Remains Rundbogenhalle Sudlager Fliegerhorst Venlo

The remains of a 'Rundbogenhalle' or bow hangar.

Fliegerhorst Venlo housed a number of different types of arched hangars, which were divided into two sizes. We know four types where the differences with names were in the foundation, floor and roof construction. The fourth type was a T-shaped arched hangar which differed in shape from the other three. The type you find here only exists at the Südlager. The other types of bow hangar were located at the Nordlager.

This variant (35x25 meters) is characterized by the large concrete foundation blocks in which the steel brackets for the roof construction were located. This bracket is still visible on a few blocks. Between these blocks was a brick wall about one meter high. The roof construction consisted of wooden or steel trusses on which sheet material was attached. The whole was covered with roofing felt. There are photos of a collapsed arch hangar where the wooden trusses can clearly be seen in a broken condition. Any steel trusses would be visible as twisted. The floor consisted of a large concrete deck that covered the entire surface of the hangar.

The back wall consisted of a brick base with a wooden construction covered with sheet material. With this type there was no extra reinforcement that should provide more stability of the construction. These hangars were therefore not, as the Germans called it, 'durchrollbar'. A sliding or roller door construction ensured that the aircraft were completely protected from the elements. This was therefore a fully-fledged hangar and not a so-called shelter (Eng.) or Splitterbox (Germany).

What is striking about this hangar is the presence of sand-lime bricks and the openings in the concrete screed. Part of the rear wall of this hangar is still present.

In total there are still 6 of this type of hangar remains on the Sűdlager of Fliegerhorst Venlo.

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Source

• Text: Axel Repping
• Photos: Axel Repping