Help please with base for 5./SKG 210 - October 1941

[Tim O.]

Hi all

I have failed to identify the airfield beginning with 'K' perhaps(?), apparently used by 5./SKG 210 between 20th October 1941 (after leaving Seshchinskaya) and 11th November 1941 (when they moved to Orel).

I would be delighted if someone could identify this location, shown in the attached scan from a Flugbuch.

Thanks for any help.

[Rasmussen]

I'd say it's Kirow --- maybe: 54° 05' N, 34° 19 E. Was occupied by German troops on 04 October 1941 --- would fit with the timeframe in the logbook.

[Rottler]

Hello Tim,

the place is Kirow.

Regards
Leo

[Tim O.]

Thank you very much Rasmussen and Rottler - that is perfect. I thought it said that but I kept being led to another Kirov (by Google), which is too far east of Moscow, so thanks very much for the coordinates.

[Larry deZeng]

Tim O.,

During offensive operations, ground support units were more often than not divided up so Staffeln, Schwärme and Ketten operated from widely scattered airfields for short periods. I think your 5. Staffel was using Kirov but was not stationed there in the true sense of that word. These scattered operating elements were often accompanied by a few servicing personnel but not by maintenance personnel. For maintenance and repair work, the aircraft would have had to be flown back to the Gruppe base at Shaikovka during this time frame.


Kirow (RUSS) (a.k.a. Kirov) (ZNr. 10-3522) (c. 54 04 N – 34 18 E)
General: landing ground (Landeplatz) in W Russia 93 km N of Bryansk, 96 km E of Roslavl and 42 km SSE of Spas-Demensk and 5 km SSW of Kirov town center just E of the village of Pokrov. The very wide Bolva River ran just 750 meters W of the landing ground. No record found of Luftwaffe air units being based here, but see below under Remarks. Surface and Dimensions: natural surface of unstated dimensions.
Remarks:
20 Oct 41: Flugbuch entries show 5./SKG 210 using this LG and continuing to used it into early November, but this does not necessarily mean it was based here.
[Sources: chronologies; AFHRA, BA-MA; NARA incl. T-321 roll 239/OKL 903; OKL Flugplatzatlas; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

II./SKG 210
........snippet..........
6 Sep 41: 5.St. Bf 110E-1 damaged during enemy air raid on Fp. Seshchinskaya, 40%.
17 Sep 41: Gruppe flew an attack on Dugino airfield between Vyazma and Rzhev with elements of KG 3 and escorted by I./JG 51.1
30 Sep 41: 4.St. Bf 110D-1 crashed at Novgorod Severski, 100%, 3 KIA.
12 Oct 41: 2 Bf 110s from 6. Staffel failed to return from operations around Medyn/NNW of Kaluga, 100%, both crews MIA although one crew later made their way back to German control.
15 Oct 41: Gruppe moved to Shaikovka/80 km WSW of Moscow and near Yukhnov.
21 Oct 41: Gruppe at Shaikovka.
6 Nov 41: Gruppe transferred to Orel-West.
13 Nov 41: 5.St. Bf 110E-2 damaged in belly landing at Orel-West, 10%.
Dec 41: Gruppe operating under Nahkampfführer 2/VIII. Fliegerkorps and supported ground forces withdrawing west of Moscow.1
16 Dec 41: 3 Bf 110E-2/E-6s (S9+BM,VM,MN) failed to return from operations around Livny/ESE of Orel, 100%, all 3 crews reported MIA.
28 Dec 41: Gruppe at Orel-West with 38(11) Bf 110s.
2 Jan 42: Gruppe moved from Orel to Bryansk.
4 Jan 42: Bf 110C-4 crash landed at Fp. Bryansk, 75%, pilot KIA.
4 Jan 42: Gruppe renamed II./ZG 1 at Bryansk.

L.

[Tim O.]

Thank you Larry for the comprehensive information. I have been using your excellent book on ground attack units as a reference and it has been very useful!

[Larry deZeng]

Thank you, Tim O., glad to be of help!

Larry deZ.

[John Vasco]

Tim,
You may also find this useful:


Otto Atz was with 5./SKG 210, and as you can see, he has itemised all the bases for his Staffel. As Larry says further up this thread, at any one time, several bases would be used, some as 'jumping-off' grounds for missions.

Hope this helps.

[John Vasco]

Correction to Larry's post #5 above.

On 16th December 1941, two 'E-2's were lost (+BM & +VM) and one 'C-6' (not E-6) S9+MN.

[Tim O.]

Thank you John. I am using a number of your excellent books as well. They have been invaluable for tracking this unit.