Flak around Airfields?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Searched the JG 26 diaries but the Flak defences are not described in details, contrary to my memory. Size and installations of airfields are but for Flak in fall 1944, there are indications for two airfields:

_ one has "at least three Flak towers".

_ the other has "5 Flak towers, main weapon being 20mm".

[cheesey]

Hello.

You may be interested in the following Flak protection provided for Jersey Airport during the German occupation of that island, 1940 - 1945. As you may know German forces occupied the British Channel Islands during this period and they became the most heavily defended part of Hitlers Atlantic Wall.

Jersey alone had 100+ light Flak guns and around 36+ 88mm weapons! Guernsey had a similar number.

The following list is correct for late 1944 when all units were frozen in position after the invasion of the continent.

10 Batterie/364 Gemischt Flak Abteilung (Mixed AA Unit)

I Zug (Platoon).
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Rear of St.Peter,s Arsenal approx half mile south east of field.

II Zug.
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Above Mont a la Brune approx quarter mile south west of field.

III Zug.
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Mont de la Mare just north of field.

IV Zug.
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Top of Jubilee Hill just north east of field.

V Zug.
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Southern perimeter of field.

In addition to these light defences against low flying enemy aircraft there existed the following heavy batteries nearby.

1 Batterie/364 Gem Flak Abt.
6 x 8.8cm Flak 36/37
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Also equipped with Radar!
La Moye Point approx 2 miles south west of field.

2 Batterie/364 Gem Flak Abt.
6 x 8.8cm Flak 36/37
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Les Gellettes approx 1 mile east of field directly on flight approach path to airport. The remains of this battery are now open to the public. Check this link. www.jerseywartunnels.com/Content/facilities/war_trail.aspx

3 Batterie/364 Gem Flak Abt.
6 x 8.8cm Flak 36/37
3 x 2cm Flak 38
Radar.
Mont Rossignol approx quarter mile north of field.

As you can see, pretty heavily defended for such a little used airfield. Hope this helps? I think that the light flak set-up was pretty standard for most ordinary fields.

Steve.

[F10_Chainsaw]

Thank You wery much Steve and Laurent Rizzotti for the info that You shared,

Especially the info You had Stev, very detailed. thank You wery much

[J Hutchinson]

Peter, VERY interesting.

[pstrany]

Hi;
according to "Me 262" Vol. 3 (Classic Pub.)

...the Germans surrounded the airfields with anti-aircraft guns; Rheine, for example, had 160 quadruple 20 mm cannon positioned on its east-west runway..." (referring to defending jets against attacks from Allied fighters while taking off and landing.)

Ouch!

Paul

[pstrany]

Per "Me 262" Vol 3 by Smith/Creek (Classic Pubs);

"...To counter this (Allied air patrols over German airfields) the Germans surrounded the airfields with anti-aircraft guns; Rheine, for example, had 160 quadruple 20 mm cannon positioned on its east-west runway..."

Ouch!

Paul

[F10_Chainsaw]

Wasnt that uniqe for ME262 airfields?