On 7 May 1945, after months of fierce fighting, the Germans agreed to Allied demands for unconditional surrender, finally ending six years of warfare that had left millions dead and much of Europe in ruins. 4th EVAC HOSP 10 Feb 40 (disbanded 24 Aug 42, redesignated 2d EVAC HOSP, embarked for Northern Ireland 4 Sep 42, redesignated 48th EVAC HOSP, embarked for India 18 Jan 43) 522d MTR AMB CO ETO Aug 44 France Here follows a tentative list of Military Hospitals active in the European Theater of Operations: The Medical Department was impressed by the effectiveness of the British Convalescent & Rehabilitation system, and as a result of their survey, it ordered the building of special reconditioning camps. It has also been the headquarters of EUCOM and Special Operations Command in Europe since 1967. The following month, they were authorised to hold conversations with adult Germans in public. M-409 MED DEP ETO 27 Oct 44 Belgium 105 Squadron formed to establish the first front-line unit for the type. M-417 MED DEP ETO 2 Jan 45 France Additional Hospital Centers were later set up on the Continent, under jurisdiction of ComZ. The SWO is responsible for discipline and is therefore comparable to the regimental sergeant major in a British Army unit. 809th HOSP CEN Saint Erme, France (established Apr 45) 5th EVAC HOSP ETO 18 Dec 43 England 15 Jun 44 France 18 Sep 44 Belgium 11 Mar 45 Germany (activated 15 Jun 42) (operatedfeeding point for transient RAMPS at Gotha) (inactivated 5 Mar 46 ZI) There is never an easy way to deal with the loss of a loved one. 45 26 Jun 43 England ETO Northern France Rhineland Central Europe It is a front-line station and home to the RAF's fleet of Westland Puma HC2 support helicopters, used primarily for the transportation of troops & equipment. STATION HOSPITAL 500 beds > 364 Off & EM (other sources 370 Off & EM, 407 Off & EM) Engineers building a Bailey Bridge in West Berlin to aid the movement of supplies, 1949. 103d GEN HOSP ETO 7 Aug 44 England This aircraft replaced a genuine Spitfire PR.Mk XIX that was being restored to flying status. 1 PRU was formed into No. 9 ETO 31 Oct 45 Northern France Rhineland EVACUATION HOSPITAL 750 beds > 409 Off & EM (other sources 417 Off & EM, 507 Off & EM) [45], No. [7], In June 1943, No. He worked with recently released German prisoner of war Rudolf Augstein. 59th FLD HOSP ETO 2 Aug 44 France May 45 Germany It can be useful to know his service number. A warrant officer ( WO) in the British Armed Forces is a member of the highest group of non-commissioned ranks, holding the King's (or Queen's) warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence. Similar facilities were also available in the Southern Base Section at places such as Taunton, Bath, Tidworth, Winchester, Oxford, and Cheltenham, and in the Eastern Base Section at Diddington, Mansfield, Newmarket, Nottingham, Histon, etc. 52d GEN HOSP USAFBI 12 Jan 43 ETO 15 Apr 43 England (activated 1 Sep 42, inactivated in the UK 24 Aug 45) These centers were at first staffed by personnel from the 16th Station Hospital, reinforced by 5 Officers and 7 EM who had trained in British Convalescent camps. 77th FLD HOSP ETO 8 Apr 45 France (admitted RAMPs for treatment May 45) ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/usag-rheinland-pfalz-baumholder, https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/usag-bavaria-garmisch, https://home.army.mil/rheinland-pfalz/index.php, https://home.army.mil/stuttgart/index.php, https://home.army.mil/wiesbaden/index.php, Good Conduct Medal & Ribbon Explained For All 5 Branches, Sea Service Ribbon: All 5 Military Branches Explained, Overseas Service Ribbon Explained For All 6 Military Branches, Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 702nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 928th Contracting Battalion (Regional Contracting Office), 4th Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, NSA/CSS Representative Europe office (NCEUR)[5]. Home - AFN Europe 123d STA HOSP ETO 10 Aug 44 England (Rehabilitation Center No. 93d EVAC HOSP ETO Nov 44 Jan 45 France Germany (ex-61st SURG HOSP) The following day, Tuesday 8 May 1945, was declared 'Victory in Europe' (VE) Day, and marked the formal end of the European war. 236th GEN HOSP ETO 20 Feb 45 France (closed for operations 24 May 45 at Epinal, France) Please note that this series is still accruing and currently only goes up toAugust 1940. 158th GEN HOSP ETO Apr 44 England, Partial view of the 76th General Hospital,near Lige, Belgium. 58 25 Nov 44 England While he never actually served in the US Military, he has a passion for writing about military related topics. STATION HOSPITAL 750 beds > 508 Off & EM (other sources 529 Off & EM, 563 Off & EM) 817th HOSP CEN (established Jan 45, never operational) [10], By December 1944, Benson had two runways extending to 609 metres (666yd; 1,998ft) which had been constructed using concrete and wood-chips. Second World War [40][41][42], Group Captain Chris Royston-Airey was appointed as Benson station commander in November 2022. Sunday services are provided in Benson and Ewelme churches. 38th STA HOSP USAFBI 5 May 42 ETO Jun 44 England 4 Aug 45 France 2, became the 833d CONV CEN 1 Dec 44) Former party and SS members were removed from positions of power and influence, and Nazi organisations were abolished. Nato Allied Air Command also operates out of Ramstein AB and is considered the largest US military base in Germany. [17][23] Due to the increased level of helicopter activity at Benson, it was necessary to relocate the University of London Air Squadron to RAF Wyton during 1999. RAF Benson - Today we said a socially-distanced thank you - Facebook Other units include the Oxford University Air Squadron and No. By late 1947, over 50,0000 Germans were employed as labourers, drivers, mechanics and in many other roles. HOSP TRAIN No. 53d FLD HOSP ETO 27 Apr 44 England 15 Jul 44 France 2 Oct 44 Belgium 14 Oct 44 Holland 12 Dec 44 Germany (ex-229th STA HOSP, attached to 31st Med Gp in Germany, all 3 Hospital Units ceased operations between 13 and 15 Jul 45, to ZI 10 Nov 45 out of France) [18], Benson's current support helicopter role began in 1992, when No. 108th EVAC HOSP ETO 18 Apr 45 Germany 65th EVAC HOSP ETO 44 France Belgium Germany SS guards forced to bury their victims at Belsen, 24 April 1945, Heinrich Himmler's body after his suicide atLneburg, May 1945. Eleven were executed and the others sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. 543 and No. 121st STA HOSP ETO Apr 44 England (Det A, 121st STA HOSP closed for operations 31 Jul 45, while the main body of the 121st STA Hosp closed 29 Aug 45) 124th EVAC HOSP ETO Apr 44 England France 17 Sep 44 Belgium 27 Sep 45 Germany 127th GEN HOSP ETO 20 Aug 44 France M-413 MED DEP ETO Dec 44 Belgium (opened to replace M-411) Consideration was given to closing at least one JHC airfield, with Benson's support helicopters potentially relocating to RAF Lyneham. In 1948-49, the GCLO played a major part in supporting the Allied effort during the Berlin Airlift. 32 (The Royal) Squadron temporarily relocated to Benson between 15 April 2019 and late October 2019 due to the resurfacing of the runway at RAF Northolt. Planned, directed and controlled numerous major events on and off base ceremonial parades. 20 30 May 44 Wales ETO Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Many factories and laboratories were dismantledand shipped offas a form of reparations. HOSP TRAIN No. The station warrant officer ( SWO, often pronounced as a word) is the senior warrant officer on a British Royal Air Force station. No. Overall Mission: Dagger Complex previously operated as an Army Intelligence and NSA processing and analysis center. 634th MED CLR CO ETO 6 Jun 44 France (component of 60th MED BN, 6th ESB) [19][20] The Mobile Catering Support Unit (MCSU), featuring a training facility and three Air Combat Support Units, returned in November 1992, having previously been stationed at Benson during the 1970s. The British also established the Civilian Mixed Labour Organisation to undertake reconstruction work. 306th STA HOSP USAFBI 24 Nov 43 18 Mar 44 England (operated as Reception Unit for incoming troops arriving in the UK, no longer effective as Hospital) (assigned to 15th HOSP CEN 22 Dec 44) (primarily caring for wounded German PWs from 3 Jul 44 to 8 May 45) Soldiers of all ranks resisted the ban on fraternisation. Itwas also encouraged to build a new military, the Bundeswehr, which took its place alongside the BAOR as anally in the burgeoning Cold War. 820th HOSP CEN Nancy, France. Civilians in the ruins of occupied Hamburg, 1945. 195th GEN HOSP ETO 15 Feb 45 France 97th EVAC HOSP Jan 44 England ETO 17 Jun 44 France Dec 44 Belgium Mar 45 Germany (responsible for PWs and DPs, operated feeding point for transient RAMPS at Weimar airstrip > 5 to 8 May 45) (redeployed to join the 91st EVAC HOSP for duty in the PTO, redirected to ZI for inactivation Oct 45) 19th GEN HOSP USAFBI 5 Sep 43 ETO 20 Aug 44 France (activated 24 Jul 42) 12 OTU were replaced in December 1940 with Vickers Wellington medium bombers. The United States currently operates eleven bases in Germany. 115 Squadron. Consult our Royal Air Force operations guide for detailed advice. 116th GEN HOSP ETO England 24 Jun 45 Germany The British, Americans and French were unable to come to an agreement with the Soviets about war reparations, the status of ethnic German refugees and the overall future of Germany. No. RAF Odiham on Twitter: "Today we bid farewell to the @RAF_Odiham Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a guard of honour. The European Theater of Operations which was to conduct the US Armys largest and most complex land campaign of WW2 and complete the destruction of Nazi Germany, had rather modest beginnings! 106th EVAC HOSP ETO 21 Jul 44 France Germany Indexes and keys to AIR 1 are available with the printed version of our catalogue at The National Archives at Kew. 6 Air Experience Flight, both flying the Grob Tutor T1 light training aircraft used for student and cadet flying training. 44th GEN HOSP ETO France (activated 15 Jan 43) 8278th GEN HOSP ETO 22 Apr 45 France (Provisional German PW Hospital) A Nurse of the 15th General Hospital is checking the blood pressure of one of her patients. Potential flashpoints includedthethreat of a Communist takeoverin Greece, and growingSoviet demands for territorial concessions fromTurkey. 814th HOSP CEN Paris, France (established Feb 45) [44], The station is home to No. The first US Army Military Mission to England set up its Headquarters in London, on May 19, 1941. The group was assigned to Coastal Command's photo reconnaissance assets, with the whole of Northern Europe as its operational area. 28 Squadron reformed at Benson in July 2001 to equip with the new AgustaWestland Merlin HC3 support helicopter. Revised plans were negotiated with the British Ministry of Works, and the new overall plan now called to resume construction of twelve 834-bed Sta Hosp, five 1,084-bed Gen Hosp, and thirty convertible Troop Camps; the first were mostly semicylindrical metal Nissen-Hut constructions with, if necessary, tented expansion wards; the second either existing or new fixed brick installations; while the last were either existing Emergency Medical Services buildings (EMS), British Militia camps, or dual-purpose installations. Look on the GOV.UK website to find out how to obtain service records. Alternatively, search The National Archives library catalogue to see what is available to consult at Kew. 55 ETO 27 Jul 44 England 2 Aug 44 Wales 44 France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace 102d EVAC HOSP ETO 20 Apr 44 England 24 Jul 44 France 2 Oct 44 Belgium 19 Nov 44 Luxembourg 22 Dec 44 Belgium 5 Feb 45 Germany (activated 18 Mar 43) (inactivated 9 Jul 45) 96th FLD HOSP ETO France. He was quiet, thoughtful and popular with the team, always bringing a smile to everyone. Officers and men of both services who continued service after this date transferred into the newly formed RAF and were joined by new entrants. 63d FLD HOSP ETO Nov 44 England France Feb 45 Germany (returned to ZI 1 Feb 45) 28 Squadron. If you are looking for the service record of a woman you should start by consulting our guide to records of Womens Royal Air Force personnel. The BAORalso mobilised former enemysoldiers into the German Civil Labour Organisation (GCLO). 3d GEN HOSP MTO 12 May 43 French Morocco 13 Jul 43 Tunisia 14 May 44 Italy 25 Aug 44 France (to ETO 20 Nov 44) At the end of the war, the Allies also had to deal with millions of displaced persons (DPs). Foe to Friend Help with bereavement. 279th GEN HOSP ETO 18 Sep 45 Germany As the British Army advanced into the heart of Nazi Germany in the spring of 1945, its soldiers were confronted with the full horrors of the Holocaust at the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Thefour powers would also work together via the Berlin-based Allied Control Council, formed in August 1945, which would oversee matters relating to the whole of Germany. 316th STA HOSP USAFBI 19 Sep 43 England 19 Aug 44 Scotland 22 Jun 45 France (in Sep 44 the 316th STA HOSP operated 2 Hospitals; one 1,000-bed installation at Cowglen and one 400-bed holding unit at Prestwick Airfield, unit returned to the ZI 19 Aug 45) It performs support functions for other bases in the area, and is considered the smallest US military base in Germany. 24th FLD HOSP ETO Jun 44 France Belgium By 2 Jun 45, Third US Army operated a total of 237 Hospitals in Germany, 3 for RAMPS, 13 for DPs, and the remainder for German PWs (in that period over 3 million enemy PWs were in American hands). 724th MED SN CO ETO Jun 44 England Jun 44 France (component of 33d MED BN), This page was printed from the WW2 US Medical Research Centre on 1st May 2023 at 06:45. Look at AIR 14/2091, the Roll of Honour for No. FIELD HOSPITAL 400 beds > 40 Off & 184 EM (other sources 35 Off & 211 EM) STATION HOSPITAL 300 beds > 233 Off & EM The Soviets followed suit in October 1949 with the establishment of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Despite its limitations, it was a useful propaganda device that helped convince the most ardent Nazi supporters to carry on fighting in the final weeks of the war. In the British zone, the ArmyassistedUNRRA byproviding transportation, supplies and security. This made the accommodation shortage even worse and also caused a reduction in the food ration in early 1946. Today we bid farewell to the @RAF_Odiham Station Warrant Officer, Mr Marshman and welcome our new SWO Mr Curtis. 83d FLD HOSP ETO Germany This type of British medical installations located in the Western Base Section,was to be transferred to the US Army and turned into General or Station Hospitals. Look on the GOV.UK website to find out how to obtain service records. 7th GEN HOSP USAFBI 5 Dec 43 England (activated 10 Jun 43) 57th MED BN ETO Aug 44 France 18 Dec 44 Belgium 91st EVAC HOSP USAFBI 8 Nov 43 ETO 10 Jun 44 France 7 Sep 44 Holland 15 March 44 Germany (ex-6th SURG HOSP, to ZI 2 Sep 45) 163d GEN HOSP ETO 5 Oct 44 England (closed for operations 30 Nov 45, final closure early 1946) 27 Squadron at Odiham moved in during February 1998. The BAOR was responsible for pursuing suspected war criminals in its zone of north-west Germany. HOSP TRAIN No. STATION HOSPITAL 450 beds > 331 Off & EM Royal Air Force Benson or RAF Benson (IATA: BEX, ICAO: EGUB) is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located at Benson, near Wallingford, in South Oxfordshire, England. For most Germans, life in the immediate post-war years was one of rationing, shortages and poverty. Our Army took no revenge in 1918; it was more than considerate So accommodating were the occupying forces that the Germans came to believe that we would never fight them again in any cause. The following day, Tuesday 8 May 1945, was declared 'Victory in Europe' (VE) Day, and marked the formal end of the European war. 38 Group (part of RAF Support Command which relocated from RAF Odiham) and the Tactical Communications Wing (TCW), both of which arrived in 1972. HOSP TRAIN No. They provide support operations for the other garrisons throughout the regions. 2d CONV HOSP ETO 1 Nov 44 France 22 Squadron (the Operational Evaluation Unit for Joint Helicopter Command) and Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility which operates a variety of simulators. Learn more about each base, including where it's located, how long it's been in use, and more. RAF officer ranks include: Flying Officer Flight Lieutenant Squadron Leader Wing Commander Group Captain Records of officers are usually held in separate sets of files to those of ordinary. 26th GEN HOSP USAFBI 20 Oct 42 (inactivated 15 Sep 45) (activated 1 Feb 42, inactivated 15 Sep 45) 50th MED BN ETO 8 Jun 44 France STATION HOSPITAL 50 beds > 54 Off & EM on January 24, 1942, another organization was created, the United States Army Northern Ireland Force (USANIF). 64th MED GP ETO Nov 44 Belgium 17 Dec 44 Luxembourg 21 Dec 44 Belgium Apr 45 Germany The patients were then directed for further treatment to the 280th Sta Hosp(Cherbourg) or the 8th Conv Hosp (Valognes). 48th SURG HOSP USAFBI 2 Aug 42 (activated 10 Feb 41, redesignated 128th EVAC HOSP, 1 May 43), CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL 3000 beds > 223 Off & EM (other sources 217 Off & EM) This was aimed at encouraging acts of sabotage and reprisals against collaborators in areas occupied by the Allies. Records of RAF airmen who served after 1939, and of men whose service numbers were above 562875 are still with the RAF. 44th EVAC HOSP USFBI 26 Nov 43 ETO 19 Jun 44France 12 Sep 44Belgium 9 Feb 45Germany 23 Sep 45France (medical support to former KZ-Nordhausen inmates from 16 Apr to 4 May 45, to ZI 10 Nov 45, and inactivated 21 Nov 45) [32] The move began in December 2015 as the unit joined their Puma counterparts under a reformed No. [16] No. 250th GEN HOSP ETO 24 Apr 45 France 317th GEN HOSP ETO 44 England Images by Cpl Connor Payne RAF 48th FLD HOSP ETO 16 Apr 44 England 16 Jul 44 France (inactive) 3 Oct 44 Belgium 31 Oct 44 Holland 16 Nov 44 Belgium 25 Nov 44 Germany 3 Dec 44 Belgium 31 Dec 44 Germany 11 Nov 45 France (activated 10 Sep 43) (departed for ZI 25 Nov 45) 104th EVAC HOSP ETO 14 Jul 44 France Central Europe 24 USAFBI 14 Sep 43 England ETO 29 Sep 44 France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe (inactivated 18 Sep 45) 801st HOSP CEN Taunton (previously I Hospital Group, Provisional) 67th MED GP ETO 44 France Overall Mission: Ramstein Air Base is the headquarters for USAF operations in Europe and Africa. The initial objective was to establish Army Forces in the British Isles in order to protect them from a possible enemy invasion; another objective was to relieve a number of British troops for operations in the Mediterranean, and to reinforce the Royal Air Force with aircraft and personnel. While the British got on with administering their zone, relations with the Soviet Union within the Allied Control Council gradually declined. 155th GEN HOSP USAFBI Sep 43 ETO 29 Jul 44 England (inactivated 21 Sep 45) The Puma Operational Conversion Flight, previously part of No. Nato has been the cornerstone of British defence planning for 70 years. 80th STA HOSP MTO 44 Tunisia ETO 14 Sep 44 France We wish them the best of luck and . [52], Since 2012, Benson's gate guardian has been a full-scale replica of a wartime Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk XI. Overall Mission: USAG Kaiserslautern is currently in standby mode, and so is not involved in any active operations. 123d EVAC HOSP ETO Jan 45 France Mar 45 Germany Jul 45 France Sep 45 Germany 116th EVAC HOSP ETO 6 Nov 44 France 28 Mar 45 Germany (also provided medical assistance to former inmates of KZ-Dachau, May + June 45) 14 Aug 45 France 21 Sep 45 Germany In the fall of 1941, the very first medical units were sent to Iceland. The records in AIR 79 usually contain the following information: RAF service numbers between 313001 and 316000 indicate that the airmen previously served with the Royal Navy and then subsequently the Royal Naval Air Service, before transferring to the RAF. In this British Army trainingfilm, he explains the motivations for thereconstruction of western Germany. [27] However, in November of that year, the Puma force was brought together when No. HOSP TRAIN No. 302d STA HOSP USAFBI 43 England 44 France 1 Sep 45 Germany (ceased operations Jul 45 in France) (reopened 1 Sep 45 in Germany) 22d GEN HOSP ETO 14 Jun 44 England Location: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. 70th STA HOSP MTO 44 Italy ETO 18 Oct 44 France 122d EVAC HOSP ETO HOSP TRAIN No. 228th STA HOSP ETO Jun 44 England France (ex-72d GEN HOSP inactivated and reorganized) The Army and the occupation of Germany | National Army Museum Contact the Chaplaincy Office: Phone: 01491 837766 Ext: 6234 Church services and meetings Various weekly services and sessions are available, both religious and spiritual; however, there is currently no Sunday service. The base also contains the Panzer Kaserne Marine Base, as well as elements of the US Navy. 8048th GEN HOSP ETO 19 May 45 France (Provisional German PW Hospital) [51], Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Benson. Official Site: https://home.army.mil/ansbach/, Related Article Military Bases In Texas. 35th EVAC HOSP ETO 19 Feb 44 England 24 Jun 44 France 28 Dec 44 Luxembourg 6 Mar 45 Germany Search for missing RAF personnel in AIR 81. [12], Post-war demobilisation saw the disbandment of No. 1 ETO 8 Feb 44 England 44 France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace 23d GEN HOSP MTO 28 Oct 43 17 Nov 43 Italy 5 Nov 44 France (transferred from MTO to ETO 20 Nov 44) (returned to ZI Oct 45) Another last-ditch Nazi resistance effort, the Werewolf plan, was also something of a damp squib. HOSPITAL SHIP approx. Look in PMG 43 for supplementary payments to RAF officers and their dependents from 1916 to 1920. Warrant Officers: WO: N . was assigned as Camp Surgeon, assisted by personnel of the 116th EVAC and 127th EVAC HOSP) Theyweretasked with guard duties in the camps set up to deal with the tide of humanity moving through Germany. As early as April 1946, the British government was calling for cuts to the WCIT. 12 21 May 44 England ETO Normandy Northern France Rhineland Churchill,Truman and Stalin at Potsdam, July 1945. 5 Group in Bomber Command. The aircraft can carry up to sixteen passengers or twelve fully equipped troops, or up to two tonnes of freight carried either internally or as an under-slung load.