Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen, 1946 - 1995
Trainers en jagers boven de Molenheide
Review

ModelFan
Authors: Dick Lohuis, Gijs Dragt   
Publisher: Geromy
ISBN: 978-90-833122-4-8
Published: 2024
448 pages, hardcover, Dutch language only
Price 59,95 euro.

In the previous reviews about the "Air Base series" and we can now certainly speak of a series with this fifth book about Gilze-Rijen, I did already mentioned my spotters days. Of course, Gilze-Rijen and the period also fit in with this. Of course, the open days, and on road to my family in the south of the country, between Breda and Tilburg near Gilze always slowing down on highway to see if there was anything going on the base and if they might be flying. And yes, of course, that well-known road where they passed so low during landing that you could almost touch them. The third picture in this book!

This publication by the publisher Geromy, in the series about Dutch air bases, also has the same layout as the previous four and brings you to the period of, the Cold War, in particular, 1946 to 1995 described in 11 chapters, 6 of which have a clear relationship with the air base.  
- Trainers and hunters above the Molenheide.
- Based Units.
- Secondments, deployments and exercises.
- Squadron Exchanges.
- Open days and squadron anniversaries.
- Visitors.

A huge volume of 448 pages, so if you start reading you certainly will be off the streets for a while. It is a photo book in which the photos literally thunder by in terms of size and quantity. Short pieces of text are combined with photos, just enough to make the book complete and interesting. Actually, a very nice spotter's book. I already referred to my time as a spotter!

The history of Gilze-Rijen as an airfield goes back to 1910. It originated on a heath with the name Molenheide, which explains the later name "Molenheide airfield". A civilian flight school was established here in 1910. 1913 marked the beginning of military aviation on the field. In the first chapter it is described how it became Gilze-Rijen Airbase including the German Fliegerhorst in the Second World War. We are landed in 1946.

Between the years 1946 and 1995 extensive attention is paid to the units/squadrons that operated from Gilze-Rijen. From the Advanced Flight Training (VVO), observer training, the basic flight, Depot Aircraft Equipment (DVM), the Elementary Pilot Training (EVO), Light Aircraft Training (LVO), 316, 314, up to 327 Sqn, Ranging from Harvards to the F-16.

In Secondments, Deployments and Exercises, the authors discuss Deployments, visitors and exercises at Gilze-Rijen. Lots of fun and interesting foreign photo material in this section. I still remember the Tactical Air Meet of 1984. With a press card around my neck, I got a VW Combi and a driver and could basically go wherever I wanted and take pictures only limited by the number of (slide) films I could afford. that were quite a few, but of course never enough.   Also, the squadron exchanges, Open Days, Squadron Jubilees are not forgotten and what about the "visitors" part. Everything neatly arranged by year.

The photo material is very varied, also in terms of layout. Very nice full-page colour photos are interspersed with half pages up to 8x12. Every now and then a real spotter picture if I may call them so irreverent, more than 800 in total. Excuse me for not counting them, but there really are a lot of them. The list of aviation enthusiasts consists of two pages and again contains many well-known names.  
 
Conclusion
A spotter's book full of beautiful photos, many of which have never been published in this way before. Because of the set-up, you will not only be treated to photo material relating to the squadrons at the base, but you will also find a wealth of foreign material. The text is limited and superficial, but enough to make it informative. I have read and browsed through it several times now and every time I notice something new. Modellers can also find fun and interesting photos in the book. The fifth book, which we can now define as a series about the Air Bases of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, is identical in layout to the other four. Again, a feast of recognition with regard to my active spotting years, by which I mean the photographic material.  I have read Gilze-Rijen Air Base again with great pleasure and interest. I think I'll be browsing through it a lot.       

Thanks to Geromy for providing the review copy.






Click on the photos below for the originals