Fugplatz ID in Russia

[deangreen]

I am researching my opa who was in the Luftwaffe, Horstkompanie E 3/IV and stationed in Poland. I have some photos with the location written on the back. I can't make out the name. Can anyone help? Later he was transferred to Landesschützen-Zug der Luftwaffe 1/I . I can't seem to find anything about it. Any ifo would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Larry D.]

Hello D.G.,

Horstkompanie E 3/IV was a component of Fl.H.Kdtr. E 3/IV:

Fliegerhorstkommandantur E 3/IV
Formed c. 26 August 1939 (general mobilization) as Fl.H.Kdtr. (E) Bronkow. Renamed Fl.H.Kdtr. E 3/IV in spring 1940 (27 June 1940?).
15 Aug 40: NE France under Koflug 8/III (Saint-Omer).
1940-41: M.Holm places it at De Kooy airfield in Holland, but this does not appear to be correct.
Mar 41: at Saint-Pol-Brias/NE France (and probably there since July 1940).
Jun 41: now at Rogozniczka/45 km SE of Siedlce in E Poland under Koflug 4/II with Zweigstellen (Flugplatzkdos.) at Grabowiec and Slawacinek.
Sep 41: transferred to Bialystok/NE Poland.
14 Jun 42: reported a man WIA by small arms fire at Bialystok.
29 Nov 43: at one of the airfields on the Leningrad front in N Russia.
30 Jan 44: transferred from Ryelbitsy to Pernau (Pärnu)/Estonia under Koflug 4/I (Riga).
c.1 Apr 44: re-designated Flugplatzkdo. Pernau of Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 209/I Wesenberg (Rakvere).
FpN: (L 31383)
Kommandant:
Maj. Hans Schöne (27 Jun 40 – 1 Aug 40)
Hptm. Friedrich Caspari (1 Aug 40 - ? ) 6/41, 9/41

Ldssch,Zug d.Lw. 1/I was formed on general mobilization (26 August 1939) in Luftgau I (East Prussia) and assigned Feldpostnummer L. 35226. It was disbanded or its Feldpostnummer was deleted in spring 1942.

I am not able to read the name of the airfield you asked about, aside from the fact that it’s in Russia. If you can get the name identified, then I will be able to help. On the surface, it looks like Brusijansk, but that can’t be right. There was a Brijansk (Bryansk) of course. But yours has 2 or 3 extra letters to be Bryansk. Perhaps it could be Bialystok?

L.

[deangreen]

Thanks Larry. Great info that fits locations written on Opa's photos. This Russian place is driving me nuts. The spelling looks something like like "Brushekna" but can't anywhere in Russia resembling that name.

[Larry D.]

Here is a clue that might help with the mystery word:

The first letter could the double consonant “Sz” or “Ss” in the Old German Type handwriting.
The 2-letter combination 5 or 6 letters in that looks like “if” is “ch” in the Old German Type handwriting.

This would give us:

Szrusch****.

Ssrusch****.

But I still come up empty.

L.

[deangreen]

Based on my Opa's writing of known words (see attached), I came up with "Flugplatz Bruschana". I can't find any place in Russia close to it.

[Grzesio]

Maybe this one, if we assume some misspelling (B instead of P, otherwise the pronunciation is remarkably close): https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pru%C ... 1385e582e2

If the name should be written with B though, it could be Брушана or Бружана.

[Larry D.]

Note that the Station Command was never identified:

Pruzana (POL) (a.k.a. Prusana, Pruzhany, Pružany, Prujani, Pruzana-Kuplin, Pruzana/Nord) (52 34 35 N – 24 28 30 E) or (52 34 56 N – 24 22 46 E)
General: landing ground in E Poland (today Belarus) 74 km NE of Brest Litovsk and 41 km NNE of Kobryn (Kobryń); landing ground 2.5 km N of Pruzana or 6.5 km NW of Pruzana. Had a grass surface with few if any facilities. History: used by Stuka units for the first week of the attack on the USSR and then reverted to custodial status. Reactivated in Jun 44.
Remarks:
24 Jun 41: orders issued to II. Fliegerkorps that it was to be used as an advanced landing ground and not as a permanent station for more than two Gruppen.
25-28 Jun 41: fuel flown to the airfield by Ju 52 transports.
Apr 42: airfield in custodial status under Koflug 6/IV (Minsk).
Operational Units: 6.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 32 (Jun 41); Stab, II., III./St.G. 77 (Jun 41); 2./Fliegergeschwader z.b.V. 7 (Jun-Jul 44); 4./NSGr. 2 (Jul 44); 10.(Pz)/SG 77 (Jul 44).
Station Commands: none identified.
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): elements of Lw.-Bau-Btl. 6/XIII (Sep 41).
[Sources: AFHRA A5263 p.1120 (30 Oct 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; BNA HW 5/21 and 5/23; web site ww2.dk]

[deangreen]

Thanks! I found a list of Dachau victims, a person born in Pusana and residence in Bruschana. This is the only reference to Bruschana I found on Google. So I'll go with Pruzana. I have a photo of him with a Stuka, so that fits in. Thanks again for your help.