JUNE 2014 KARUP AIR FORCE BASE
PHOTO BY DIEGO CROTTI
Copyright (C) Diego Crotti
Air Base Karup is the main air base of the Royal Danish Air Force. It is situated 3 km west of Karup in mid-Jutland.The air base covers 3000 hectares of land of which only a third is inside the operational area marked by a 17 km long fence.The air base was constructed during the German Occupation in 1940 under the name "Einsatzhafen Grove" (later Flieger-Horst Grove) to facilitate offensive operations against England. Later in the war, it became a base for defensive fighter planes.Following the British advance into Denmark in May 1945, a group of nine Ar 234B reconnaissance bombers were found at the base and subsequently transferred to Farnborough.[1] By December 1945 the air base was taken over by the Danish Civil Air Defence, using it as a refugee camp for 22.000 German refugees.Control over the area was transferred to the Royal Danish Army in January 1946, continuing the use as refugee camp until 1949. In 1947 the Danish Army Air Corps established a flying school, maintenance centre and logistics office at Karup, preparing for Meteor, Oxford and Spitfire fighter planes. When the Royal Danish Air Force was established in 1950 the area was named Air Base Karup.During the post-war years Karup Air Base became a central part of Denmark's NATO defence plan and played a major role in the establishment of the Royal Danish Air Force. In 1955 the Tactical Air Command were placed at Karup.Several American produced planes were stationed at the base in the 1950s and 1960s, among them T-33, F-84, RF-84F andF-100. In 1970 the Royal Danish Air Force purchased two squadrons of Swedish Draken strike fighters and stationed them at Karup. During the 1980s and 1990s several smaller units in the Royal Danish Air Force moved from Værløse Air Base near Copenhagen and Vandel Air Base in southern Jutland to Karup Air Base. In 1993 the Army Operational Command were placed at the air base.
THE HISTORY OF AIR SHOWS IN DENMARK
The first "Open House" in the Royal Danish Air Force was organized in 1959 and since 1961 it has been a recurring event, which has been held at various Airbases all over Denmark.
In 1962 an event was held at all Airbases, to mark the 50 years anniversary of military aviation in Denmark.The Royal Danish Air Force canceled the event in 1989, 1990 and 1991. The background for this was a tragic accident at an U.S. base in Germany. 2 aircraft collided in midair and crashed among the spectators, many of whom were killed or wounded. The period was used to develop new international rules for military operations around large audiences.
June 9th 2002 Airbase Vaerloese hosted the Air Force's "Open House". It was a special day because at that it was time decided to close the Airbase. The decision was part of the defense settlement which forms the basis for how the Royal Danish Air Force looks today.
In 2005 the name was changed to "Air Show". This was done to provide a more international image.Besides showing which tasks we can perform and what equipment we have, the events have also been used for recruitment. Many people probably had their first meeting with the Royal Danish Air Force in connection with such an arrangement and have been fascinated by aircraft and their capabilities.
Copyright (C) Diego Crotti