Rjelbitzi airfield

[CJE]

Did any of you identify this airfield (current name) used by JG 54 in 1942?
If I refer to Jochen Prien's maps, it could be Kuklino, north of Dno.
Thanks.

Chris

[Laurent Rizzotti]

For me the place called Rjelbitzi by the Germans is this one:
http://www.maplandia.com/russia/novg...yon/rel-bitsy/

It is just some km away from the only Kuklino I found in Novgorodskaya Oblast.

[CJE]

Merci.

CJE

[Larry deZeng]

Here is some more information:

Rjelbitzy (RUSS) (e. Ryelbitsy) (c. 58 04 00 N – 30 05 00 E)
General: landing ground in NW Russia 26 km N of Dno, 15 km WSW of Soltsy and 3.25 km E of the village of Ploskovo on the N bank of the Shelon River. History: in use by the Luftwaffe from Sep 41 to Feb 44. After heavy use in Sep 41, it was used primarily as a satellite of the larger and more developed airfield at nearby Soltsy. Surface and Dimensions: grass surface. Infrastructure: no information, but not thought to be much more than a few sheds and accommodation huts.
Operational Units: Stab, I., 9./KG 2 (Sep 41); III./KG 3 (Sep 41); 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 11 (Sep 41); Verbindungsstaffel 53 (Sep 41); I./JG 51 (Apr-May 42); III./KG 6 (Sep 42); JG 54 (Feb 43).
Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 3/IV ( ? – Jan 44).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): none identified.

Very few details on the Luftwaffe's airfields in the former USSR are available due to the destruction of records at the end of the war and the inability of the Western Allies to fly reconnaissance missions over the Eastern Front.

L.

[CJE]

Thanks Larry. Quite helpful.

Chris

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Larry, you wrote that JG 54 was based there in Feb 1943. I have at least 11 total losses of JG 54 (Stab, II. and III. Gruppe) on this airfield between March 1942 and November 1942, mostly landing/take-off accidents but also one destroyed by Soviet bombers on the ground. So I guess JG 54 used extensively this airfield during 1942 too.

[Larry deZeng]

Laurent -

Yes, in and out on an almost constant basis in Gruppe, Staffel, Schwarm and Kette strength. But they were not really based there permanently. JG 54's primary station was at Siverskaya and a few others. Ryelbitsy was basically a pit stop landing ground for gas, ammo and short term occupancy. It lacked the infrastructure necessary to support a Gruppe or Staffel over the long term.

L.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks for the clarification Larry