Flugpark Marinekorps Flandern

Regulus · 6 June 2002, 01:07 PM

Hi,

As far as I know this Flugpark was under the command of Oblt.z.S. (?) Gericke. I know this Flugpark was stationed for some time at Koolkerke aerodrome. Was it also on other locations before or after ? I've never found any other trace about it.

Thanks and best from Regulus

Soderbaum · 7 June 2002, 08:42 AM

Hi Regulus

Lt Gericke(O) was an Army man when he joined MFFA II around Sep 1915...

On 18 Aug 1916 he was promoted to Oblt...!

And on 14 Sep 1916 he left MFFA II for joining MLFA at J-thal...

He ought to be within the Army Ehrenrangliste, so perhaps Rick D or someone else has his first name...?

:-/
Gunnar

Soderbaum · 8 June 2002, 05:30 PM

Hi again

I have read that the buildings at Koolkerke was an underpart to the MarineFlugpark located at Vlissegem...

They had a direct canal "line" to the MFP....and at the end of July 1918 the airdepot at Koolkerke was ready for their work..

Gunnar

Regulus · 8 June 2002, 07:48 PM

Gunnar,

This is most surprising. It would mean that the Noord Ede, which is not so big at all was used as a canal for the pontons which carried the planes.
I wonder if this was possible (many old stone bridges over it that I suspect to be older than 1914 !
I do know, and have pictures of this, that there was a railway from Koolkerke airfield/depot to the canal Brugge-Zeebrugge, and there was also a crane overthere near the canal to place the planes on pontons for transport (to Zeebrugge or to Oostende).
Could you check this out ?

BTW did you know that Pluschow wrote three books ?

Thanks and best from Regulus

Regulus · 8 June 2002, 07:51 PM

Forgot this.

They could also use the canal Brugge-Oostende for Vlissegem. The canal is about 1.5 kilometers from the Vlissegem airfield. So in combined transport it could be possible. And they could easily take them from the ponton with the installations of the ammunitiondepot at Stalhille just next to the canal which was also having a bridge over the canal just next to it. Looks logical !
What do you think ?

Best from Regulus

Boom · 10 June 2002, 04:02 PM

Thanks guys, will probably work Koolkerke into Douai. Great name.

cheers, Boom

Soderbaum · 21 June 2002, 02:19 AM

Hi again

I saw meanwhile that the correct(?) spelling of the location of the MFP should read Lissewege, I assume that this is another place than Vlissegem...?

One of my future projects is to visit the area on the Western front, I have only studied war maps during many Years...

Gunnar

Regulus · 21 June 2002, 02:36 AM

Hi Gunnar,

Aha ! Thank you ! This looks really logical in a way ! Lissewege, where there was a special personage responsable for the technical side of the seaplanes, Ing.Asp.d.R.n Dr Stein.

The seaplanes were moved up and down the railwaytrack from the harbourmole of Zeebrugge to Lissewege where there was indeed a very large repair and revisionhall for the seaplanes. I often have heard that Stein performed some miracles overthere.

Lissewege lays near the canal Brugge Zeebrugge and ist just a few miles under the harbour.

Even nowadays traces can be found back of one of the hangars along the road Brugge-Lissewege-Zeebrugge, where at Zeebrugge near km 17.6 stand a house which was formerly a hangar !

And my dear friend Gunnar, if you do get to Flanders, you will most certainly have a guide if you wish, as I have visited the location of almost each and every former aerodrome overhere. And we would finally meet in person ! Great !

Best from Regulus

Soderbaum · 24 June 2002, 08:52 PM

Hi Regulus

Thanks for your offer for guidance me when I possible made a visit to Flanders.....I was a bit afraid to becoming lost in the Sumpfgebiet...

I have also always had a wish to look over the sea of Zillebeke after reading all reports of "all" a/c which come down in this area....surely some of them ought to still lie on the bottom of that lake...

VBR
Gunnar

Regulus · 24 June 2002, 11:04 PM

Hi Gunnar,

You're going on dangerous grounds now, the ones of the Flanders mysteries... !

There did come down indeed lot's of planes in the area. And there should be some at the bottom of it indeed. Many were never found back.

However it's the same when you go to Roeselare/Roulers where masses of planes came down, but where numerous have never been found back and the crews still are today MIA. No big lkes overhere.

Ah yes the famous Sumpfgebiet !

Zillebeke area is having some great WW I relics, lot's of pill boxes and underground networks at the Palingbeek, the wunderfull museum of Hooghe Crater, Hill 60 and 62, and of course Ypres and the Menin Gate (no not the in Flanders Fields museum if you're knowing more than something on WW I), the very good book shop on WW I the Shell Hole, and there is much much more in the area.
Ah all these airfields, the Batterie Aachen at Raversijde, the Holland Stellung, the small museum at Mesen and the Irish tower, the Zonnebeke museum, are just a few more to mention. And of course there are some great private collections in the area also.

And more planes to dig up at the Spuikom at Oostende home of the Seeflugstation Flandern II. Seems there should be 2 wrecks in the mud of the artificial waters.

Dangerous grounds, dangerous grounds !

Best from Regulus