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Re: Bf109G-10/R2 at Campoformido ?
Here is just about the extent of what the Allies had on Campoformido to the end of April 1945. More was known when the Allied A and B field intelligence teams arrived in May.
Campoformido (ITAL) (a.k.a. Udine-Campoformido, ANR Aeroporto N. 28) (46 02 00 N – 13 10 40 E)
General: airfield in NE Italy 8.5 km SW of Udine and 2.25 km NE of the village of Campoformido.
History: built in 1912, it was an important Italian AF field before and during the war with a fighter school and from mid-1941 an ever-changing array of tenant fighter units. The airfield was extensively developed in 1944 and that August several Luftwaffe units moved in and remained to the end of the war.
Dimensions: (1) original military or West Side - wedge-shaped between the railway and the main road with a take-off and landing run of approx. 1830 meters (2000 yards) aligned NE/SW; connected to the east side by level crossings over the main road. (2) newer civil or East Side - on the SE side of the main road and measured approx. 1465 x 1465 meters (1600 x 1600 yards).
Surface and Runways: grass surface on both the East Side and the West Side. There were 2 concrete runways - (1) 1510 meters (1650 yards) aligned NE/SW on the East Side that was equipped with a visual Lorenz system for instrument landings; (2) 2745 meters (3000 yards) aligned WNW/ESE and located 9 km SW of Campoformido airfield and 230 meters N of the village of Galleriano. This imposing runway – if it existed – was said to be in the early stage of construction in Aug 44 and reportedly completed or near completion on 5 Jan 45. Confirmation of this runway has not been found, but if it existed it would have been for use by jet units such as Sonderkommando Sommer.
Fuel and Ammunition: refueling points were near the hangars and there were underground fuel tanks at 3 site around the airfield and a large fuel dump in a part 7 km NNE of the landing area. Ammunition was stored in an underground dump on the NW boundary on the West Side, and another dump with open storage 4.5 km E of the airfield.
Infrastructure: had at least 3 large and several smaller hangars along with workshop buildings at the NE corner of the West Side along with admin buildings, barracks and other service and support facilities. Additionally, there was a workshop in the South dispersal area and an aircraft engine repair workshop near the train station in Basillano, 6.25 km WSW of the airfield. The nearest rail connection was along the N boundary of the West Side of the airfield.
Dispersal: there were 3 dispersal areas – Perimeter, South and Southwest – with a total of 49 large and 49 small aircraft shelters.
Remarks:
5 Sep 44: low-level attack by RAF fighters – 2 x Bf 109s from 2./NAGr. 11 destroyed on the ground.
18 Nov 44: bombed - 10 x Bf 109s from 1. and 2./NAGr. 11 destroyed or damaged on the ground along with 1 x Fi 156 destroyed and another damaged.
5 Jan 45: aerial reconnaissance photos showed several of the hangars had been dismantled and taken away, several others never completed and nearly all of the remaining buildings in ruins or heavily damaged from bombings.
17 Jan 45: the runways on both sides of airfield reportedly prepared for demolition with mines.
20 Mar 45: strafed by P-47 Thunderbolts – claimed 3 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 19 more damaged.
5 Apr 45: bombed by 168 B-24 Liberators – 3 x Bf 109s destroyed, 9 x Bf 109s damaged, 2 x Fw 190s and 3 x Fi 156s damaged with 1./NAGr. 11 suffering the majority of these losses.
Operational Units:
Italian (Regia Aeronautica): Scuolo Caccia (fighter school); 6º Gruppo CT (Jun-Nov 41, Jun-Dec 42); 8º Gruppo CT (Dec 42 – May 43); 9º Gruppo CT (Apr-May 42); 10º Gruppo CT (Apr-May 42); 17º Gruppo CT (Jun-Nov 41, Jun-Nov 42).
Italian (Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana): 1º Gruppo Caccia (Jan-Apr 44).
Luftwaffe: Gefechtsverband Sigel (Aug-Oct 43); Seenotstaffel 20 (c. Aug 44 – Apr 45); 1., 2./NAGr. 11 (Sep 44 – Apr 45); Sonderkdo. Sommer (Mar-Apr 45).
Station Commands: none identified.
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): none identified.
[Sources: AFHRA A5262 pp.2021-23 (9 Sep 43) and pp.1392, 1541-42 (17 Jan 45); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]
L.
P.S. any documented additions, changes and corrections are most welcome.
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