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Re: Which Bettola where Stab/JG 77 based?
Bettola (ITAL) (a.k.a. Sedena) (45 29 15 N – 10 27 05 E)
General: landing ground in N Italy 19.5 km ESE of Brescia, 7 km WNW of Desenzano sul Garda, approx. 2.4 km N of the Brescia-Desenzano main road and railway, 1.6 km W of the village of Sedena and 1.2 km N of the village of Bettola.
History: construction of a landing ground here dates from early June 1944. It was never developed much beyond an alternative landing ground, as evidenced by the fact that it never had its own airfield detachment and was simply looked after by a tiny custodial unit.
Dimensions: approx. 1465 x 730 meters (1600 x 800 yards) with an irregular shape.
Surface and Runways: agricultural land, the south portion of which was in the process of being leveled in July 1944. At the same time, a prepared strip was in an advanced stage of leveling on the north portion of the landing ground with a final probable length of approx. 1005 meters (1100 yards) and width of 190 meters (210 yards) when completed, and having a NNE/SSW alignment.
Infrastructure: none in Jul 44. Nearest rail connection at Lonato, 4.5 km to the SE of the landing ground.
Dispersal: no organized dispersals.
Remarks: none.
Operational Units: Stab/JG 77 (30 Jun – 24 Aug 44).
Station Commands: Wachkdo. of Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 207/VII Ghedi I (Dec 44 - Apr 45).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): none identified.
[Sources: AFHRA A5262 p.1365 (22 Aug 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]
It would be interesting to know what role this landing ground played after August 1944.
L.
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