Achmer Germany

Mission Summaries > February 1944 > Airfields in Feb 44

Achmer (GER)

(a.k.a. Achmer-Bramsche)

(52 22 30 N – 07 55 15E)

General: Fliegerhorst (air station or air base) 15 km NW of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony in NW Germany, 5.2 km SW of Bramsche, 2.8 km S of Achmer village and just a few kilometers from the airfields at Hesepe and Vörden.

History: construction began in 1936 and was completed in 1939, with additions and improvements continuing to 1944. First use by a flying unit dates from August 1940 (10.(Erg.)/KG 2 with Do 17s). Achmer was essentially a bomber base until 1943 and then a fighter base after that.

Dimensions: approx. 2380 x 1370 meters (2600 x 1500 yards).

Surface and Runways: three camouflaged concrete runways in the form of a triangle measuring 1,800 meters plus a 550 meter prepared strip at one end, 1,700 meters and 1,550 meters. Along the center of the S boundary were 14 ladder-type paved servicing hardstands with refueling points. Equipped with runway, perimeter and obstruction lighting as well as a visual Lorenz system for night landings.

Fuel and Ammunition: munitions dumps to the S and N sides of the field.

Infrastructure: compass swing and machine gun registration range were available, 1 medium and 1 small workshop hangar and buildings along the NE boundary, station HQ, admin buildings and some barracks along the S boundary, flying control (Flugleitung) at the center of the S boundary, motor pool and garages at the NE corner, a barracks camp on the outskirts of Achmer village, and in 1941 a camp for Russian POWs was built on the NW side of the airfield. Additional barrack blocks were under construction 8 km NW of the airfield and in a woods 4.8 km to the N of the field. A branch rail line served the building area, the fuel dump and the munitions dump.

Dispersal: there were 52 open aircraft shelters and 6 additional parking sites along the perimeter and in a remote dispersal area S of the airfield in December 1944.

Defenses: a heavy Flak position with 4 x 12.8-cm guns was set up on the Bramscher Berg in fall 1943 and there were at least 12 light Flak positions surrounding the airfield, including some in specially built Flak towers.

Satellites and Decoys:

Achmer-Wallenbrock (GER)
(52 21 45 N – 07 49 50 E).
Dummy 6.5 km WSW of Achmer airfield and 2.5 km NW of Wallenbrock. Had a large mock landing area, 1 mock hangar and several fake buildings at SW corner. Phony aircraft were parked at the NW and SW corners.

Remarks:

18 Aug 42: bombed – 1 x Bu 131 from IV./KG 2 destroyed.
28 Nov 43: Fl.H.Kdtr. reported total enlisted strength as 438 NCOs and 742 men.
21 Feb 44: heavily bombed by B-17 Fortresses and B-24 Liberators – 1 x Ju 188 E-1 from 1./KG 2 destroyed on the ground and 1 x Fw 190A from II./JG 1 damaged.
08 Mar 44: low-level attack by U.S. fighters - 6 x Do 217s from III./KG 2 destroyed (4) or damaged (2).
23 Mar 44: bombed by 21 B-24s.
08 Apr 44: bombed by 60 B-17s - 9 x Do 217s from III./KG 2 destroyed (8) or damaged (1).
15 Apr 44: low-level attack – 1 x Do 217M from III./KG 2 destroyed.
26 Sep 44: low-level attack by VIII Fighter Command P-51s – claimed 1 x Fw 190 and 1 x He 177 destroyed, plus 2 x Fw 190s and 1 x unidentified aircraft damaged.
16 Feb 45: bombed – 1 x Me 262 and 1 x Fw 190 damaged, several barracks and airfield installations hit, and several munitions bunkers also hit. (German report)
24 Feb 45: strafed by 8 P-47s – 1 x Bf 109 destroyed. (German reports)
20/21 Mar 45: bombed by 180 B-24s and 12 B-17s and strafed by VIII Fighter Command P-51s – 18 x Ar 234s from III./KG 76 destroyed (10) or damaged (8), 19 x Bf 109s and 1 x He 111 destroyed, 2 x Me 262s, 18 x Bf 109s and 1 x Fw 190 damaged (according to German sources). The VIII Fighter Command P-51s claimed 9 x Bf 109s, 19 x Fw 190s, 11 x Ar 234s, 3 x He 111s, 2 x Ju 88s, 3 x Do 217s and 1 x unidentified aircraft destroyed, plus 6 x Bf 109s, 6 x Fw 190s, 10 x Ar 234s, 1 x Me 410, 1 x Ju 88, 3 x Ju 188s, 2 x Do 217s and 5 x unidentified aircraft damaged. Additionally, the runways and landing area were hard hit and 2 hangars burned down.
24 Mar 45: bombed by 73 B-17s – no significant new damage. (German report)
11 Apr 45: RAF units began operating from Achmer.

Airfield Units:

Operational Units: II./KG 27 (Feb-Mar, Apr-May 40); Stab/KG 2 (Nov 41); 6./KG 2 (Apr-Jun 41); 7., 8./KG 2 (Jun 41 – Jan 42); 3.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 100 (Jun 43); Stab, 1.(F), 2.(F)/FAGr. 5 (Jun/Jul – Dec 43); Sturmstaffel 1 (Oct-Dec 43); III./KG 2 (01.44 – 06.44), Erprobungskdo. 25 (Sep 43 – Mar 44); III./KG 3 (Apr-May 44); Stab,II./KG 30 (Aug-Oct 44); III./JG 11 (Sep-Oct 44); Sonderstaffel Einhorn (Sep-Oct 44); Erprobungskdo. 262 (Sep 44); Kommando Nowotny (Sep-Nov 44); 12./JG 54 (Oct-Dec 44); IV./JG 27 (Nov 44 – Mar 45); Stab/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (Dec 44 – Mar 45); II./KG 51 (Jan 45); Stab, III./KG 76 (Jan-Mar 45); Gefechtsverband Kowalewski (26 Feb – 5 Apr 45).

Reserve Training & Replacement Units: IV./KG 2 (Aug 40 – Aug 42).

Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. A(o) 19/XI (Apr 44 – Apr 45).

Station Units (on various dates – not complete): Werft-Abt.d.Lw.(o)19/XI (spring 44 – Apr 45); le.Flak-Abt. 743 (1943-44); 3./le.Flak-Abt.871 (1943-44); le.Hei.Flak-Bttr. 75/XI (1943-45); Ldssch.Zug d.Lw.110/IV (Feb 44)?

Achmer Airfield