The field was first operated by the
Luftwaffe 1938. It was used by dive bombers and fighter bombers, first with
Henschel Hs 123s, then at the beginning of 1939, with
Junkers Ju 87B "Stukas",
Dornier Do 17Z light bombers and
Junkers Ju 88A fighter-bombers which were assigned to combat units, being used first in the
Invasion of Poland in 1939, the aircraft were then moved west prior to the
Battle of France in 1940. As the war progressed, Langensalza became a reserve support base. In 1944 it was used as a night interceptor fighter airfield as part of the
Defense of the Reich campaign, with NJG 2, operating Ju 88C/R night fighters against RAF night bomber attacks during March–April of that year.
C-47 Skytrain transports began flying into and out of Langensalza, carrying in supplies and equipment to support the combat units moving east, and evacuating casualties to rear areas on the return flights. Late in the war, on 22 and 24 April,
Ninth Air Force combat units, with
P-38 Lightnings of the
474th Fighter Group and
P-61 Black Widows of the
422d Night Fighter Squadron moved in, conducting operations until the end of combat on 7 May. The 474th Fighter Group remained at the airfield until 16 June 1945 when it moved out, ending military use of the airfield. Abandoned for many years after the war ended due to its close proximity to the former
East German border, the civil airfield was re-established after
German reunification in 1990 and today is a well-equipped general aviation airfield. Several small buildings provide a terminal and support services. The former Luftwaffe station remains to the northeast of the airfield, with some buildings in use for light industrial purposes. ==See also==