So Where Did They Live?

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

I am, admittedly, not particularly well versed in many aspects of the War in the East. My question is; where did they live?

 

I know the combat troops made their living in holes and makeshift quarters wherever they happened to find themselves. But where did the aviation crews quarter? Airfields, for the most part, could not have possibly been eight revetments, a wooden control tower and fifty barrels of avgas. Even small temporary airfields are bustling centers of activity with long maintenance hours in a combat zone. The ground crews, AA crews and support staff had to live on the airfield or so I would expect.

 

I expressed a desire for tents and livestock in another "wish thread' which was replied to as 'for summer only' by another poster. I did some quick googling and found only one pic of a hospital tent in the winter environment of the Eastern Front.

 

While serving in the military, in aviation, I lived in relatively sturdy squad sized tents fairly often on maneuvers - even in some particularly harsh winter conditions. During temperate conditions we often used individual shelters. I know officers/pilots sought better quarters during the war and often would not have lived directly on the airfields but I would expect tents or something semi-permanent at the airfields for the crews. Soldiers are remarkably resourceful and adaptable. They would not just lie down in the snow to sleep, in the open air, during a Russian winter.

 

It would be nice to make the BOS/BOM environment more alive or lived in, even if there aren't troops and livestock milling about. Additionally, not all maintenance can be accomplished out in the snow. Some field maintenance requires an indoor facility (at least a tent) - hub and blade balancing for an example. I wouldn't expect static models of quarters and tents to take up much in regard to resources, time or coding to add. Eventually I'd love to see jigs and tractors and all sorts of static airfield equipment but I realize that is for modders many years hence. 

 

I could be wrong and am open to some education here.

Edited August 9, 2015 by [WSB]HerrMurf

[=38=Tatarenko]

Most of the time people were billeted in local villages.

 

Sometimes in remote strips, esp in the south they would build dugouts (zemlyanka) and sleep there. Much warmer than a tent. The game already (unsurprisingly) has zemlyanka objects that can be placed at airbases.

 

However often these would be dug in a wood near the bases because of concealment and the easy availability of wood.

Edited August 9, 2015 by =38=Tatarenko

[Dakpilot]

As above, from what I have read, mostly in local villages, especially in the winter months, it was just too inhospitable to survive outside.

 

also would love to see more airfield objects/vehicles...this is another area where a Mods on mode; would shine

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Finkeren]

Watch the series 'The Attackers'. It will give you a good idea about the many different ways the pilots and ground crews quartered, at least on the VVS side.

[Brano]

In VVS,the luxury of having a room/apartment assigned was given only to officers.The rest had to do with what was available.If there was no village nearby (there they used individual houses or mostly schools or such public buildings) zemlyanka was the most common mean of housing.Also standard mititary tents or staff buses equipped with simple stove.Only thing you had to take care of was to load the stove regularly.Otherwise you were in trouble.

[Finkeren]

I seem to remember reading accounts of the ground crews sometimes simply sleeping on the ground underneath the aircrafts wings in summer to escape the flea infested bunks they were asigned in damp and overcrowded dugouts.

Edited August 10, 2015 by Finkeren

[Ace_Pilto]

Watch the series 'The Attackers'. It will give you a good idea about the many different ways the pilots and ground crews quartered, at least on the VVS side.

 

Thanks!

[Finkeren]

Thanks!

Yep, it's pretty neat Thanks to Mastermariner for allerting me of its existence.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Well, I'd still like more static items and maybe a bit of livestock in the summer. Attacking a bivouac site as a military target might not be as glamourous as hitting a train but it's just as realistic and important from a tactical standpoint.

[Finkeren]

Well, I'd still like more static items and maybe a bit of livestock in the summer. Attacking a bivouac site as a military target might not be as glamourous as hitting a train but it's just as realistic and important from a tactical standpoint.

RoF has many HQs and other kinds of camps as potential ground targets, which would be a great thing to have in BoS/BoM with some added infantry running around headless chicken-style.

 

But let's not get too far into the 'realism' thing, or we might soon find ourselves in a heated debate about the propriety of gunning down groups of civilian refugees along the roads (which would sadly be perfectly 'realistic' for both sides)

 

Remember how up-in-arms people were, back when they realised you could shoot down parachutes?

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

I too would like to keep the targets in the military realm of things. I considered refugees weeks ago and quickly discarded the thought as completely distasteful even as non-targets.

Edited August 10, 2015 by [WSB]HerrMurf

[Brano]

Oh, I thought we talk about winter accomodation.Well,in summer,you can sleep anywhere (drunk at your doorstep  )

In general,units in the field were issued with standard military tents.There was a dedicated unit responsible for technical/material/food stuff.The best spot would be right next to field kitchen,ofcourse

I remember sleeping in such simple military canvas tent during januray with outside temperature of -15°C.Surprisingly,the stove could keep the temperature inside at reasonable level = you did not freeze.But ofcourse I had to put on me all the cloths I was issued by Slovak army  We also used to sleep inside our IFV with engine running.We removed the engine compartment cover and wrap ourselves into camo net.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

We were talking winter originally but it kind of diverged a little which I'm OK with. As long as it stays on topic of accomodations and airfield static objects overall.

[Finkeren]

Interesting topic in any case.

[Brano]

Ok,lets keep it on topic.I was just about to write about how we used to steal vodka from officers to get warm fast.But I will not 

[=38=Tatarenko]

My grandfather used to sleep on the engine grille of his StuGIII in Russia.

[ACG_pezman]

It's fynny to me how similar all soldiers are/behave in the field. Our guys would sleep on the backs of the M1A1 Abrams to stay warm at night in the desert... far from the frozen tundras our eastern European brothers trained on, but still funny.

 

S! To all former/current military.

[=AVG=Zombie]

I did not know they were hobbits.....