FA (A) 227

I would like to know the airfield locations of FA (A) 227. I am researching this in relation to Jasta 11 ace Karl Allmenroeder and his brother Wilhelm who both flew with this unit. Any info about the comanders of the unit would be of help also. Thanks

[Regulus]

Hi,

Not much, bud I remember that in october 1917 they were part of the Gruppe Rijsel of the IV German Army.
Other units in this Gruppe were FA (A) 258, 266, 294 B, Schusta's 21 and 27 B And Jasta 17. They were already part of that Gruppe by the end of july.
During some time they were stationed at Oostkamp earlier in 1917. No precise data however.

VBR from Regulus

Thanks for the Help Regulus, I appreciate it.

[Soderbaum]

Hi

Hptm Walter Fricke was the commander of FAA 227 from at least August 1916(perhaps even earlier) until at least Jan 1918.
During his vacation from 8 Dec 1917 until 3 Jan 1918 Oblt Schmidt(O) hold the temporay command. He "perhaps" also took over the real command on 10 Feb 1918..?

They served a long time within 4 German Army(Flanders) from 25 May 1917 until circa 8 March 1918....they had served within the 6 Army prior to that and at least from mid Aug 1916...

As Regulus stated they were first stationed at Oostkamp, I have another note that they moved to Erkeghem airfield around 25 Nov 1917.

:
Gunnar

[Regulus]

Hi Gunnar,

In fact Oostkamp an Erkegem are the same place. Erkegem is an itsy tiny little place with just a few houses, nothing more. Some kind of a hamlet.

There are many of these confusing situations with names in West Flanders airfields.
Another example is the Jabbeke-Varsenare-Snellegem airfield. Three placenames for one airfield ! And to add the confusion there was a reserve airfield at Snellegem for the other airfield at Snellegem !

Or take Aartrijke, where they had two airfields next to eachother.
And there are several more. Even for us as locals its sometimes confusing !

VBR from Regulus

[Soderbaum]

Hi Regulus

According to a list I have the German in April 1918 had FOUR airfields around Ostkamp.

Nr. 28 Oostkamp West
Nr. 29 Oostkamp Ost
Nr. 30 Erkeghem Nord
Nr. 31 Erkeghem West

All four airfields where "fully ready for service" which meant that they if not occupied had military and/or civilian personal which can made them ready in short time...


Gunnar

[Regulus]

Hmm, Gunnar, this is surprising.

I know of the fact that there were two Erkegem airfields. The one at the side near Oostkamp were stationed Schusta 27B and FAA 233.
But this would mean that there was still another airfield at Oostkamp itself. And that is something completely new. Or otherwise the airfield would have got 4 differend area's. two on the grounds of Erkegem and two on the grounds of Oostkamp. Da you have any more information on them ? I go in the first days (possibly tomorrow) to the Brussels military archives.

VBR from Regulus

[Soderbaum]

Hi Regulus

Unfortunate I only have the list of around 90 German Army airfields in the Flanders area in April 1918...

The Airfields are divided in two categories, the first se above..!
The second category did not necessarily have any protection from military and/or civilian personal.

I will trying scanning the list and send it to you...

Regarding more information about airfields including aerial photographs etc, they can probably be found in Grufl reports.
Perhaps I can found some notes on delivering of hangars to the airfields but you have to wait for that information...


Gunnar

[Regulus]

Hi Gunnar,

That would be great !

Today I couldn't go to Brussels, so I took the car to investigate on the Oostkamp-Erkegem airfield. I think more and more of it as it was indeed one and the same location. By looking at the maps and so on it seems logical, that it was devided in two parts, two at Erkegem, two at Oostkamp.
The municipal administration will see if they can find something for me.

There are some other remaining mysteries on West Flanders airfields, and this list may make a number of things clear.
For example we found this Zande airfield (there are even remains of bunkers) but not one unit was located there for the moment. It was to far of to be a normal reserve airfield as there was at Snellegem.

I also was able to take a good look at the remains of two bunkers of the Snellegem airfield today and to make some real good pics.

VBR from regulus

[Regulus]

Oh yes, forgot this, the Brussels warmuseum and its archives have wonderfull excellent pics of all German airfields in Belgium. So tomorrow I will pick out some new ones.
They also have a very large collection of all possible German fortifications at West Flanders, partly including the airfields.

VBR from Regulus