Stendal Airfield August 6, 1944

[blythsco]

Hello All

What is the significance of the letter markings on this photo? It appears to be "FDb". There is also what appears to be a crucifix shape marking on the lower left of the airfield and am curious as to what that signifies. The photo is best viewed in large or original size.

Stendal Airfield Germany August 6, 1944 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Thanks

Scott

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Scott,

It should be read as FD6 which is the map quadrant of a German Gradnetz-map system > Stendal was in the quadrant FD, in there the 6th of nine subquadrants.

See more on: http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/jg26/gradnetz.htm

Best wishes, Marcel Hogenhuis
www.fliegerhorst-venlo.net

[blythsco]

Thanks Marcel. That was pretty much what I was looking for.

Best Regards
Scott Blyth

[Snautzer]

Why would the usaaf use Gradnetz-map system? Didnt they use the Greenwich geographic coordinate system?

[Jaap Woortman]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

Why would the Usaaf use Gradnetz-map system? Didnt they use the Greenwich geographic coordinate system?

USAAF? Never know that the USAAF was already at Stendal airfield at August 6th, 1944! Do we have to rewrite the history of WWII?
I don't think so, this system was used by the Luftwaffe in 1944 to show the postion of an airfield. Like Marcel explained.
So this had nothing to do with USAAF.

Jaap

[blythsco]

It was probably also a good way for the PR people to verify that the photos are of the correct airfield. I don't recall seeing these Gradnetz-map system markings on all of my airfield shots but am doing a review.

Scott

[Christer Engdahl]

There is also what appears to be a crucifix shape marking on the lower left of the airfield and am curious as to what that signifies.

I believe it's a "landing-T", signifying the direction to land and is positioned close to the threshold. It was/is common on round shaped airfields where one always wanted to take-off and land into wind. If the left half of the horizontal bar is folded, use right hand circuit. If the right half of the horizontal bar is folded, use left hand circuit. As it is, the decision is down to the pilot.

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi!

Were these markings more or less permanent features? Or were they there for a short period of time while the Luftwaffe were surveying their own airfields, and this recce Spit was there at a lucky moment?

Regards,
Andreas B

[Christer Engdahl]

Were these markings more or less permanent features?

If you're referring to the landing-T, it was not permanent but moved around according to wind direction. It was probably not there when no flying took place but I don't know.

[Jaap Woortman]

Originally Posted by Andreas Brekken

Hi!

Were these markings more or less permanent features? Or were they there for a short period of time while the Luftwaffe were surveying their own airfields, and this recce Spit was there at a lucky moment?

Regards,
Andreas B

Andreas,

The location code is only seen by us at several airfields in the Netherlands
during the spring and summer of 1944. And not only at Fliegerhorste.
Here the code at Einsatzhafen Woensdrecht at May 24th, 1944.
The Dutch text in the picture means: location fixing and was added by me.
It has not been used any more after the bombardments in July and August 1944.
We think that it was used to help the pilots to fix their position.

Jaap