 Originally built in 1935 as a Luftwaffe station, the aerodrome was seized by the United States Army in May 1945 at the end of World War II.The 289th Combat Engineers were ordered in to occupy the site as military police when it was discovered to be the final location of Nazi Party's top secret FA signals intelligence and cryptanalytic agency.After all intelligence aspects perceived crucial by TICOM, the U.S. intelligence and technology gathering organization, were secured, it was occupied by the 225th Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion.