Wevelgem flugplatz (the German story)

[Arneken]

German pilots had to take of from Airfields in occupied Europe. One of those Airfields was Wevelgem (sometimes refferred to as being Bissegem/Bissegem - Wevelgem.)

Erprobungsgruppe 210 were among the first to land at Wevelgem after the Belgium Airforce had retreated from the airstrip.

Second to land at Wevelgem was JagdGeschwader 26.

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

* Hptm. Werner Palm, 1.5.39 - 27.6.39
* Hptm Herwig Knüppel, 28.6.39 - 19.5.40
* Hptm Karl Ebbighausen (acting), 29.5.40 - 31.5.40
* Hptm. Erich Noack, 1.6.40 - 24.7.40
* Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 25.7.40 - 16.8.40
* Hptm Erich Bode, 17.8.40 - 3.10.40
* Hptm Walter Adolph, 3.10.40 - 18.9.41
* Hptm Jochen Müncheberg, 19.9.41 - 21.7.42
* Hptm Karl-Heinz Meyer, 22.7.42 - 2.1.43
* Maj Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, 3.1.43 - 17.8.43
* Hptm Hans Naumann, 18.8.43 - 8.9.43
* Obstlt Johannes Seifert, 9.9.43 - 25.11.43
* Maj Wilhelm Gäth, 26.11.43 - 1.3.44
* Hptm Hans Naumann, 2.3.44 - 28.6.44
* Hptm Emil Lang, 29.6.44 - 3.9.44
* Hptm Georg Peter Eder, 4.9.44 - 8.10.44
* Maj Anton Hackl, 9.10.44 - 29.1.45
* Obstlt Waldemar Radener, 30.1.45 - 22.2.45
* Hptm Paul Schauder, 23.2.45 - 1.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Bönninghardt from II./JG132 with:

Stab II./JG26 from Stab II./JG132
4./JG26 from 4./JG132
5./JG26 from 5./JG132
6./JG26 from 6./JG132

On 1.10.43 increased to 4 staffeln:

5./JG26 from the old 4./JG26
6./JG26 from the old 5./JG26
7./JG26 from the old 6./JG26
8./JG26 from the old 10./JG26

8./JG26 was disbanded 15.2.45.


They've been in Wevelgem from 15.10.41 untill 22.12.41.


III. Gruppe:


Gruppenkommandeure:

* Maj Ernst Freiherr von Berg, 1.11.39 - 10.6.40
* Maj Adolf Galland, 11.6.40 - 20.8.40
* Maj Gerhard Schöpfel, 21.8.40 - 5.12.41
* Hptm Josef Priller, 6.12.41 - 10.1.43
* Hptm Fritz Geisshardt, 11.1.43 - 6.4.43
* Hptm Kurt Ruppert, 7.4.43 - 13.6.43
* Hptm Rolf Hermichen, 15.6.43 - 4.7.43
* Maj Klaus Mietusch, 5.7.43 - 17.9.44
* Hptm Paul Schauder, 18.9.44 - 26.9.44
* Hptm Walter Krupinski, 27.9.44 - 25.3.45

Formed 23.9.39 in Werl from parts of I. and II./JG26 with:

Stab III./JG26 new (1.11.39)
7./JG26 new
8./JG26 new
9./JG26 new (1.11.39)

In 1.10.43 increased to 4 staffeln (the old 8./JG26 had been renamed 4./JG26 on 21.9.43):

9./JG26 from the old 7./JG26
10./JG26 from the old 9./JG26
11./JG26
12./JG26

III./JG26 was disbanded on 25.3.45.

They've been in Wevelgem from 7.4.42 untill 14.5.43.



12. Staffel:

Formed 11.4.43 in Wevelgem from parts of III./JG26. Attached to III./JG26 and on 1.10.43 officially became part of III. Gruppe.
For bases, see III./JG26.

Ergänzungsgruppe:
Gruppenkommandeure:

* Olt Baron Hubertus von Holtey, 26.9.40 - 17.5.41
* Hptm Fritz Fromme, 17.5.41 - 27.1.42

Both groups had some succesfull pilots. although the greatest successes where made in Russia and in the desert both Gruppencommandeurs where able to succeed some victories while staying in Wevelgem.The gentlemen called josef "pips" priller took down 101 enemy planes in his fighter career.A short overview of the victims taking off from Wevelgem.

12.4.1942
Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Boulogne Not confirmed 63
12.4.1942
13:45 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 N Gravelines Spitfire of 41 Sqn, RAF 64
16.4.1942
18:26 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5km N Calais Spitfire of 118 or 129 Sqn, RAF 65
25.4.1942
16:54 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 10km W St Étienne - 66
27.4.1942
12:25 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 S Ardres Spitfire of 65 Sqn, RAF 67
27.4.1942
12:30 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 15km NW Gravelines Spitfire of 65 Sqn, RAF 68
28.4.1942
12:00 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Dunkirk-Gravelines Spitfire of 401 Sqn, RAF 69
1.5.1942
19:30 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5km N Calais Spitfire of 457, 485 or 602 Sqn, RAF 70
5.5.1942
15:40 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 11km SW Ypres Spitfire Vb (BM261) of 313 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt Karel Pavlik, killed 71
9.5.1942
13:40 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 3km N Gravelines Spitfire of 118 of 501 Sqn, RAF 72
17.5.1942
11:33 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 S Guines-Audembert Spitfire of 313 Sqn RAF flown by F/Lt Stanislav Fejfar (5.833/1/3 victories) 73
1.6.1942
13:45 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5km N Blankenberghe Spitfire of 350 Sqn, RAF 74
22.6.1942
12:10 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 30km N Gravelines Spitfire of 64 Sqn, RAF 75
15.7.1942
15:38 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 8km NE Dover Spitfire of 402 Sqn, RAF -
30.7.1942
19:00 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Gravelines Not confirmed 76
21.8.1942
11:10 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 50km N Gravelines - 77
29.8.1942
11:46 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 15km NW Cap Gris Nez - 78
9.10.1942
10:35 B-24 Stab III./JG 26 SW Roubaix-Wevelgem B-17 “Snoozy II” of 367 BS, 306 BG, USAAF flown by Capt John Olsen 79
4.12.1942
14:40 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 20km N Calais Spitfire of 401 or 402 Sqn, RAF 80
6.12.1942
12:10 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5-6km S Lille - 81
20.12.1942
12:01 B-17 Stab III./JG 26 Baie de la Seine B-17 of 91 BG, USAAF 82
20.1.1943
12:35 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 N Canterbury Spitfire of 332 Sqn, RAF 83
8.3.1943
14:15 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 8km NW St Valery-en-Cause Spitfire of 340 Sqn, RAF 84
5.4.1943
15:12 B-17 Stab/JG 26 20km W Ostend B-17 of 306 BG, USAAF 85
4.5.1943
18:42 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 Westerschelde-NW Antwerp - 86
13.5.1943
16:24 B-17 Stab/JG 26 Near Amplier-5km E Boulogne B-17 of 91 BG, USAAF 87
13.5.1943
16:46 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 5km NW Étaples Spitfire of 416 Sqn, RAF

Hauptmann Joachim Müncheberg did even better shooting down 135 enemy planes.A short overview from his actions taking off in Wevelgem:

13.10.1941
14:33SpitfireStab II./JG 26Samer-58
8.11.1941
13:07SpitfireStab II./JG 26Loon PlageSpitfire of Digby Wg or 412 Sqn, RAF59
8.11.1941
13:15SpitfireStab II./JG 26NNE DunkirkSpitfire of Digby Wg or 412 Sqn, RAF60
8.12.1941
14:17SpitfireStab II./JG 26W Boulogne-61
16.12.1941
16:01SpitfireStab II./JG 26NW DunkirkSpitfire of 411 Sqn, RAF62
16.12.1941
16:04SpitfireStab II./JG 26N GravelinesSpitfire of 411 Sqn, RAF63
13.3.1942
16:17SpitfireStab II./JG 26Wirre EffroySpitfire of 124 Sqn, RAF64
24.3.1942
16:30SpitfireStab II./JG 26NW Rue-CambronSpitfire of 412 Sqn, RAF65
24.3.1942
16:35SpitfireStab II./JG 26CambronSpitfire of 412 Sqn, RAF66
4.4.1942
11:46SpitfireStab II./JG 26W Calais-67

17:50SpitfireStab II./JG 26NW EtaplesSpitfire of 340 Sqn, RAF68
25.4.1942
16:40SpitfireStab II./JG 26SW Crécy-69
25.4.1942
16:43SpitfireStab II./JG 26SW Rue-70
26.4.1942
18:05SpitfireStab II./JG 26WNW CalaisSpitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF71
26.4.1942
18:06SpitfireStab II./JG 2610km W Cap Gris NezSpitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF72
27.4.1942
14:47SpitfireStab II./JG 26NE DunkirkSpitfire of Tangmere Wg or 340 Sqn, RAF73
27.4.1942
16:06SpitfireStab II./JG 26N MardyckSpitfire of 303 Sqn, RAF74
29.4.1942
16:04SpitfireStab II./JG 26Le TouquetSpitfire of Northolt Wg or 317 Sqn, RAF75
30.4.1942
19:36SpitfireStab II./JG 26W Somme EstuarySpitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF76
1.5.1942
19:31SpitfireStab II./JG 26SW CalaisSpitfire of 122 or 222 Sqn, RAF-
1.5.1942
19:40SpitfireStab II./JG 265km N Calaisnot confirmed77
6.5.1942
18:53SpitfireStab II./JG 26NW Cap Gris NezSpitfire of 303 Sqn, RAF-
9.5.1942
13:43SpitfireStab II./JG 2615km S GravelinesSpitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF / not confirmed-
9.5.1942

13:44SpitfireStab II./JG 2615km S GravelinesSpitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF / not confirmed-
17.5.1942
17:35SpitfireStab II./JG 26Guines-St Omernot confirmed78
31.5.1942
19:37SpitfireStab II./JG 26S Crécy ForestSpitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF79
31.5.1942
19:41SpitfireStab II./JG 26Quend Plage les PinsSpitfire of 302 Sqn, RAF80
2.6.1942
11:01SpitfireStab II./JG 26SW AbbevilleSpitfire of 403 Sqn, RAF81
2.6.1942
11:07SpitfireStab II./JG 2615km W ÉtaplesSpitfire of 403 Sqn, RAF82
20.6.1942
15:44SpitfireStab II./JG 26S ArdresSpitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF83
20.6.1942
15:47SpitfireStab II./JG 26E BoulogneSpitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF


As the Germans where fond of fooling the Raf (RFC) in WW1 they made a wooden airfield not far from the real one. Unfortanatly for the germans the British never bombed the place. After ww1 only a bunker remained as a lonely surviver. In ww2 the Germans used the bunker to coordinate Flak.




more pictures can be found here:Wevelgem dummy airfield
(although the info on that site isn't really accurate.)

Some Airplanes didn't made it back save and were shot down:

ImageShack - Hosting :: imag2146ui6.jpg
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/215/imag2148vt5.th.jpg
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7...2151fy8.th.jpg

This crashsite is 10 meters from the airfield. In the background (of the first picture) you can see the buildings of the industrialpark surrounding the airfield.

Already in 1940 this Blenheim lost the battle against a Me-109 and crashed not in Moorsele after being shot above Wevelgem.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/9...2154xv9.th.jpg

This is what I could currently find online about the German Side of the story. I do hope to find more off the period 1943-1944.

greetings Arne(ken)

[Njaco]

Great stuff, Arn! Nice pic. Didn't know about the dummy airfield.

[ccheese]

Lots of good info, there, Arne. Thanks for posting..

Charles

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Very cool. I crewed helicopters out of an Old WW2 Airfield here in Germany for about 6 years.

[Arneken]

Thanks for the reactions mates.
Here are some pics I scanned from a book I own.


Some aeroplanes of the III/JG 26. On the one below you see the arrival of 'pips'.


A groupsfoto of some of the German pilots.Here are the names from left to right:
Uffz. Walter died 28.1.1943
Feldwebel Edmann died 21.3.1944
Oberfw Martin died in june 1988
Felbwebel Latka died 3.11.1943
Feldwebel Hager missing 13.8.1944
Oberfw Kalitzki crashed 29.4.1944
Oberfw Heitmann died in 1986
Sitting in the chair Oblt Geburtig. he flew with a FW190 to England where he landed. he became POW. The German court ordered his death.

this picture was made in the summer of 1942. impressive to see is that only 2 pilotes will survive the war, one became POW and was later trialled to death (I suppose 'cause the book doesn't say anything about the result eventually)


Erprobungsgruppe 210 were among the first to land at Wevelgem.

[DBII]

Thanks for sharing.

DBII

[Njaco]

Whats the name of the book?

[Heinz]

Great information, thanks!

Im also curious what the books title is.

[Arneken]

The book is written in Dutch. I don't know if there is a translation.

[Njaco]

Thank you Arneken! Another book to search for and add to my collection.

[Arneken]

Good luck searching !! And if you find it and want some translation just give me a ring

greetings