Luftwaffe Airfield Administration

[Broncazonk]

Here is a big multi-part question!

In this hypothetical scenario, Stab./JG 20 and I./JG 20 are deployed to a new, vacant airfield.

1) Who/what is the Gruppenkommandeur in command of? The pilots only? The pilots and ground crews only?

2) Who commanded airfield/runway operations? Supply and logistics? The mess hall? Base security?

Was the Gruppenkommandeur responsible for all of these functions or were there other officers *outside of his chain of command* that were responsible?

Thanks!

Bronc

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Broncazonk

Here is a big multi-part question!

In this hypothetical scenario, Stab./JG 20 and I./JG 20 are deployed to a new, vacant airfield.

1) Who/what is the Gruppenkommandeur in command of? The pilots only? The pilots and ground crews only?

Both.

2) Who commanded airfield/runway operations? Supply and logistics? The mess hall? Base security?

The Fliegerhorstkommandant in the event a Fliegerhorstkommandantur or a subordinate satellite had arrived there to run, operate, manage the airfield.

Was the Gruppenkommandeur responsible for all of these functions or were there other officers *outside of his chain of command* that were responsible?

There were 4 types or categories of subordination within the Wehrmacht: (1) Administrative), (2) Tactical, (3) Disciplinary, and (4) Housekeeping (i.e., supplies of all types and billeting). So our hypothetical Gruppenkommandeur could have 4 different chains of command. These were subject to frequent change, especially during a campaign.

Thanks!

Bronc

L.

[Broncazonk]

Thank you, Larry!

Another question or two...

1) Who was in overall command of the airfield; was a single person in command of everyone, including the Gruppenkommandeur? (Hypothetical: the runway is always a mess (and full of potholes) and planes keep crashing on takeoff and landing. The Gruppenkommandeur has made several complaints to the officer in charge of airfield operations, but nothing is changing. How did that get sorted out?

2) The Gruppenkommandeur needed a certain amount of Avgas to train pilots and conduct operations. Avgas was always in short supply. Did the Gruppenkommandeur complain *to his chain of command* to get gas, or was Avgas allocated/controlled by the supply/logistics officer chain of command and was basically always outside of his influence?

Bronc

[Larry deZeng]

G'Day Bronc,

To your 1): This sounds like a common scenario during offensive operations as the Luftwaffe moved forward. The chain-of-command for establishing airfields, staffing them and maintaining them was from top-to-bottom: Luftflotte (tactical) > Luftgau (administrative) > Luftgaustab z.b.V. (logistics) > Kommando Flughafenbereich (Koflug) (logistics) > Fliegerhorstkommandantur or Flugplatzkommando (logistics). In the event the Gruppenkommandantur could not get the Fliegerhorstkommandant to take care of the runway, the Gruppenkommandeur would complain loudly up the tactical chain-of-command that operations were being affected as more and more aircraft were becoming unserviceable due to runway conditions. It was then incumbent for his tactical bosses to bring pressure to bear on the Luftgaustab z.b.V. and/or the Koflug to made available the construction personnel and equipment necessary to fix the runway and to do so machts schnell!

To your 2): aviation fuel came through the logistical chain-of-command but the tactical commands and headquarters determined the day-to-day requirements that were then passed to the appropriate Luftgaustab z.b.V. These controlled the flow of aviation fuel into the forward area by rail and tanker trucks and the setting up of fuel dumps and the means of distribution by Flugbetriebstoffkolonnen (fuel columns) to the airfields.

Source:
(British) Air Ministry. The Organisation of the German Air Force. S.D. 431. SECRET. January 1943. Pages 10, 41-44.

Hope this helps!

L.

[Broncazonk]

Thank you, Larry, I really appreciate it.

Bronc