The British army built Advanced Landing Ground Goch during World War II in preparation for the final push across the Rhine River in early 1945. The infrastructure was straightforward and simple: a PSP runway with a parallel grass emergency runway, refuelling was done with jerrycans, and there was enough space for two complete Wings. It was only used between 4 March and late April. The first unit to fly from the airfield was No. 662 Squadron RAF operating Taylorcraft Auster, who remained at the airfield until 24 March. They were followed by the British 121 Wing, operating the Hawker Typhoon. Ten days later the Canadian No. 143 Wing joined them. The Hawker Typhoons of 121 Wing were exchanged for the Supermarine Spitfires of Canadian No. 127 Wing by mid-April, but by the end of that month all Wings had left. This ended the use of B-100 airfield. In 1954 Royal Air Force Germany rebuilt the World War II airfield, with a runway, as RAF Laarbruch due to the outbreak of the Cold War. Laarbruch was home to various first-line squadrons, including No. 2 Squadron RAF flying the F-4 Phantom II and later the Jaguars; and 15 and 16 Squadrons flying BAe Buccaneers. These squadrons all moved onto the Tornado with four squadrons resident. 25 Squadron's 'C' Flight was also located at Laarbruch, equipped with the Bristol Bloodhoundsurface to air missile system. After the first Gulf War, many of the squadrons were relocated, No. 2 Sqn going back to RAF Marham; and 15, 16, and 20 becoming reserve squadrons. When RAF Gütersloh closed, the Harriers of No. 3 Squadron RAF and No. 4 Squadron RAF squadrons moved in along with the helicopters of 18 Squadron. Laarbruch was also home to 1 and 26 Squadron RAF Regiment. 18 Squadron returned to RAF Odiham in 1997 with the remaining Harrier squadrons departing to RAF Cottesmore in 1999. After closing in 1999 the airfield found a new civilian lease of life as the budget airline airport Flughafen Niederrhein, now known as Airport Weeze after the nearest large settlement. Civil operations began in May 2003.
Laarbruch squadrons
No. 2 Squadron RAF; flying Phantom FGR.2 up to 1976 and the SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1/T.2 from 1976 until the 1980s, then the Panavia Tornado GR.1A from the late 1980s until the unit was re-located to RAF Marham in 1991.
No. 3 Squadron RAF; flying English Electric Canberra B.8, then again from here from 1992 until 1999 with the BAe Harrier GR.5A, then Harrier GR.7 until the unit was re-located to RAF Cottesmore in 1999.
No 4 Squadron RAF; flying the BAE Harrier GR.7 version from 1992 until the unit was re-located to RAF Cottesmore in 1999.
