Bf 109 G-6's at Luftpark Maniago, October 1944 ?

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Hi there gang,

I've just uploaded three more machines which W.Nr. can be ascertained thanks to their Stammkennzeichen, photographed upon delivery to II. Gruppo Caccia ANR, in October 1944.

W.Nr. 163 585
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...in/photostream

W.Nr. 163 599:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...in/photostream

W.Nr. 163 803:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...in/photostream

Were the pictures taken at the Luftpark Maniago or Thiene airfield, near Vicenza?

Thanks in advance
Marc

[ouidjat]

Hi Marc,

The good link for 163803 is the following: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2809206...n/photostream/
I had them in Cascina Vaga .... which doesn't mean a lot.

Franck.

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Salut Franck,

Link Corrected! Thanks for your location indication. Maybe Ferdinando or Nick can bring his knowledge to bear for establishing the exact location;-))

Cheers
Marc

[veltro]

All three aircraft were photographed at Cascina Vaga (Pavia) airfield in early June 1944, being part of the first batch of ten Bf 109 G-6s arrived at the airfield on 30 May starting from Erding via Osoppo. Eight more arrived the following day through the same route.

For more details and a complete listing of the W.Nr. involved, you can check my book on the ANR Cam. & Markings (pagg. 109 and 166).

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Grazie mille di nuovo, Ferdinando!

That's the ONE book of you I don't have... Running off to see if there are any used ones on the net;-))

W.Nr. 163 803 is especially interesting for me as it reflects the original camouflage of its sisterships in the Mtt production line W.Nr 163 804, 163 806 and 163 808 which were among the batch of 12 machines delivered between May 20 - 23 1944 to the Swiss Air Force, in exchange for the destruction of the infamous Bf 110 G-4 C9+EN piloted by Oblt. Johnen on 28 April 1944.

Thanks again
Marc

[ouidjat]

Hi Dears,

I own you an explanation about my sentence: "...Which doesn't mean a lot".
Effectively, when Ferdinando did put one of the three picture in line times ago place indication was Cascina Vaga. At that time I wasn't living in Italie.
Since then I've discovered that there more than 30 Cascine between Here and Vercelli for example. For not talking about the whole Italy...
Roughly means Farm!
But these farms are Huge down there, look like hamlets if not small villages.

Yesterday, when writing it I thought yes but where in fact?? Could be everywhere in Italia ... Like Kirchdorf in Austria for example (see Cham thread)

So, thank you for the precision.

Tschüss, Franck.

[veltro]

Cascina Vaga was an old airfield that disappeared completely after the war.

I know it well since I used its area as a gather point for the reunion of 2° Gruppo Caccia pilots and members which I organized back in 1989 and which saw all those incredible boys reunited together for the first (and unique) time.

It is a memory that I still cherish...

Here it is a map where the former airfield area (no runways, only grass surface) is evidenced...

P.S. the area is east of Stradella and south-south-east of Arena Po

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Grazie tanto Ferdinando,

Cheers
Marc

[ouidjat]

AH

Yes. In fact we are lucky since when you google "Cascina Vaga" this is the only answer.
You can imagine the size of Vaga "farm" just looking this aerial view. I've been there at the end of last summer; since there is no more airfield as you said, I's not sure.

Salve, Franck.

[eneargd]

ortofoto del 1989 CASCINA VAGA