During World War II extensive use was made of the air base, particularly by night and day fighter squadrons.

Initially, these units flew Sikorsky H-34 helicopters, which were used extensively during relief operations following the disastrous North Sea flood of 1962.

In 1975, the air base was officially named Theodor Blank Barracks after the first Federal Minister of Defence of Germany.

Helicopters from Rheine-Bentlage have carried out humanitarian operations in Italy, Greece and the Pyrenees, offering help and logistic support after natural disasters.

[7] In July 2019 the Federal Ministry of Defence announced that the former air base's barracks will be home to Medical Regiment 4 which is to be established and planned to be operational in April 2020.