Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr – Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow
On the wide grounds of a former Luftwaffe and Royal Air Force airfield, the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr – Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow presents a sweeping view of German military aviation. The site, once known as RAF Gatow, now holds more than 200,000 objects: 155 aircraft, 5,000 uniforms, and 30,000 books, alongside engines, instruments, and archival material. Exhibits span early experiments in flight to the Cold War and beyond, with attention to both technology and the people who used it.
From gliders to jets
Early aviation appears through reproductions of Otto Lilienthal’s gliders, tracing the first controlled flights. The collection then moves into the World War I era with aircraft such as the Fokker E.III, and further into World War II with types like the Bf 109 and the pioneering jet Me 262. Postwar chapters are represented by at least one aircraft of every type that served in the air forces of both East and West Germany, creating a continuous timeline of design and doctrine.
Life on the airfield
The grounds themselves tell a story. Displays cover the period when the Royal Air Force operated the base, adding context to the aircraft on view. Many postwar planes are positioned outdoors on the original tarmac and runways; exposure has left a number of them in rough condition, a reminder of how weather and time mark aluminum and steel. Long-term restoration projects are underway, including work on a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, to preserve and interpret key airframes for future study.
Berlin’s “missing third airport”
RAF Gatow holds a distinct place in the city’s postwar map. In divided Berlin, each sector had its own airport: Tegel in the French sector, Tempelhof in the American sector, and Gatow in the British sector. Unlike the other two, Gatow saw limited traffic and served more as a strategic and political symbol than a transport hub. After reunification it closed as an airfield, while Tempelhof ended all flights in 2008 and Tegel followed in November 2020. The former base now functions as a museum site, linking its runway history to the aircraft and stories on display.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milit%C3%A4rhistorisches_Museum_Flugplatz_Berlin-Gatow
