF. Furthermore, the 47th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, also stationed here, took on the rather cathartic task of systematically destroying former Luftwaffe aircraft and German Army ground vehicles and armor that were deemed unsuitable for any future use in the reconstruction effort. [8] [9] It was a final, decisive sweep of the past, clearing the way for a new era.
By May 1947, the Air Force units began their final relocation out of Illesheim. The facility was subsequently transferred to United States Army units, which then utilized the airfield as a garrison post within the American Zone of Occupation. This transition marked a definitive end to one chapter and the beginning of another, as the installation was formally renamed Storck Barracks.
United States Army use
For well over seven decades, Storck Barracks/Illesheim Kaserne has stood as a significant Army garrison, a testament to the enduring geopolitical landscape and the persistent need for military presence. It played an absolutely pivotal role as a key NATO post in the defense of Western Europe throughout the tense decades of the Cold War, effectively holding the line against the ever-present, if sometimes abstract, threat from the East. Today, it continues to fulfill its mission as an integral part of the continuing U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) operations in Europe, adapting to new challenges but maintaining its core strategic importance.
Since its handover to the Army in 1947, Storck Barracks has hosted a succession of diverse U.S. units, each with its own set of missions. Among the more prominent occupants was the 1st Brigade of the 4th Armor Division, which included the 4th Battalion, 35th Armor. The new troop billets, constructed in a wave of post-war development, first welcomed the 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry Division. This unit was later replaced around 1971 by elements of the 1st Armored Division, notably including the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, a unit famously known by its proud motto, "Regulars, by God!" On June 20, 1974, the 1st Battalion, 13th Armor rejoined the 1st Armored Division at Illesheim, Germany, maintaining its presence until February 20, 1987, when the Battalion relocated to Vilseck, Germany. The 13th Tank remained there until 1988, at which point it was inactivated and subsequently re-designated as the 2nd Battalion, 13th Armor at Fort Knox, Kentucky. [10] [11] This constant shuffling of units, a perpetual game of military musical chairs, highlights the dynamic nature of force posture and strategic priorities.
Infrastructure development also kept pace with these evolving needs. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a new wave of construction brought essential facilities such as modern troop billets, a dining facility, and dedicated family housing apartments. Because even soldiers, and their families, require a semblance of normalcy and comfort amidst the rigors of military life. Major renovations were undertaken in 1973 to modernize existing structures, and between 1985 and 1987, the facility saw the construction of a state-of-the-art Flight Simulator – a pragmatic investment, given the exorbitant cost of actual flight hours. [12]
In the mid-1980s, a significant reorganization saw the 11th Aviation Group reflagged as the 11th Aviation Brigade, which then relocated its headquarters to Illesheim. This brought a substantial aviation presence to the barracks. Subordinate units of the 11th Aviation Brigade also took up residence at Illesheim, including the 4th Battalion of the 229th Advanced Attack Helicopter Regiment, famously known as the "Flying Tigers," alongside the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, and the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. All three of these formidable units were equipped with a versatile array of helicopters: the OH-58C Kiowa for reconnaissance, the AH-64A Apache for attack, and the UH-60A Blackhawk for utility and transport. When the call came in December 1990, both the 4-229th and 2-6th deployed with the 11th Aviation Brigade to Saudi Arabia, participating actively in Operations DESERT SHIELD and then DESERT STORM. The 6-6 Cav, perhaps seeking its own adventure, eventually deployed to Turkey, positioning itself along the Iraqi border. Around the same time as these deployments, construction commenced on a large concrete ramp area and other significant improvements, further enhancing the airfield's capabilities.
Since the turn of the millennium, particularly following the events of 2001, units from Storck Barracks have been consistently deployed to the Middle East and other combat areas as a part of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism. This sustained operational tempo has led to a noticeable change in the physical appearance of the base. Aerial photographs of the facility often reveal an almost empty ramp, with only a few Apache helicopters present. This visual evidence strongly suggests that a significant portion of the personnel and equipment assigned to Storck Barracks are frequently in a deployed status, contributing to operations far from their German home.
In a more recent development during 2014 and 2015, many of the Apaches, those magnificent flying war machines, either returned to the United States or were strategically relocated to the nearby Katterbach Army Airfield, with approximately 18 examples making that shift. Illesheim AAF has since transitioned its primary role to hosting rotational Combat Aviation Brigade-sized units, which are typically deployed from bases within the continental United States. This means that at any given time, the airfield is home to a dynamic fleet of some 50-65 helicopters. These helicopters, in turn, are frequently forward-deployed to various locations across Eastern Europe. The stated purpose of these deployments is to engage in joint training exercises with allied partners and, rather pointedly, to "deter Russian aggression." Because nothing says 'deterrence' quite like a squadron of attack helicopters performing maneuvers on your border.
The facility as it stands today bears almost no resemblance to its original incarnation as a wartime Luftwaffe airfield. Modern, state-of-the-art facilities have replaced the older structures, effectively masking its tumultuous past. The only discernible remnants of its former life as a combat airfield are the subtly disturbed areas at each end of its current 2,000 ft. runway, which lie directly overlaid upon the ghost of the original 4,500 ft. concrete runway. A constant evolution, I suppose, much like everything else that manages to survive the relentless march of time and conflict.