Sint-Truiden / Brustem Airfield: Difference between revisions
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===German use during World War II=== |
===German use during World War II=== |
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During the occupation of Belgium by [[Nazi Germany]], the facility was called "St. Trond" and became a major [[Luftwaffe]] air base. |
During the occupation of Belgium by [[Nazi Germany]], the facility was called "St. Trond" and became a major [[Luftwaffe]] air base during the [[Battle of France]]. Within a few days of its capture by German forces, the Luftwaffe moved in Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (SKG 77), a [[Junkers Ju 87]]B Stuka dive bomber unit; Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26), a [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] heavy fighter (Zerstörer - German for "Destroyer") unit, and two [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]E fighter units Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) and also JG 27.<ref name="vit1">[http://www.ww2.dk The Luftwaffe, 1933-45]</ref> |
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All of these units took part in the [[Blitzkreig]] against French forces and the British Expeditionary Force during the Battle of France in late May and June. All also moved forward to French bases by the end of June.<ref name="vit1"/> |
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With the combat on the Continent ended, St. Trond became a Luftwaffe bomber base, with Kampfgeschwader 3 (KG 3) flying [[Dornier Do 17]] light bombers from the airfield. KG 3 arrived at the end of June 1940 and took part in the [[Battle of Britain]] during the summer, then later, switching to night bombing of English targets, remaining until March 1941.<ref name="vit1"/> |
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Increasing numbers of night bombing raids on Germany by the [[Royal Air Force]] in 1941 caused the Luftwaffe to start transitioning from a purely offensive force, to performing night air defense. Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1) arrived at St. Trond in May 1941, and until March 1944 flew first [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]]s, then after March 1942, Radar-equipped [[Dornier Do 217]] night interceptors against the RAF bombers. In August 1944, Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) began flying [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]A day interceptors, remaining until September when the Luftwaffe were removed from the base by advancing Allied ground forces. |
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Sint-Truiden Air Base was a frequent target of USAAF [[Ninth Air Force]] [[B-26 Marauder]] medium bombers. The medium bombers would attack in coordinated raids, usually in the mid to late afternoon, with Eighth Air Force heavy bombers returning from attacking their targets in [[Germany]]. The attack was timed to have the maximum effect possible to keep the Luftwaffe interceptors pinned down on the ground and be unable to attack the heavy bombers. Also, the [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]s of Ninth Air Force would be dispatched to perform fighter sweeps over Saint Trond after the Marauder raids, then meet up with the heavy bombers and provide fighter escort back to [[England]]. As the [[P-51 Mustang]] groups of Eighth Air Force began accompanying the heavy bombers all the way to their German targets by mid-1944, it was routine for them to also attack Saint Trond on their return back to England with a fighter sweep and attack any target of opportunity to be found at the airfield.<ref>Derived from information in USAAF Film "Target For Today" (available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGL7vuC2A4)</ref> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 14:13, 2 October 2009
Sint-Truiden Air Base  Brustem Air Base Base Aérienne Saint-Trond | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Location | Brusten, Belgium | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 245 ft / 75 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 50°47′31.00″N 005°12′06.00″E / 50.7919444°N 5.2016667°E | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Sint-Truiden Air Base (also known as Brustem Air Base) (French: Base Aérienne Saint-Trond) (ICAO: EBST) is a Belgian Air Component base, located south of Sint-Truiden (Limburg), approximatley 37 miles (60 km) east of Brussels (Bruxelles).
The airfield was inactivated in 1996, however the Belgian military remains in control of the base with non-flying units.
History
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This article was last edited by Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs) 14 years ago. (Update timer) |
Sint-Truiden Air Base was a pre-World War II Belgian Air Force military airfield. It was captured during the Battle of Belgium by the invading German Wehrmacht in May 1940.
German use during World War II
During the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany, the facility was called "St. Trond" and became a major Luftwaffe air base during the Battle of France. Within a few days of its capture by German forces, the Luftwaffe moved in Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (SKG 77), a Junkers Ju 87B Stuka dive bomber unit; Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26), a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter (Zerstörer - German for "Destroyer") unit, and two Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter units Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) and also JG 27.[1]
All of these units took part in the Blitzkreig against French forces and the British Expeditionary Force during the Battle of France in late May and June. All also moved forward to French bases by the end of June.[1]
With the combat on the Continent ended, St. Trond became a Luftwaffe bomber base, with Kampfgeschwader 3 (KG 3) flying Dornier Do 17 light bombers from the airfield. KG 3 arrived at the end of June 1940 and took part in the Battle of Britain during the summer, then later, switching to night bombing of English targets, remaining until March 1941.[1]
Increasing numbers of night bombing raids on Germany by the Royal Air Force in 1941 caused the Luftwaffe to start transitioning from a purely offensive force, to performing night air defense. Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1) arrived at St. Trond in May 1941, and until March 1944 flew first Messerschmitt Bf 110s, then after March 1942, Radar-equipped Dornier Do 217 night interceptors against the RAF bombers. In August 1944, Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) began flying Focke-Wulf Fw 190A day interceptors, remaining until September when the Luftwaffe were removed from the base by advancing Allied ground forces.
Sint-Truiden Air Base was a frequent target of USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauder medium bombers. The medium bombers would attack in coordinated raids, usually in the mid to late afternoon, with Eighth Air Force heavy bombers returning from attacking their targets in Germany. The attack was timed to have the maximum effect possible to keep the Luftwaffe interceptors pinned down on the ground and be unable to attack the heavy bombers. Also, the P-47 Thunderbolts of Ninth Air Force would be dispatched to perform fighter sweeps over Saint Trond after the Marauder raids, then meet up with the heavy bombers and provide fighter escort back to England. As the P-51 Mustang groups of Eighth Air Force began accompanying the heavy bombers all the way to their German targets by mid-1944, it was routine for them to also attack Saint Trond on their return back to England with a fighter sweep and attack any target of opportunity to be found at the airfield.[2]
External links
- Airport information for EBST at Great Circle Mapper.
- Template:WAD
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- ^ a b c The Luftwaffe, 1933-45
- ^ Derived from information in USAAF Film "Target For Today" (available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGL7vuC2A4)