Flak-Regiment 155

[david.matthewson]

Very nice - thanks - this would be site #17 in Normandie?

[Pattenk]

V1 site nr 15 La Glacerie. Le Mesnil au Val.

[Pattenk]

Yes indeed David. Forgot the numbers. Now added
All in Cotentin area. They are rather "close" to eachother. If you're in a hurry you can almost do them all in one day. But for a 52 year person that needs to climb over fences and barbwire it takes a bit longer.

[Pattenk]

[Pattenk]

The V1 site nr 15 is now a chicken farm. Very nice, friendly and helpful owner. The ski shape building and firing ramp are on another field. The firing ramp was completely overgrown and couldn't reach it to take proper pics... Still you need to have your paratrooper mode on to reach everything.

[Pattenk]

Mittelbau Dora/Nordhausen

[Pattenk]

V1 site nr 11 Flottemanville-hague
A very nice site aswell. Just couldn't see the richthaus. Hard to get over the huge bushes surrounding the fields. The site as you can see is again divided by several farmers.

[kstdk]

Hello

Patrick - nice pictures and interesting sites.

Regards
Kurt
kstdk

[david.matthewson]

Patrick

Indeed, great pics and many thanks.

David

[Pattenk]

While on my trip to Cherbourg I went to search in the military archives there. Found some very interesting thing on the Wasserwerke Cherbourg.
When they started on the works in 1932, about 5000 man worked on the site. A lot of foreign nationalities were employed (Turks, English, Polish,Yougoslavs, Italians) and Germans. One of these Germans operated a crane (stone braker) to make into sand and cement. Around 1937/39 the sand was used also for constructing a school. The same German worked as crane mechanic there.
Now comes the interesting part....
During the war some of the workers recognized among the German officers (now occupying France) that same crane mechanic! He was Lieutenant now. The workers now knew why and how the Germans had so much interest and information about the site!
Sadly no name attached to the German officer.

I looked further into the records but no lists to be found. I must say I was limited in time so couldn't really dig deeper into their vast archive....

[Pattenk]

Hello

I know - i have myselve "explored" the site quite extensively these last few days !!

Maybe we schould contact him, his e-mail ( and e-mail of other contributers for the site ) is stated - so it would be alright to contsct him for further information.

We could link this discussion topic to him as well !!

Regards
Kurt
kstdk.

Did you ever got in contact with Laurent Bailleul Kurt? The only time I ever got a reply from him was when the details were needed to buy his second book.... For the rest.... But I guess he may receive numerous mails and questions.

[Pattenk]

Here's the list of the V1 light sites in Belgium (IX. Abt)

2. Leke (Vladslo) 10%
3. Genzenbosch (Geuzenbos) 0%
4. Kortewilde (Vladslo) 0%
5. Ruidenberg (Koekelare) 5%
6. Kornbloem (Torhout) 10%
7. Dixmuiden (Diksmuide) 0%
8. Langenhoek (Gits) 10%
9. Hauthoust (Houthulst) 5%
10. Mercken (Merkem) 0%
11. Bültehoek (Houthulst) 5%
12. Lindeken (Staden) 0%
13. Westrozebeke (Westrozebeke) 0%
14. Westvleteren (Westvleteren) 100%
15. Pypegale (Reninge) 10%
16. Rumbeke (Rumbeke) 0%
17. Zuidschole (Reninge) 10%
18. Koekuithoek (Moorslede) 0%
19. Krombeke (Krombeke) 100%
20. Krombeke (Westvleteren) 0%
21. St. Sixte (Westvleteren) 0%
22. Wormhout (Proven) 0%
23. Canada (Krombeke) 70%
24. Elverdinge (Elverdinge) 10%
25. Brielen (Brielen) 0%
26. St. Jean ter biezen (St. Jan-ter-biezen) 0%
27. Oosthoek (Poperinge) 0%
28. Brandhoek (Vlamertinge) 0%
29. Hoge (Zillebeke) 10%
30. Westhoek (Zonnebeke) 0%
31. Hilhoek (Poperinge) 70%
32. Busseboom (Poperinge) 0%
33. Voormezele (Voormezele) 5%
34. Steenvoorde (Steenvoorde) 0%
35. Godewaersvelde (Godewaersvelde) 5%
36. Oostvaerne (Hollebeke) 0%

As you can see the number 1 site is missing. That was the Wasserwerke St Pol (Siracourt). How this got on the list is unknown. The percentages are how much was constructed at the time. As they were all light sites everything was pre-made and shipped to the designated sites.

[david.matthewson]

Thanks - so only two were ever operational then? #14 & #19? I didn't know that ;}

[Pattenk]

Due to the rapid advance of the Canadian troops into Belgium the sites never fired one Versuchsmunster 1 David. Everything possible was moved over to Holland and Germany. From there on they used the cells (what the Germans called them too) to target Brussels, Antwerp and Liège. In the KTB the officers wrote it was a desperate last measure because the cells were never intended and capable to be used as precision weapon. Only used as terror weapon. The notification in the KTB from the 5th January 1945.

[Pattenk]

And when I was in Krombeke (site nr 23) I pinpointed my compass and it was aimed towards London anyway. Most were launched from Holland and Germany towards Belgium.