Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45 France (with Corsica and Channel Islands)
By Henry L. deZeng IV
Edition: July 2014
Zitat von Henry L. de Zeng IVAlles anzeigenToulouse-Blagnac (FR)
(43 37 05 N – 01 22 05 E)
General: factory airfield and airfield in SW France 7 km WNW of Toulouse and 3 km W of the town of Blagnac.
History: built in the late 1930’s and the factory buildings were not completed until after the fall of France in Jun 40, and what was completed was only part of what had been planned. The Luftwaffe took it over in late 1942 and began major improvements in 1943 to turn it into a bomber base.
Dimensions: approx. 1690 x 1414 meters (1850 x 1550 yards) in Nov 42.
Surface and Runways: grass surface. Had 2 concrete runways, each 825 meters (900 yards) in length, and aligned NW/SE and WNW/ESE. The NW/SE runway was also flanked by prepared (grass or dirt) strips. A perimeter road encircled the landing area and joined the ends of both runways. Equipped with a beam approach system and a visual Lorenz system was installed during the second half of 1943.
Fuel and Ammunition: both available.
Infrastructure: (a) off the NE corner – 1 very large workshop hangar, 1 large double hangar and 1 large hangar; the very large workshop hangar had a long building next to it and the two probably belonged to the S.N.C.A. du Midi factory that manufactured Dewoitine aircraft; (b) off the SW corner – 1 very large and 2 smaller factory buildings belonging to S.N.C.A. du Midi and used in the manufacture of fuselages and the assembly of aircraft. There were groups w of barrack buildings off the NE corner, on the outskirts of Colomiers village and S of the airfield near the hamlet of Fleurance. A special branch rail line served the N side of the airfield.
Dispersal: a North and Southwest dispersal area were under construction in Oct 43 with a planned total of 20 aircraft shelters. Defenses: there were 3 heavy and 10 light Flak positions plus 6 antiaircraft machine gun positions in Nov 43, this representing a very large reinforcing of the airfield’s air defenses.
Satellites and Decoys: see under Toulouse-Francazal airfield.
Remarks: 1 Sep 43: clearing and leveling work noted off the W boundary and the taxiways were undergoing limited camouflaging by being darkened to match the surrounding soil. 9 Nov 43: refueling loops were under construction in the new North and Southwest dispersal areas, and an ammunition dump off the NW corner had just been completed. 5 Apr 44: landing area being extended along the E/W axis; and the NW/SE runway is being extended at both ends to provide a run of 1830 meters (2000 yards). 12 May 44: a new taxiway approx. 10 km in length now connects the Northwest dispersal of Toulouse-Francazal to the S boundary of Toulouse-Blagnac. 25 Jun 44: bombed by 72 B-17 Fortresses - station reported 3 hangars burned out, 2 more damaged, fuel and munitions dumps destroyed and runway unserviceable for 3 days following Allied attack.
Operational Units: Stab/KG 100 (Nov 43 – Mar 44); II./KG 100 (Nov 43 – Mar 44); 6./KG 100 (Nov 43 – May 44); I./KG 40 (Jun-Jul 44).
Reserve Training & Replacement Units: elements of Erg.JGr. Ost (later JGr. Ost) (Apr – Dec 43).
Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 238/XII (Apr-Jul 44); Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 230/VII (Jul-Aug 44).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): 3. Flugh.Betr.Kp./KG 100 (1944); Werft-Abt. (v) 140/XII (Jun-Aug 44); Flugh.Betr.Kp. (FK) 4 (Jun, Aug 44); all or a branch of Frontreparaturbetrieb GL 2582 (1943-44)?; elements of gem.Flak-Abt. 356 (Jul 44); elements of schw.Flak-Abt. 557 (Jul 44); 21.(Flum.Res.)/Luftgau-Nachr.Rgt. Westfrankreich (1943-44); Trsp.Kol. d.Lw. 112/XII (? – Aug 43); Ldssch.Zug d.Lw. 48/III (May 44); Ldssch.Zug d.Lw. 294/XI (May 44); 6./Ldssch.Rgt. Lisieux (May 44 - ?).
Sources: AFHRA A5260 pp.228-35 (14 Nov 42 updated to 12 May 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk
