As early as 1928, there were deliberations to construct a
glider landing field in Uetersen, but it took several years before the first aircraft would take flight. In June 1933 the first glider lifted off and 69 gliders were started until 1934. The biggest challenge, however, was that the sports grounds had to share with the local sports clubs and a large number of people were always present. The airfield was transformed into a military airfield in the summer of 1935 when the
runway was completed. On July 25, 1936, the first motor aircraft landed, piloted by a flight-student of the Flying School Magdeburg. The military-airfield was used in
World War II by the
Ju 52,
Heinkel He 111,
Messerschmitt Bf 109 and
Bf 110 and several crashes occurred, killing people. It was also connected to the international airfreight network. The German
Lufthansa began operating the air cargo route Uetersen-
Copenhagen on January 29, 1940. The Royal Air Force remained here until the end of November 1955. The airfield was renamed Marseille Barracks (
Marseille-Kaserne) on October 24, 1975, named after German
World War II fighter pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille. On May 13, 1987 private pilot
Mathias Rust took off from Uetersen, flying a
Cessna F172P, registration D-ECJB, and eventually landed in
Red Square Moscow. The airfield was also home of German Air Force Museum Uetersen from 1956 until 1995, when
Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr was relocated to
Berlin-Gatow. In the 1970s, a
Goodyear Blimp N2A airship was a guest. Today's airfield is used exclusively for civil purposes. The wings & wheels event was done annually here. ==Airlines companies, clubs and destinations==