Command building
On Friday, September 30, 1955, the last American airmen departed Tulln Air Base. A ceremony was held for the transfer of the air base to the Austrian authorities with a final tour of the air base. This ended 10 years of American occupation. Present for the ceremony was Major Karl F. Rybos, Base Commander, and about 20 American officers and airmen stationed at the base.
Representives of the Austrian Defense Department were Major Bizek, Captain Limberger, and Captain Kubista.
Representatives for the Austrian Federal Building Administrations were: Construction Commissioner Diploma Engineer Albach and Engineer Walzl.
Representative for the American Authorities was Engineer Albrecht, who was previously employed by the American Air Base Command and later worked for the Langenlebarn Airport Division of the Federal Building Administration.
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Command building |
The transfer the air base and its facilities was accompanied by a small
ceremony involving American and Austrian officers and officials. A police unit
from the Police School, under direction of Captain Vrana, and the Vienna police
marching band were transferred to Langenlebarn to participate in the ceremony.
In addition to representatives of the municipal government of Langenlebarn, a
number of sightseers joined in the celebration. The American flag was lowered
to the sound of the American National Anthem. Afterward, the police raised the
red-white-red flag of Austria. A reporter from the "New Austria" described the ceremony as follows:
Today at 1400 hours, the departing American Occupation Force turned the
Tulln-Langenlebarn Air Base over to the Austrian authorities. For the
flag exchange ceremony, several dignitaries from Lower Austria attended,
including Police Colonel Krail, Major Birsack, and representatives of the
Federal Building Authority. For over ten years, the American Occupation Force had made use of the Tulln Air
Base for their armed forces who were stationed in Austria. Not only military
aircraft, but also U.S. commercial aircraft took off and landed at the airport
in Langenlebarn. In August, Pan American World Airways moved to Schwechat, but
at Tulln, these heavy transports were used for the homeward journey of U.S. Air
Force personnel and their families. The evacuation of Vienna was completed to a
large part by an improvised airlift from Tulln to Frankfurt/am Main.Today, the
remaining command that was still at Tulln participated in the flag exchange.
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flag |
flag |
Major Rybos |
Shortly before 1400 hours the police band and a troop of the Police School of the Interior Ministry arrived under the command of Captain Vrana. After the Austrian Guests of Honor arrived, the troop marched in front of the flag pole and, with a short command, presented their rifles in the arms salute. Two American airmen made their way to the flag pole in slow march, and the Stars and Stripes was lowered to the sound of American National Anthem. The two airmen then passed the flag to Major Rybos, Base Commander.
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Building |
A short time later the red-white-red Austrian flag was raised to sound of the Federal-hymn. This was followed by the Austrian band playing the German-master-march as the troop paraded in front of the American and Austrian officials.
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hands control of the air base to the Police Commander Krail |
Afterward, he Mayor of Langenlebarn made a speech. He thanked the Air Base Commander, in the name of the community, for the valuable support during the last ten years. Numerous community members were employed at the base.
Finally, officers from the Personnel Office led the representatives of the Federal Building Administration on a tour of the base. Parts of the hangars and commercial buildings still lie in debris from the war. Some areas, including the housing buildings were spared by the bombs and remain in impeccable to good condition. Since the facilities of the air base, including the control tower and radio communications, were handed over, the Tulln Air Base was ready for operations. As the "New Austria" has learned, Langenlebarn was chosen to be the first Austrian military air base. Here, in the foreseeable future, the military pilots of the new Austrian Air Force are to be trained. Twenty police officials will guard the airfield until the arrival of a Company of the National Army stationed in Upper Austria.This unit will arrive at the Tulln Air Base on Monday.
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Americans' belongings |
The last American airmen climbed on board the last aircraft, named and at 1500 hours, and took off from Tulln/Langenlebarn Air Base. When the aircraft had clear the runway, the crew circled the town and air base twice in salute and took a course in a westward direction. Mayor Wagner of Langenlebarn described the last minutes of the American occupation of the air base as follows: In addition, it was reported that the takeoff of the Base Commander, Major Rybos, followed immediately after the official transfer of the air base. Major Rybos enjoyed the appreciation of all the civilian employees of the air base and was held in high esteem because of his irreproachable behavior. Following his final departure, he climbed into the aircraft parked in front of the communications building, started the engines, and headed toward the taxiway. At 1510 hours the aircraft rose from the runway. After a last circle, barely over the heads of the waving crowd, the plane vanished into the clouds.
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Air Base |
The end of the American occupation of the air base was described by Lloyd G. Williams who was transferred from Wiesbaden to Langenlebarn on July 6 as follows: "I was Sergeant Major, and I assisted in closing the base. I retrieved the American flag for the last time. I folded and handed it to Major Rybos, the Commander. Lt. Kilgore, Master Sgt. Williams and Lt. Sheffield departed in Lt. Sheffield's car on September 30. We were the last to leave the air base, which was now in the hands of the Austrians. "We left the air base and traveled on the street behind the air base that passes through Tulln toward Germany. I gave candy and chewing gum to the kids".
Thus ended 14 years of foreign occupation. The town and air base was once more in the hands of the Austrian government.