|
Re: Bases used by Aufkl.Gr.(H)21 during French Campaign
As R.B. says, it might be.
Charleville (FR) (a.k.a. Charleville-Mιziθres, Belval, Tournes-Belval) (49 48 02 N 04 38 46 E)
General: landing ground in E France 75 km NE of Reims; airfield 6.5 km NW of Charleville and 1.6 km NE of the village of Belval. History: an old French airfield that was used by the Luftwaffe during the May-June 1940 campaign but very little after that until summer 1944. Surface and Dimensions: good grass surface measuring approx. 1100 x 915 meters (1200 x 1000 yards) and roughly rectangular in shape. No paved runway. Fuel and Ammunition: there was a refueling point on the W boundary. On the W boundary were 3 small huts protected by blast walls and these were probably used for ammunition storage. Infrastructure: had 1 small hangar and 2 small workshops on the W boundary, and these were heavily camouflaged with netting. Limited barrack accommodations were at the NW corner. The Charleville rail line ran along the N boundary. Dispersal: no organized dispersal facilities. Defenses: none identified.
Satellites and Decoys:
Belval Ham-les-Moines (c. 49 47 50 N 04 34 42 E), dummy 5.25 km WNW of Charleville landing ground.
Remarks:
11 May 44: bombed by 9th AAF medium bombers.
Operational Units: 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (May 40); I./JG 1 (May 40); Stab, I./JG 27 (May 40); I./JG 52 (May 40); Stab/JG 53 (May 40); II./JG 53 (May-Jun 40); I./ZG 52 (May-Jun 40); I./JG 76 (May-Jun 40); 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. Ob.d.L. (May-Jun 40); Stab/Fliegerzielgeschwader 2 (Feb-Apr 44)?; Stab, 1., 3./NAGr. 13 (Aug 44); 4.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (Aug 44).
Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 23/XI (1940-41)?; Fl.Pl.Kdo. C 82/XI (Jan 43 Mar 44); Flugplatzkdo. Charleville of Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 228/XI Laon-Athies (Apr-Aug 44); Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 234/XI (Sep 44).
Station Units (on various dates and includes the town of Charleville not complete): Koflug Charleville (later Koflug 7/VI) (Jun 40 Jan 41); Flugmelde-Funk-Kp. z.b.V. 32 (mid-43 Nov 43); III./Ln.-Ausb.Rgt. 301 (c.mid-43 Aug 44); Stab/Ln.-Ausb.Rgt. 302 (summer 42 Mar 43).
[Sources: AFHRA A5260 p.1731 (5 May 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]
L.
|