in 1930, an air field was built north of göppingen. this was taken over by the luftwaffe in 1935 and was called the fliegerhorst kaserne (barracks). from 1945 to 1949, displaced persons and refugees were housed in the buildings. in 1949, it was renamed cooke barracks, after charles h. cooke, jr., who been killed in action and given the silver star and soldier's medal for bravery.