Which Bettola where Stab/JG 77 based?

[Kurtl12]

Stab/JG 77 was based at Bettola/Italy from 30.6. - 24.8.1944. I checked at Google Maps and found at least 5 different Bettolas at northern italy. Which one is the right? Thanks for your help!

[veltro]

AFAIK, the Bettola you are referring at should be a locality just NW Lonato del Garda, on the SW corner of the lake.

[Nick Beale]

Take a look at the entry for 30 June 1944 on this page. You'll see it refers to other places near the airfiled where pilots etc. were accommodated. Those place names should help confirm which Bettola is the right one.

[veltro]

Quoting Nick's document, Castel Drugolo (where the officer's of Stab./JG 77 were billeted) is less than 3 km NE of Bettola, the one I indicated in my previous post...

[Larry deZeng]

Bettola (ITAL) (a.k.a. Sedena) (45 29 15 N – 10 27 05 E)
General: landing ground in N Italy 19.5 km ESE of Brescia, 7 km WNW of Desenzano sul Garda, approx. 2.4 km N of the Brescia-Desenzano main road and railway, 1.6 km W of the village of Sedena and 1.2 km N of the village of Bettola.
History: construction of a landing ground here dates from early June 1944. It was never developed much beyond an alternative landing ground, as evidenced by the fact that it never had its own airfield detachment and was simply looked after by a tiny custodial unit.
Dimensions: approx. 1465 x 730 meters (1600 x 800 yards) with an irregular shape.
Surface and Runways: agricultural land, the south portion of which was in the process of being leveled in July 1944. At the same time, a prepared strip was in an advanced stage of leveling on the north portion of the landing ground with a final probable length of approx. 1005 meters (1100 yards) and width of 190 meters (210 yards) when completed, and having a NNE/SSW alignment.
Infrastructure: none in Jul 44. Nearest rail connection at Lonato, 4.5 km to the SE of the landing ground.
Dispersal: no organized dispersals.
Remarks: none.
Operational Units: Stab/JG 77 (30 Jun – 24 Aug 44).
Station Commands: Wachkdo. of Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 207/VII Ghedi I (Dec 44 - Apr 45).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): none identified.
[Sources: AFHRA A5262 p.1365 (22 Aug 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

It would be interesting to know what role this landing ground played after August 1944.

L.

[veltro]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

It would be interesting to know what role this landing ground played after August 1944.

As a matter of fact, none.

After the LW fighter units left Italy by September 1944, such landing ground was never used neither by the Italian fighter units, nor by the German surviving recce and night attack units in Italy.

BTW, the presence of Ghedi and Villafranca airfield in the area was probably more than enough for the necessities...

[Larry deZeng]

Thanks, Ferdinando. I thought that was the case, but your confirmation makes it certain.

L.

[Kurtl12]

Gentlemen, now it is clear. Thank you all for your perfect help! Kurtl

[maxjvb]

I live close bettoa and is impossible to see remains of dispersal or hangars, all was destroyed at the end of war