Complex west of Abbaye d'Ardenne June 1944

[Larry D.]

There were a number of variations, but this will give you a good example:

gem.Flakabteilung (mot.)
Stab mit Nachr.-Zug: 4 Offz., 2 Beamte, 31 Uffz., 93 Mannsch., mit 1 le. MG, 112 Handfeuerwaffen, 28 Kfz., 11 Krädern.
1. – 3. Battr. je: 4 Offz., 53 Uffz., 110 Mannsch., mit 2 le. MG, 171 Handfeuerwaffen, 4 2cm-Flak, 4 8,8cm Flak, 36 Kfz., 3 Krädern.
4. – 5. Battr. je: 6 Offz., 65 Uffz., 139 Mannsch., mit 2 le. MG, 209 Handfeuerwaffen, 9 2cm-Flak, 3 2cm-Flakvierlingen, 4 60cm-Flakscheinwerfer, 58 Kfz., 5 Krädern.
le.Flakkolonne: 2 Offz., 10 Uffz., 56 Mannsch., mit 2 le. MG, 71 Handfeuerwaffen, 28 Kfz., 2 Krädern.
Total Personnel: 30 officers, 2 officials, 330 NCOs, 757 men = 1,119.
Total Flak Weapons: 12 x 8,8cm, 30 x 2cm, 6 x 2cm-Flakvierlingen (4-barrel 20mm Flak guns), 8 x 60cm searchlights.
Total Vehicles: 280 Kfz. (trucks), 32 motorcycles.

By 1944, these totals had increased to 1,300 officers and men, 12 to 18 x 8,8cm and 33 x 2cm.
[Source: Koch Anlage].

Note: the above is for a motorized gem.Flak-Abt. A gem.Flak-Abt.(v) would only have about 70 Kfz. (trucks) instead of 280.

L.

[AETIUS 1980]

Merci beaucoup /Thanks a lot

[AETIUS 1980]

Hello, following external help that I thank warmly, I was able to draw up a fairly precise portrait of the various Widerstandsnester/Stützpunkte on and around Carpiquet on june 5th 1944. I wrote the plans and inventory of the majority of them although my knowledge on the "bunkerarchéo" does not in any way equal that of the specialists present on this site. So would it be possible to get help on this? By the same occasion, i had written a post regarding possible help for information about the II./Flieger.Rgt.90, but ultimately no answers. Thanking an eminent specialist in Flak units of the Luftwaffe, I am again of possible help on the presence of the Flak batteries on the outskirts of Carpiquet (the inventory of units of the platoon size being somewhat obscure). In the end, all information relating to their participation in the fights from Carpiquet, but also Franqueville from June 6 to 13, is welcome.

Thanking in advance any answers that may come.

[Larry D.]

I have no detailed information on II./Flieger-Rgt. 90 for June 1944 that would be helpful. The 2 or 3 entries I have are contradictory and therefore unreliable.

L.

[AETIUS 1980]

Thanks a lot anyway for the other things I learned by you.
Romain

[AETIUS 1980]

Any information about leicht.Flak.Abteilung 931 in 1943 around Carpiquet??

[Larry D.]

Unfortunately, no details that you don't already have. Sorry!

le.Flak-Abt. 931 (v)
Feb 43 – Jun 44: under Stab/Flak-Rgt. 30/13. Flak-Div. (Tessin; www.ww2.dk)
Feb 43: all or elements at Caen-Carpiquet airfield. (Holm/ww2.dk)
Dec 43: 3./931 deployed in or around Caen. (viewtopic.php?f=54&t=250144) Post #48
1943 – Jun 44: Cherbourg. (ULTRA; Tessin; Holm/ww2.dk)
29 Jun 44: Abt., less 3./931, destroyed in Cherbourg. (Tessin)
Jul 44 – 1945: 3./931 survived and was attached to Flak-Rgt. 15 to at least 1 Dec 44. The Batterie was last identified in the Luftgau XIV area in Feb 45. (Tessin; Holm/ww2.dk)

L.

[AETIUS 1980]

So on the eve of the D.Day, we obtain on Carpiquet or its periphery (Franqueville), a total of 12 weapons of 3.7 cm Flak.36/37, 21 of 2 cm Flak.38 and then an unknown number of 8,8 cm (mentioned just after). These are divided between 11 platoons from 5 batteries from three Abteilungen (266, 835 and 996).A distribution of these different units is made within Widerstandsnester 130, 133,135,141,141a, 142,138, 147 and two uncoded positions (or unfortunately for which I have not found anything to date). At least seven other strong points or defensive structures are occupied by detachments of 4./II./Flieger.Rgt.90; Widerstandsnester 152/Stp Rots-Süd, 137,132,134,136,137,139 and 144.
The 8,8 cm aspect leads us to take an interest in the Stützpunkte Cussy.
_ Widerstandsnest ? / Stützpunkt Cussy.
Vast fortified complex 600 meters north-east of Franqueville, it hosted at its beginnings in February 1943 the 2./Schw.Flak.Abt.683 with six 8.8 cm Flak.36 / 37. In October, the site is run by V./3./le.Flak.Abt.835 which includes three 8.8 cm tubes. We are surprised by this endowment since it was a leicht.Abteilung. In addition, this redundant platoon is officially not intended to exist. A hypothesis of a tactical nature then presents itself to us. To ensure a semblance of air cover on high altitude ceilings, and following the partial abandonment of the various Stützpunkte on the crown of Carpiquet, the Luftwaffe staff ordered the maintenance of three of its weapons. To ensure current service, an internal puncture was surely carried out on the whole of the Flak. Abt. 835 (v), leading to the designation of V. Zug.This therefore remains a hypothesis but which would remain to be confirmed by information that I do not have. Otto FUNK, member of 15./SS.Pz.Gr.Rgt.25 (12.SS.Pz.Div) explains having approached the position of Franqueville on the evening of June 6, during a reconnaissance of the approaches to Carpiquet. It relates a fire on the fortified right-of-way as well as detonations in a location for 8.8 cm Flak.Although this weapon is known to all German youth (if only by its presence in many places on German soil), it is perhaps an error of observation of the latter.
Next is one of my questions;
The staff of the Flak.Abt.996 is mentioned as present in Caen (Widerstandsnester 126/153) on June 5. I presume that he therefore had primacy over the management of the various entities mentioned. Is this corroborated by other sources ? What happened to the command body of Carpiquet aerodrome (Fliegerhorst.Kommandatur.E.(V).229./XII) from June 7 ; dissolved, kept and returned to another location ?
Regards
Romain

[Larry D.]

Fliegerhorstkommandantur E(v) 229/XII
Formed c 1 April 1944 at Caen-Carpiquet by renaming Fl.H.Kdtr. A 229/XII.
12 May 44: Caen-Carpiquet.
11 Jun 44: now at Flers having moved from Caen-Carpiquet a day or two after the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June.
1 Jul 44: moved again and now at Bourges under Koflug 2/XIII (Orléans).
Aug-Sep 44: withdrew to Germany as Allied forces advanced rapidly across France.
9 Dec 44: transferred from Würzburg to Nidda.
1 Jan 45: Nidda under Koflug 13/VII (Gelnhausen).
21 Mar 45: still at Nidda.
5 Apr 45: ordered disbanded.
FpN: (L 06450)
Kommandant:
Oberst Helmuth Winde ( ? - Apr 45)

[AETIUS 1980]

nice

[AETIUS 1980]

In order to continue on the aspect of the defenses of the Flughafen Carpiquet, but also of the city of Caen, the Germans will build a first defensive curtain further north. Beyond the teams of aerial observers (Fl.W.16 WF/Flugwachen.16.WF, himself from the 15.Flugmelde.Reserve.kompanie), we find two support points still occupied on June 5 1944 ;
_ Widerstandsnest 121 “Fusz”: Eastern exit from the hamlet of Longueval (St Honorine-la-Chardonnette).
FREYA radar
_ Widerstandsnest 122: In the hamlet of Le Beauregard (north of Hérouville), between the canal and the Orne arm. Reported as Flak.Bttr.Colombelles West, has a copy of Fu.SE 62 (Funk.Sende.Empfangsgerät). The latter is mounted on a rotating blind called Anhängerfahrgestell.A.2.We find also a platoon from the gemischte.Flak.Abteilung.153 (V zug./5.le./153), with three 2 cm Flak.38. A detachment of the Kriegsmarine required to guard the Blainville shipyard is also staying on site.

A research on aerial photographic supports would be beneficial to study these two structures more in depth.

On the other side, we find Wn 151 located in the south of Caen.
_ Widerstandsnest 151: Ifs center.
This minor point accommodates a Peil Anlage Adcock PEILER/long wave receiver. Although still active on June 5, its composition remains unknown to me.

So, still lot of questions before making the aspect of the anti-aircraft defenses of the prefecture of Calvados and its nearby aerodrome accessible to all in the study of minor battles.

Regards

[AETIUS 1980]

Any informations about Fl.W.16 WF/Flugwachen.16.WF-15.Flugmelde.Reserve.kompanie in 1944 ?

Merci

[Larry D.]

16./Luftgau-Nachr.Rgt. Westfrankreich
Formed spring 1943 in Caen as a Flugmelde-Reserve-Kompanie by renaming 12./Luftgau-Nachrichten-Rgt. Belgien/Nordfrankreich.
1943: based in Caen. (K.O. Hoffmann)
31 Jan 44: noted and unchanged. (Air Ministry intelligence)
6 Jun 44: 16. (Flugmelde-Res.Kp.)/Luftgau-Nachr.Rgt. Westfrankreich manned a chain of 64 coastal observation posts of 4 to 6 men per post along the Normandy coast and had its main Fluko plotting center in Caen. (ADI(K) 255/44)
4 Jul 44: reported it was dismantling its station this date. (CX/MSS/R233 and R234)
30 Jul 44: still operating under II./Ln.-Rgt. 53. (Air Ministry intelligence)
1944-45: not identified after 30 Jul 44, but its Feldpostnummer remained active to the end of the war.

[AETIUS 1980]

Have there been any reports of the events of June 6 from this unit ?? A name for his kdr?

[AETIUS 1980]

I know that the Heeres.Flak.Abteilung.305 has positioned its three batteries between Herouville St Clair and Vaucelles by April 1944. Although a formation of the 21.Pz.Div, it was subordinate to the Luftwaffe in this concept of aerial coverage of the city of Caen ??
As I said, I'm always asking lot of things, so still thank you for all your answers.
Regards
Romain