German airfields in Normandie

[namhee2]

For map developers:
The places where the Luftwaffe had its airfields.

 

 

Edited January 23, 2020 by namhee2

[LukeFF]

Already have it, but thanks.  

[falle96]

It's strange to see some of the German squadrons split between two airfields. How would that be reflected in the sim?

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, FarflungWanderer said:

It's strange to see some of the German squadrons split between two airfields. How would that be reflected in the sim?

 

Squadrons cannot be at two airfields at the same time, so only one of the 2 airfields are used in such cases.

[JG300_Egon]

LukeFF is true, a Squadron (Staffel) can not operate alone, and what you see on the map for the most part are Gruppen/Wings, not Staffeln/Squadrons.

 

I do not say impossible, but it was not the way things operated.

 

Edited January 24, 2020 by JG300_Egon

[357th_KW]

For those unfamiliar with the Luftwaffe nomenclature, it went Geschwader, Gruppe, Staffel, from largest to smallest.  Generally 3 gruppen per geschwader and 3 staffeln per Gruppe.  In 1944, attempts were made to shift to a base of 4 at both levels and many units saw this expansion.

 

A staffel typically had 12-16 aircraft, similar to an RAF or USAAF squadron.  That made the Gruppe roughly equivalent to a wing/group.  Staffeln sometimes operated independently, and Gruppen were often employed this way.

 

III/JG54 refers to the third Gruppe of JG54.  3/JG54 refers to the third Staffel of JG54, which would have been part of first Gruppe (I/JG54).

[falle96]

Ah, that explains my confusion. I thought the use of Roman and Arabic numbers were interchangeable. So, for instance, I Gruppe JG27 was based in both Varades and Angers, and each one could have a Staffel or two each.

 

Appreciate the clarification!

[jvm]

Actually you are all right to a degree concerning the operationality of the Gruppen, Staffeln and such.

You however sur-interpret this map (but you couln't guess!): all airfields on this map have been used at one point or another by a Gruppe, often with a Gruppe succeeding to another Gruppe.

It would have been to heavy to indicate all Gruppen having made use of a given airfield, especially when some of them had used it 2 days...So usually the Gruppe having been the longest at this field is indicated alone. The book from which the map is shown is a history of all the Luftwaffe Geschwadern during the BoN: virtually all of them participated. For instance the JG26 made use of at least 6 airfields between July and August!

Each chapter of this book is a mini-diary indicating the movements, battles and events of each Gruppe of each participating Geschwader...it makes a fascinating reading!

The name of the book is:

 

La Luftwaffe Face Au Débarquement Allie: L'intervention de la chasse allemande dans la bataile de Normandie et en Provence: Messerschmitt 109 G et Focke Wulf 190 A au combat 6 juin - 31 aout 1944

 

It as an advantage and a drawback: it is written in French…

 

Edited January 30, 2020 by jvm