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Monteith Barracks (english)

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Monteith Barracks (english)

After the end of World War II, the U.S. Army occupied Fürth-Atzenhof Airfield. They continued to use the site as a barracks and named it Monteith Barracks on May 11, 1949. Previously, it was called “Army Air Force Station Fürth”, and from November 1946, it was known as “Fürth Air Base, Germany”.

US usage 1945 - 1968

 
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The airfield was handed over to the Americans virtually undamaged. The last German commander of the airbase, Colonel Pollak, did not carry out the order to destroy the buildings, thus preserving the valuable structures. The Americans first cleared the area of the aircraft wreckage scattered everywhere, which had been abandoned there by the German Luftwaffe due to fuel shortages. Then, units of the U.S. Air Force used the airfield. Here, too, many surplus aircraft—no longer of use after the war—were eventually destroyed. It was the Americans who ultimately equipped the airfield, which lacked a permanent runway, with a strip of prefabricated perforated iron plates. This was later replaced by an 850-meter-long concrete runway. During the Nuremberg Trials, the airfield served as the main airport for participants flying in to the trials. It also otherwise primarily served military transport aircraft. Like the other barracks in Fürth, Monteith Barracks were soon occupied by units of the 4th U.S. Armored Division (later the 1st Armored Division). In addition, the 504th Aviation Battalion, with two companies of CH-34 transport helicopters, and a reconnaissance unit equipped with the then top-secret Grumman OV-1 "Mohawk" reconnaissance aircraft were stationed here in the 1960s. Other units were also temporarily stationed there:

  • 67th Armor Battalion
  • 37th Armor Battalion
  • 123th Mountain Battalion
  • 126th Mountain Battalion
  • 57th Missile Battalion
  • 14th Artillery Battalion
  • DISCOM (Division Support COMpany) der 1. Armored Division
  • 317th Maintenance Company
  • 416th Base Support Battalion

A helicopter flight school and other helicopter units were also based at the airfield. To the north of the barracks was a golf course, which is now home to the 1. Golfclub Fürth e. V.. The airfield's ICAO code was EDEW. A remarkable event took place on July 8, 1956: the "Air Day of Nations," organized by the Aero-Club Fürth. More than 100,000 spectators flocked to the barracks grounds, mostly on foot from the Billinganlage and Stadeln via Panzerstraße (a payment table was set up on the Stadelner Brücke). They marveled at the spectacle in the sky, where more than 80 gliders, aerobatic aircraft, and jet planes from England, France, Italy, Germany, and the USA demonstrated their skills. A minor mishap occurred with the Italian aerobatic team, which began its display a short distance from the airfield. It later transpired that the commander had initially been mistaken and had started his demonstration over the Industrieflughafen on Hardhöhe. The event ended without incident – making it the last major aviation event in Fürth. On November 26, 1957, a devastating fire broke out at the barracks when a fuel depot went up in flames. More than 100 firefighters were needed to extinguish the blaze, which was fueled by over 8,000 liters of gasoline (other sources cite 170,000 liters). Several civilian fire departments from Fürth also responded. A year later, on May 8, 1958, the U.S. Army hosted a "Friendship Day" at the barracks. This public event was very well received by the residents of Fürth and contributed to a positive image of the U.S. military presence in Fürth.

US usage 1969 - 1993

 
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The construction of the Main-Donau-Kanal, which began around 1967, cut through the Monteith Barracks, including the golf course. The western part, with its ammunition depot and missile and radar facilities, had to be abandoned and was bordered by what is now Hafenstraße (Harbor Street). As a result, the army aviation unit relocated to nach Katterbach and Illesheim, sparing residents in northwest Fürth considerable helicopter noise in the future. On May 13, 1973, an open house was held at the barracks. Besides the military equipment, such as US helicopters, many facilities were open to the public that day. Parachute jumps from 3,000 meters were demonstrated, and baseball games were played. On November 22, 1985, the barracks also gained an additional entrance on Hafenstraße to relieve the residents of Unterfarrnbach and those living on Vacher Straße of military through traffic. During the US occupation, one of the two remaining standard aircraft hangars was torn down. Today, only its foundation remains. The second hangar served as a bowling alley for the soldiers. In 1971, the wooden officers' mess, also known as the airfield casino, was destroyed by fire. The approximately 700-square-meter building burned completely, leaving a large cloud of smoke. Many (famous) contemporaries had visited it, including Charles Lindbergh, Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, and many others. The careless handling of environmentally hazardous materials became evident in September 1974 when approximately 4,000 liters of gasoline were not transferred to other containers but simply dumped into the ground. Modifications were also carried out at the aircraft maintenance depot. The most noticeable change was the removal of the triangular skylights on the roof, which were replaced by flat Plexiglas skylights. In the summer of 1993, the 317th Maintenance Company finally vacated the Fürth site. The Star-Spangled Banner was lowered for the last time on September 15th. In a small ceremony, the commander of the 416th Base Support Battalion, Lt. Col. James Ishmael, handed the site over to the Federal Republic of Germany.

The namesake: Lt. Jimmie Monteith Jr.

First Lieutenant Jimmie Monteith was born on July 1, 1917, in Low Moor, Virginia, and served in L Company, 16th U.S. Infantry Regiment, during the Allied landings in Normandy ("D-Day"). On the very first day, June 6, 1944, he was killed near Colleville-sur-Mer, having initially distinguished himself through extraordinary courage. He rallied a group of straggling soldiers, guided two tanks through a minefield, and under his command, they destroyed several positions. He returned to his unit and eventually stormed a tactically important hill. He and his company initially defended it successfully against several German counterattacks. However, the German troops eventually managed to break through the company's defensive line. Lieutenant Monteith was killed at the head of his men during these battles. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Jimmie Monteith Jr. is buried in the Colleville-sur-Mer military cemetery.

Current use

Following the handover, the site lay fallow for several years. There were only a few rentals to bands, artists, and businesses. It wasn't until after 2002 that the conversion plans began to bear fruit. Today, the site—now called "Golfpark Fürth"—houses several industrial developments, the "Solarwall," the "Horsepark by Sprehe”, and a film studio. The P&P Wohnbau Franken is also renovating some of the barracks buildings. Here, the "Carree Verde," an exclusive residential area on historic grounds, is being developed.

What was likely the last military appearance took place in March 2005, when the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) held an exhibition on the former runway to mark its 50th anniversary.

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