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Melsbroek Air Base (Advanced Landing Ground B-58) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Belgian Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Brussels | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Steenokkerzeel | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 184 ft / 56 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 50°54′05″N004°29′04″E / 50.90139°N 4.48444°E /50.90139; 4.48444 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  EBMB Location in Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Melsbroek Air Base (ICAO:EBMB) is aBelgian Air Force facility inSteenokkerzeel, 6.5 NM (12.0 km; 7.5 mi) northeast[1] ofBrussels, the capital ofBelgium. It is located on the northern side ofBrussels Airport, with which it shares runways and ground and air control facilities.
The15th Air Transport Wing operates from Melsbroek Air Base with following types:
The aerodrome was constructed by the GermanWehrmacht duringWorld War II. After the 1944liberation of Belgium, Melsbroek was operated by theRoyal Canadian Air Force and theRoyal Air Force when it was known asB58 Melsbroek.
Operation Bodenplatte, the German aerial attack of 1 January 1945, hit Melsbroek hard. According toEmil Clade (leading III./JG 27), the AAA positions were not manned, and aircraft were bunched together or in lines, which made perfect targets. The attack caused considerable damage among the units based there and was a great success. TheRecce Wings had lost two entire squadrons worth of machines.No. 69 Squadron RAF lost 11Vickers Wellingtons and two damaged. Possibly allNo. 140 Squadron RAF′sde Havilland Mosquito aircraft were lost. At least fiveSupermarine Spitfires fromNo. 16 Squadron RAF were destroyed.No. 271 Squadron RAF lost at least sevenHandley Page Harrow transports "out of action". A further 15 other aircraft were destroyed.139 Wing reported fiveNorth American B-25 Mitchell bombers destroyed and five damaged. Some 15 to 20United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) bombers were also destroyed.[2][3] Another source states that 13 Wellingtons were destroyed, as were five Mosquitoes, fourAusters and fiveAvro Ansons from the Tactical Air Forces 2nd Communications Squadron. Three Spitfires were also lost and two damaged.[4] At least oneRAF Transport CommandDouglas Dakota was destroyed.[5]
After the war, Melsbroek replacedHaren Airfield as the Belgian national airport. That title is now carried by theZaventem terminal on the same aerodrome, built for the1958 world exposition. At that time, the existing terminal was taken over by the then Belgian Air Force.
WhenTrans European Airways existed, its head office was in Building 117 of Melsbroek Airport.[6] WhenCityBird existed its head office was in Building 117D.[7]
