Bases used by Aufkl.Gr.(H)21 during French Campaign

[Mikael Olrog]

Hi Larry,

Thanks for your reply! Yes I know that a short range reconnaissance unit like this would hop from field to field. Attached is a photo that shows that it must have been some sort of airfield rather than "any" field. There's a Ju 52 as well present in another view. In the distance, to the left of the hangar, I think there is a Ju 88 judging by the shape of the fin and that sleek fuselage. The fuselage code of the Hs 126 appear to be P2+??.

But I guess it could be just about anywhere!

Best regards
/Mike

[Larry deZeng]

I agree, Mike. That's an established airfield with a nice hangar and some other buildings to the right of it. It looks like there is a downward sloping roll out in front of the hangar and that is distinctive enough to hopefully allow someone here to identify it.

Larry

[Rémi Baudru]

Hi,

I am only 90% sure of my answer, but for me, the hangar, buldings and the landscape looks like that of the airfield of Tournes-Belval, 5 kilometers west of Charleville-Mézières in France (département des Ardennes).

Best regards from France.

Rémi

[Larry deZeng]

As R.B. says, it might be.


Charleville (FR) (a.k.a. Charleville-Mézières, Belval, Tournes-Belval) (49 48 02 N – 04 38 46 E)
General: landing ground in E France 75 km NE of Reims; airfield 6.5 km NW of Charleville and 1.6 km NE of the village of Belval. History: an old French airfield that was used by the Luftwaffe during the May-June 1940 campaign but very little after that until summer 1944. Surface and Dimensions: good grass surface measuring approx. 1100 x 915 meters (1200 x 1000 yards) and roughly rectangular in shape. No paved runway. Fuel and Ammunition: there was a refueling point on the W boundary. On the W boundary were 3 small huts protected by blast walls and these were probably used for ammunition storage. Infrastructure: had 1 small hangar and 2 small workshops on the W boundary, and these were heavily camouflaged with netting. Limited barrack accommodations were at the NW corner. The Charleville rail line ran along the N boundary. Dispersal: no organized dispersal facilities. Defenses: none identified.
Satellites and Decoys:
Belval – Ham-les-Moines (c. 49 47 50 N – 04 34 42 E), dummy 5.25 km WNW of Charleville landing ground.
Remarks:
11 May 44: bombed by 9th AAF medium bombers.
Operational Units: 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (May 40); I./JG 1 (May 40); Stab, I./JG 27 (May 40); I./JG 52 (May 40); Stab/JG 53 (May 40); II./JG 53 (May-Jun 40); I./ZG 52 (May-Jun 40); I./JG 76 (May-Jun 40); 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. Ob.d.L. (May-Jun 40); Stab/Fliegerzielgeschwader 2 (Feb-Apr 44)?; Stab, 1., 3./NAGr. 13 (Aug 44); 4.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (Aug 44).
Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 23/XI (1940-41)?; Fl.Pl.Kdo. C 82/XI (Jan 43 – Mar 44); Flugplatzkdo. Charleville of Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 228/XI Laon-Athies (Apr-Aug 44); Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 234/XI (Sep 44).
Station Units (on various dates and includes the town of Charleville – not complete): Koflug Charleville (later Koflug 7/VI) (Jun 40 – Jan 41); Flugmelde-Funk-Kp. z.b.V. 32 (mid-43 – Nov 43); III./Ln.-Ausb.Rgt. 301 (c.mid-43 – Aug 44); Stab/Ln.-Ausb.Rgt. 302 (summer 42 – Mar 43).
[Sources: AFHRA A5260 p.1731 (5 May 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

L.