Fallschirm-Erprobungsabteilung

  • Mahlzeit an alle!

    Ich habe eine Frage an die Auskenner der springenden Truppen:

    Vom 18. bis zum 31. Oktober 1942 hielt sich laut Belegungsüberscihten (BAMA) die Fallschirm-Erprobungsabteilung (Feldpostnummer L 43 141) in Celle auf und verlgte danach nach Döberitz.

    Weiß jemand, was die Abteilung in diesem Zeitraum dort erprobt hat und warum dafür der Fliegerhorst Celle ausgewählt wurde?

    Horrido

    Ben

  • Hallo Ben,

    die Einheit mit der FPN L 43141 war zu der Zeit die 1. Kompanie Lehr-Bataillon Flieger-Korps XI.

    Grüße

    Thilo

    Suche alles zur Lehrtruppe Fallingbostel und zum Einsatz des NSKK in der Ukraine 1941

  • Hallo Ben,

    Heinz Bliss: Das Fallschirmjäger-Lehr-Regiment, schreibt dazu :

    "Im Oktober 1942 hatten sich die Wege der 1. Kp./Lehr-Batl. (alte 5./FJR 1 ) vom Btl. getrennt. Während erstere in Döberitz geblieben war und mit der Aufstellung der Erprobungs-Abtlg./XI. Flg.Korps begann, war das Btl. Burckhardt zum 2. Afrikaeinsatz gelangt." (Seite 7).

    Beste Grüße

    Ingo

  • Hallo Thilo, hallo Ingo!

    Erst einmal ein dickes Dankeschön für eure schnellen Antworten. Die bringen doch gleich mal einen hellen Schein in die Sache.

    Der mir vorliegende Originaltext:

    Am 18. Oktober 1942 traf Fallschirm-Erprobungsabteilung (Feldpostnummer L 43 141) in Stärke von 3 Offizieren, 1 Arzt, 22 Unteroffizieren, 50 Mannschaften, 2 Lkw, 4 Pkw, 1 Krad, 1 Ju 52, 2 He 111 auf dem Fliegerhorst Celle ein.Am 31. Oktober 1942 hat Fallschirm-Erprobungsabteilung (Feldpostnummer L 43 141) in Stärke von 3 Offizieren, 1 Arzt, 22 Unteroffizieren, 50 Mannschaften, 2 Lkw, 1 Pkw, 1 Krad, 1 Ju 52, 2 He 111 den Fliegerhorst Celle verlassen. Ziel: Döberitz.

    Und das hatte ich ergoogelt:

    43141

    (30.7.1941-28.2.1942) 1. Kompanie Lehr-Bataillon Flieger-Korps XI (12.3.1943-7.9.1943) gestrichen (23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 23.8.1944 Stab u. 1.-4. Kompanie Festungs-Infanterie-Bataillon (bo.) 1412.

    Das hatte mich dann doch verwirrt, wo jetzt das Lehr-Btl. herkam, zumal es in der Meldung explizit "Fallschirm-Erprobungsabteilung (Feldpostnummer L 43 141)" hieß. Nun schau ich durch. Danke!

    Interessieren würde mich jetzt nur noch, was die in Celle getrieben haben:

    - Fallschirme bzw. Waffen und Ausrüstungen erprobt, wenn ja, welche?

    - Und warum Celle? Die haben ja nicht für zwei Wochen gerade dorthin verlegt, um die Heideblüte zu erleben. Außerdem war Celle nicht der klassische Fallschirmjäger-Standort - da hätten sich Wittstock, Stendal, Dedelstorf und andere viel eher angeboten.

    Vielleicht ist ja jemanden dazu mal iregend etwas untergekommen.

    Danke für eure Mühen!

    Horrido

    Ben

  • Hallo Ben,

    zwischen 1935-1945 gab es bei Celle insgesamt 3 Landeplätze. Henry de Zeng listet wie folgt auf:

    Fliegerhorst Celle-Wietzenbruch (52 35 40 N – 10 01 45 E)

    General: airfield (Fliegerhorst) 31.2 km NNE of Hannover in Lower Saxony and 4.8 km SW of Celle.

    History: construction began in spring 1933 and was completed in 1935, although training units began using it in mid-1934. By 1935 there were 5 large hangars and a building complex. It remained a training field until Sep 39, and during the war years operational units, especially transport units, arrived and departed after stays of varying duration. Fighter units assigned to air defense duties over the Reich used Celle to refuel and rearm during the hectic air battles over Germany.

    Dimensions: approx. 960 x 825 meters (1,050 x 900 yards).

    Runway: in the center of the airfield was a large rectangular tarmac platform measuring 850 x 500 meters that was connected to the hangar aprons by three wide tarmac taxiways. The platform served as a runway area. A paved perimeter road surrounded the field. Otherwise, grass surface on light sandy soil.

    Infrastructure: fuel, ample refueling points, water, ammunition, communications and other amenities were available. There were 3

    very large and 1 large hangar on the NW boundary and another very large hangar on the NE corner. Workshops, engine test-beds, motor pool garages, station HQ and admin buildings all ran along the NW side of the airfield while the main barrack area was behind the hangar at the NE corner. A munitions dump with some 9 bunkers at the NE corner. A branch rail line connected the N corner of the field.

    Dispersal: there were no shelters in Mar 44. Aircraft were parked in woods off the NE boundary and SW boundary

    Einsatzhafen Celle Hustedt-Waldkater (52 41 45 N – 1003 50 E)

    General: operational airfield (Einsatzhafen II) 7 km NNE of Celle in Lower Saxony. History: built in 1935 on the site of an existing

    military exercise ground and used for the next 8 years as a practice field for elementary trainers and a training and dispersal field for transport aircraft. Luftwaffen-Bau-Kp. 8/IV arrived in 1939 and built a barrack camp for 1,000 personnel, an entrance road, a rail spur and unloading ramp, underground fuel storage tanks, Flak positions, ammunition and bomb bunkers, etc. Later in the war, a compound for forced laborers or concentration camp prisoners was build adjacent to the airfield. The airfield became operationally active at the beginning of May 1944 with the arrival of a fighter Gruppe.

    Dimensions: approx. 1100 x 1235 meters (1200 x 1350 yards) and rectangular in shape. Surface and Runways: firm grass surface (no paved runway according to Allied sources, but German sources claim it had a concrete runway). Fuel and Ammunition: refueling points at the SE corner with a large ammunition dump off the SW corner.

    Infrastructure: no hangars, but a few huts off the E boundary and at the SE corner were probably used as workshops. A cluster of barrack huts were also at the SE corner. A branch rail line served the S side of the landing area. Dispersal: 2 dispersal areas – North with 20+ aircraft bays, and a remote South dispersal some 1200 meters off the S boundary.

    Remarks:

    1942: a Ju 52 transport Staffel and a Fallsch.Art.Abt. were stationed at the airfield.

    Notlandeplatz Celle-Scheuen (52 40 10 N – 10 05 20 E)

    General: emergency landing ground (Notlandeplatz) in Lower Saxony 7 km N of Celle. History: dates from 1916 when it was developed as a naval air station, but flying operations did not begin until 3 October 1918, just before the end of the First World War. During World War II it served as a practice field and satellite field for Celle-Wietzenbruch.

     Surface and Dimensions: grass

    Beste Grüße

    Ingo

  • Hallo Ingo!

    Da hast du völlig Recht. Leider wird in den Belegungsübersichten im Kommando Flughafenbereich 16/XI lediglich Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur Celle genannt, jedoch nicht erwähnt, welcher Platz/Plätze es sind. Ich vermute, dort ist Wietzenbruch komplett zusammengefasst, da auch unter den nicht unterstellten Einheiten bzw. außerhalb liegenden Einheiten weder Waldkater noch Scheuen genannt werden. In der Belegungsübersicht taucht Celle auch erst ab 1. April 1942 auf. Vermutlich war der Platz zuvor einem anderen Flughafenbereichs-Kommando zugeordnet (möglicherweise Langenhagen).

    Zu Celle, das mich eigentlich nur am Rande interessiert, hätte ich noch Folgendes:

    Celle-Wietzenbruch (GER) (52 35 40 N – 10 01 45 E)General:

    airfield (Fliegerhorst) 31,2 km NNE of Hannover in Lower Saxony and 4,8 km SW of Celle.


    History:

    construction began in spring 1933 and was completed in 1935, although training units began using it in mid-1934. By 1935 there were 5 large hangars and a building complex. It remained a training field until Sep 1939, and during the war years operational units, especially transport units, arrived and departed after stays of varying duration. Fighter units assigned to air defense duties over the Reich used Celle to refuel and rearm during the hectic air battles over Germany.


    Dimensions:

    approx. 960 x 825 meters (1.050 x 900 yards).


    Runway:

    in the center of the airfield was a large rectangular tarmac platform measuring 850 x 500 meters that was connected to the hangar aprons by three wide tarmac taxiways. The platform served as a runway area. A paved perimeter road surrounded the field. Otherwise, grass surface on light sandy soil.


    Infrastructure:

    fuel, ample refueling points, water, ammunition, communications and other amenities were available. There were 3 very large and 1 large hangar on the NW boundary and another very large hangar on the NE corner. Workshops, engine test-beds, motor pool garages, station HQ and admin buildings all ran along the NW side of the airfield while the main barrack area was behind the hangar at the NE corner. A munitions dump with some 9 bunkers at the NE corner. A branch rail line connected the N corner of the field.


    Dispersal:

    there were no shelters in Mar 1944. Aircraft were parked in woods off the NE boundary and SW boundary.


    Defenses:

    not determined.


    Remarks:

    1939-1945: while Celle-Wietzenbruch was strafed a few times during 1944-1945, it was never bombed and the buildings and installations survived the war relatively intact.8 Apr 1944: low-level attack by VIII Fighter Command P-51 Mustangs – claimed 1 x Ju 52 destroyed, plus 1 x Bf 109, 3 x Fw 190s and 1 x Ju 88 damaged.

    19 Oct 1944: Flugplatzkdo. Celle reported a strength of 157 military personnel and 270 civilian employees.10 Apr 1945: attacked by 40 Allied fighters – 12 Savoia transports, 2 He 111s and 3 trainers destroyed on the ground.

    11 Apr 45: Celle taken without a fight by British forces.


    Operational Units:

    - Aufkl.Gr. 324 (Apr-Oct 1934); - Aufkl.Gr. 323 (Nov 1934–Mar 1935);

    - Stab/KG z.b.V. 2 (c. Sep-Dec 1939); - I./St.G. 77 (Nov/Dec 1939–Feb 1940);

    - II./KG 54 (Mar-Apr 1940); - III./KG 54 (Mar 1940);

    - Luftdienst-Teilkdo. 2/11 (Aug 1940–Dec 1943); - II./TG 2 (c. May-Jul 1943);

    - III./TG 1 (May-Oct 1943, Apr-Sep 1944); - I./TG 4 (c. Feb-Mar 1944);

    - Behelfsbeleuchterstaffel 2 (Mar-Jun 1944); - I./TG 2 (Jun-Jul 1944);

    - I./KG 40 (Jul-Aug 1944); - II./JG 26 (Mar-Apr 1945).

    School Units: - twin-engined conversion school Celle-Wietzenbruch (Jul 1934–Sep 1939);

    - BFS Celle (1934–c. Jul 1937); - FFS A 52 (Jan–Mar 1945).

    Reserve Training & Replacement Units: - Erg.St./KG 28 (May-Jun 1941).

    Station Commands: - Fliegerhorstkommandantur Celle (c. 1935–Jan 1943);

    - Fl.Pl.Kdo. A 28/XI (c. Feb 1943–Mar 1944); - Flugplatzkdo. Celle of Fl.H.Kdtr. A (o) 22/XI Wesendorf (1944-1945).

    Kommandant: - Maj. Kurt-Bertram von Doring (Jun 1934–Mar 1935);

    - Obstlt. Rudolf Ortner-Weigand (1939-Mar 1940).


    Station Units (on various dates – not complete):

    - Werft-Abt. (o) 28/XI (spring 1944–1945); - elements of le.Flak-Abt. 755 (Feb 1945);

    - le.Hei.Flak-Bttr. 2/XI (May 1944); - le.Hei.Flak-Bttr. 22/XI (Nov 1944);

    - le.Hei.Flak-Bttr. 42/XI (1943-1944); - Stab, III./Fallschirmjäger-Ers.u.Ausb.Rgt. 3 (Jan-Mar 1945).

    [Sources: AFHRA A5257A pp.93-95 (30 Mar 1944); chronologies; BAMA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk; web site fliegerhorste.de]

    Horrido

    Ben

  • Hallo,

    in Döberitz bei Berlin, wurde das Bunker knacken geübt. Mein Opa war in dieser Einheit. Sie sollten ja Malta nehmen,sind aber dann nach Afrika verlegt worden.

    Gruß