S3 Series

Doing research on Sicily and found references there and in Tunisia to Landing Grounds. Are they airfields or just temporary fields to land at in emergency? It gets confusing on the Sicily operational maps as it shows allied airborne drops on several of them.

Probably a mix of both, I know II./JG 77 operated out of Lagnasco heavily when the allies pushed through Sicily. Bf 109 Aces in the Mediterranean has a good collection of at least all the Luftwaffe operating bases at the time. I also have a short list of ETO industrial targets for you once I have time to sit down and gather info.

This is the only excerpt I found relating to "Landing Grounds". From what I can tell, "Landing Grounds" were temporary airfields, size unknown, but probably small (like grass field). Luftwaffe gruppe HQ were also listed during their peak, but the LW was also known to keep a schwarm here and there at satellite locations.

Taken from Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean

http://www.ww2.dk/

I use this excellent site to cross-reference Luftwaffe field locations but often the names dont search and I am none the wiser where they were located. Biggest frustration is how historical names and google maps often dont match up.

In case you are still wondering I've just read through Steinhoff's journal while with JG 77 in Sicily. Poorly translated in regards to unit types, but hey that's what cross checking is for. The Luftwaffe used landing grounds as temporary assignment fields for operational reasons such as staging aircraft for intercept patrols. By the time of the invasion started in Sicily they used them to hop around every day to avoid bombardment and massive aircraft loss while they retreated (still unavoidable!). They managed to cram two fighter groups onto one at one point.

Also picked this up from the website you linked, perhaps you read it.



So I would be thinking grass strip with nothing on it but a few AA and an "HQ" tent. I would say 2 steps if we had true 1:1 Fighter Group sizes, but 1 step would be the max.

I'll see if I can find some locations, most descriptions gave vague compass directions from a major field or town. Mt. Erice seems to be a main focal point.

Thanks Zin. I have the main bases used by the Axis but some of the questionable ones could have been really just landing grounds. The only place we have used LGs before is in Crimea. They are very simple affairs with a strip of dirt, aircraft and minimal structures and AAA. There are a couple nice photos of a few of the Sicily airfields but most of them are just listed as used by etc etc.

Invasion of Sicily, RCAF 417 participated in that with their trusty Spit VIII's, after kicking Rommel's ass in Africa.

RCAF 417 "The Desert Weasels"

So these would be pretty much fields for landing a quick fuel up and go. No rearming etc. Mt. Erice is near Trapani so it may even pay to have a lone strip off aways from the airfields there with a spawn point, a hut or two. There is one field like that in NG down south I think 103. It has a secondary strip away from the main field with nothing on it but a spawn point. Would be pretty funny in the MA if you are getting vulched you can up a couple miles away from a dirt strip