flugplatz Lemonsky

[Larry deZeng]

You are right, Oquaig. After Germany reacquired Memel on 22 March 1939, it remained in German hands until 28 January 1945. I had forgotten that it was not part of eastern Poland that had been annexed by the USSR at the end of September 1939. There were so many territorial changes in Europe from the end of World War I to the end of World War II that it is a struggle to keep them all straight.

L.

[oquaig]

Well, I have done an extensive search in Memlland and western Lithuania and Latvia and found nothing. I have read through the war diary for 291 Infantry Division and the siege of Liepaja and came up with this: Liepaja airfield was taken by the division on 24 June at 14.40 hrs. The near by village of Grobina was being shelled by 210 mm and 280 mm shore batteries from the Soviet held port. The division reported Ju88's bombing the port at 22.00hrs on 24 June and again at 22.15 hrs on 25 June. A report on the airfield stated that the airfield was only half finished and that 3000 men (Reich Arbeits Dienst ?) were being brought up by trucks to complete the job... so no one was using the field.


Now I have noticed that most of II./JG 53's movements have been in tandem with those of I./JG 54. When I./JG 54 moved to Jacobpils in 1.7.41, II./JG 53 had moved there (to Keuzberg on the north side of the Dvina, where the airfield was) the day before. They both moved to Gulbene on 5.7.41. On 10.7.41 I./JG 54 moves to Korovje Selo and II./JG 53 moves to Kapovo (Ostrov-Nord). On 16.7.41 we find II./JG 53 at Korovje Selo with I./JG 54. So assuming they were moving in tandem all along I began my search at Siauliai where I./JG 54 arrived on 26.6.41. I searched villages, towns, street names and even names of Hotels. The main airfield for Siauliai is on the SE corner of the town. 20 km further to the SE past Radvilliskis is a small airfield next to the forest, hamlet and train station of Linkaiciai. Assuming that most Germans are not fluent in Lithuanian, so this might be our “Lemonsky”, or not.


The pattern fits. The operational radius of the Bf 109F-2 would allow them to fly out to Liepaja then up the coast as far as Cape Kolka via the Irbe strait, fly through Riga bay and back to Siauliai. I have no idea what route they may have taken. All I know is that they were patroling the coast and they didn't find anyone to shoot down.


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