Fliegerhorst "Reflective Brick"

[ClinA-78]

Gent's,

Please excuse this strange title as I don't know the word calling this kind of earthenware/porcelain 'brick' (roughly the same stuff like isolator) which was found in the middle of a former German taxi-track, leading to one of the runways of the Florennes airbase (or Fliegerhorst as it was built by Germans in '42).
Measures are 14/7/6 cm. As you can see, only the top emerged from the soil. Markings at the bottom are D 6608 B and the manufacturer seems KLEFFEL.
I don't know its main purpose but it seems they were used as a 'passive lighting' device, reflecting the moonlight in order to lead the Nachtjager to the take-off point without using its headlights (Intruders were highly feared).
I am wondering if this device was used somewhere else (in Belgium or Germany).

By the way, I am searching any info about Florennes airbase architecture. We get a lot of info's about LW and USAAF units, plans, sketches but very few about the German buildings establishment itself and especially pictures (!)

I will display the history of airbase (and rare artefacts) during our INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW on the 23-24 June 2012. More will follow with heavy surprises as this display will occur in a still-preserved German shelter!

Thank you for your attention and see you at the Airshow!

ClinA-78

[edwest]

Here is a link:

http://translate.google.com/translat...26prmd%3Dimvns


The reflective brick. Wouldn't enemy aircraft possibly see it in the moonlight also? Especially if it was placed in a line?


Ed

[Larry deZeng]

ClinA-78: I will provide you with a detailed write-up on Fl.H. Florennes-Juzaine tomorrow, 30 March. Unfortunately, the British Air Ministry map that usually accompanies the airfield data sheets is lacking for Florennes.

Larry

[ClinA-78]

@ Edwest: perhaps but the main target for Intruders is the Nachtjager, in this case a 'doused' one?

@ Larry: already well appreciated.

[RolandF]

I don´t think this one should be used outside. The small holes on the side surfaces might indicate the whole brick ought to be embedded in mortar.
Looking at the dimensions I think this was intended to be used for wall coverings of hangars and workshops. Please could you give the exact size in millimeters to compare it to the "Reichsformat" normation?
In contrary to usual glazed tiles those "bricks" are used like real bricks; that means the wall is built up by using those glazed bricks with one or two unglazed ones in between. The hole on the backside is for better handling and less weight.

Regards

Roland

[Larry deZeng]

Florennes (BELG) (a.k.a. Florennes-Juzaine) 50 14 25 N – 04 39 00 E)
General: airfield (Fliegerhorst) 24 km SSE of Charleroi in south-central Belgium and 3 km ESE of the town of Florennes.
History: designed from the onset as a major night fighter base, construction began in 1942 and was still underway in mid-1944.
Dimensions: the landing area measured approx. 1375 x 1375 meters (1500 x 1500 yards).
Surface and Runways: grass surface. There were three concrete runways laid out in the form of a capital letter “A” and completed by Jul 43 – (1) approx. 1500 meters (1650 yards) in length and aligned ENE/WSW; (2) approx. 1235 meters (1350 yards) in length and aligned NE/SW; and (3) approx. 1325 meters (1450 yards) in length and aligned NNW/SSE. The ENE/WSW and NE/SW runways both had 125 meter wide prepared strips on either side of them and a perimeter track encircled the entire landing area. Work on the runways was completed by mid-Jan 44. Equipped with lighting for all three runways, a beam approach system and a visual Lorenz system for night operations. A flare path aligned ENE/WSW was also set up alongside the ENE/WSW runway.
Fuel and Ammunition: had a short stretch of ladder-type refueling hardstands at the center of the S boundary near the South dispersal area and another on the N boundary near the North dispersal area. Bulk fuel was stored near the Florennes-East railway station 2.5 km WNW of the airfield. The main ammunition dump was in a woods 1.6 km NNW of the airfield. Several smaller dumps were reportedly located 2.8 km W of the airfield and 2 km SSE of the airfield.
Infrastructure: a single large hangar with a paved apron was off the NW corner of the airfield, and the station’s compass swinging base was near the hangar. An extensive barracks complex, station admin offices and base motor pool with garages were situated 1.75 km WNW of the center of the landing area on the SE outskirts of Florennes. Further accommodations were provided in small clusters of huts off the NW corner and in the dispersal areas. Personnel were also billeted in Florennes and in the village of Villers-le-Gambon, 5.5 km SW of the airfield. The airfield was served by a special branch rail line from Florennes.
Dispersal: there were three dispersal areas – North (Bois Doyen), South (Bois de Bourguignon) and East (off the SE corner) with a total of 3 double covered, 20 single covered, 2 double uncovered and 13 single uncovered aircraft shelters that could accommodate 43 aircraft in Jul 43. Work was continuous in the dispersal areas during 1943 and 1944. In mid-Apr 44, the South dispersal area was extended into the Bois la Croix woods, some 2 km S of the airfield boundary, and 3 additional shelters and 7 aircraft parking sites were under construction.
Defenses: there were 7 light Flak positions surrounding the airfield in mid-1943, including one position in the South dispersal area that consisted of 4 Flak towers. The Flak defenses were undoubtedly reinforced after this date as Allied air attacks intensified. Ground defenses consisted of barbed wire, strongpoints with machine guns and a weapon trench off the NE corner with 4 gun positions at each end.
Remarks:
31 Dec 42: night fighter control center at Florennes airfield bombed from high altitude by 2 or 3 RAF Mosquitoes.
15 Jul 43: extensive leveling work reported to be underway on the landing area surrounding the concrete runways.
10 Apr 44: bombed by 42 B-17 Fortresses.
27 Apr 44: bombed by a squadron of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers.
9 May 44: bombed by 96 B-24 Liberators.
31 May 44: bombed by 30 B-17s.
14 Jun 44: bombed by 95 B-17s.
28 Jun 44: bombed by 11 B-24s.
14 Aug 44: bombed by 24 B-17s.
15 Aug 44: bombed by 59 B-24s.
Operational Units: I./NJG 4 (Sep 42 – Aug 44); I./JG 26 (Nov 43 – Apr 44); 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 121 (Aug 44).
Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 42/XIII (1941 – c.Mar 43); Fl.H.Kdtr. A 212/XI (c.Mar 43 – Mar 44); Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 215/XI (Apr-Sep 44).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): Nachtjagdraumführer 7 (Jul 42 – Feb 44); 6./gem.Flak-Abt. 599 (May 44); gem.Flak-Abt. 594 (Jul-Aug 44); Stab II.(Flum.Mess)/Ln.-Rgt. 203 (c.Oct 42 – Aug 44).
[Sources: AFHRA A5258 pp.1653-56; A5259/169 (30 Jul 43 updated to 11 Apr 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

ClinA-78: any additional information you can provide would be appreciated. These details on some 4,000 airfields used by the Luftwaffe will be going up on the internet in the not too distant future and I would like to make them as complete and accurate as possible. Thanks.

L.

[ClinA-78]

Gent's,

Thank you about your comments. I will come back later.

@ Roland: those 'bricks' were not used in any building or remains of building at the airdrome. An usual trapezoidal brick - typical - was used , for instance for shelter, but this very one was only used on a short distance, on a curved taxi-track just in front of one of the runway. As I said, the 'brick' was buried (here unearthed by myself, for preventing its destruction by scrapping) and only the top emerges.

@ Larry: I will 'digest' later your info's. I made some matching in 'them and now' style, also with aerial recce photo's which may be of some interest.
Attached is the sole remaining German shelter (D21) where I will present a static display during the Airshow (23-24/06/12).

Bye for now.

ClinA-78

[Jaap Woortman]

This type of 'reflective' stone was standard used at every 'Fliegerhorst' in the Netherlands.

Jaap Woortman

[ClinA-78]

Hello Jaap,

Is this device has a name?

Anyone interested in Florennes airbase history should visit us during the airshow (23-24/06/12). here is the link : http://www.florennes-airshow-2012.be...0&Hauteur=1050

All the best

ClinA-78