ALG R-10 Illesheim

[riffraff]

I'm trying to confirm which USAAF units might have used this airfield in the final weeks of the war.

ALG R-10 was a Luftwaffe training, repair, and depot facility and was captured ~ 14 April 45.

Reportedly minimally damaged and put into service and designated R-10. I've not yet found when it received this designation (pre-planned or once the field became operational?)

I'm familiar with P-47s arriving there in early May and have undated photos showing B-26s, P-47s, and a few C-47s present.

Reportedly C-47s were based there in the final weeks of the war -- flying in supplies/evacuating wounded but I've not yet found anything to confirm this.

The airfield airfield has been in continuous US military use since its capture (ALG R-10 until 1947 and Stork Barracks/Illesheim AAF while in US Army use.

Any suggestions on where I might find reports indicating when the field was put into USAAF use?

[SteveB]

Hi

A book "Support and Strike" by John Hamlin provides a brief history of the 9AAF. In an order of battle for 8 May 1945 he lists 48FG and 362FG based at Illesheim. I don't see mention of B-26 or C-47 units.

Steve

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I doubt C-47 were based in Germany before the end of the war, but they certainly landed in captured airfields to bring in supplies and evacuate wounded and liberated POWs.

[Ted51abcdk]

Gentlemen:
There were at least 3 Groups that used this field. The Field went Operational on 17 April 1945. The following are the fighter Groups that used the Field early on:
48FG 29 April 1945 to 5 July 1945
362FG 3 May 1945 to 12 May 1945
373FG 20 May 1945 to July 1945

Hope that this helps a little.
Ted51