Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist

“A Cessna to Moscow? From here?” a skeptical voice might ask at Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist. Indeed, this seemingly unassuming airfield holds a surprising history. Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist, nestled near Uetersen in the district of Pinneberg, has been a hub of aerial activity since the 1930s. Initially conceived as a glider landing field in 1928, the dream took flight in 1933 with the launch of the first glider. Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist’s early days were marked by shared use with local sports clubs, creating a lively mix of athletic pursuits. However, its trajectory changed dramatically in 1935. The airfield was transformed into a military airfield. Its runway saw the landing of the first motorized aircraft, piloted by a student from Magdeburg’s Flying School. World War II brought significant changes. Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist became a base for Ju 52s, Heinkel He 111s, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 and 110s. The airfield’s role extended to international airfreight, with Lufthansa operating a cargo route to Copenhagen starting in 1940. Post-war, Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist remained under Royal Air Force control until 1955. It was renamed Marseille Barracks in 1975, honoring the WWII pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille. However, the airfield’s most peculiar claim to fame came in 1987 when Mathias Rust, a private pilot, departed from Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist in his Cessna, ultimately landing in Moscow’s Red Square. Beyond this extraordinary event, the airfield also housed the German Air Force Museum until its relocation to Berlin in 1995. Even a Goodyear Blimp graced the airfield in the 1970s. Today, Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist serves a civilian purpose, hosting numerous flying clubs and companies. The biggest company located at the airfield is Air Hamburg. From its humble beginnings as a shared glider field to its role in wartime operations and its surprise connection to a Cold War escapade, Flugplatz Uetersen/Heist continues to write its story in the skies.