Early in November 2020, it had been more than a month since our last tour, and our next vacation was still a week away. It was a Sunday, the weather was unusually good, and we felt the familiar urge to get out and explore. So we decided on a quick trip to visit a former naval air station not far from our hometown.
The airfield had been closed by the German Air Force in 2005. Since then, the site had been undergoing major changes: parts of it were being transformed into a solar park, while other areas were gradually being repurposed as a business and industrial zone. Because of that, we didn’t expect many untouched spots - or great photo opportunities.
The upside, however, was that the entire area was now publicly accessible. We could simply drive around, take our time, and see what was left of the base.
And the situation was pretty much exactly what we had expected: Several companies had already moved into the former aircraft shelters, parts of the runway had been turned into a solar field, and cattle grazed peacefully on the wide open land next to the control tower—an oddly surreal contrast to the site’s military past.
Our first stop was the parking area near the tower. We parked the car, set up our camping stove, and brewed a strong cup of coffee - one of those small rituals that instantly makes an exploration feel like an adventure.
After that, we started looking around. There was no way into the tower building itself, and the cattle in the nearby field made it impossible to get a closer look at the underground bunker next to it.
There were, however, two large bunkers nearby that we could at least approach. One was the electronic warfare bunker: a massive concrete block so large it even had its own vehicle ramp leading inside. The second bunker belonged to the supply and transport squadron of the local naval air wing. Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what its function was - but it was almost as big as the first one. Judging by the vehicle ramp and the truck parking bays outside, it was most likely used for storage and logistics.
We started with the larger one - the electronic warfare center. Using the ramp, we were able to enter the bunker complex, and we even found an open door leading inside. Unfortunately, it only gave access to a small section containing part of the ventilation system. Climbing onto the roof would have been possible, but it didn’t feel safe enough at the time, so we decided against it.
The second bunker was tightly locked as well, with no chance of getting in.
So in terms of accessibility, this sunny Sunday in November 2020 wasn’t exactly a success. But we still had a fantastic little excursion: great weather, delicious coffee, and a few nice photos - even if most of them had to be taken from a distance.
To find out more about the history and to check out all the photos from this place, click the button below.
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