Eleusis
aka Athens-Eleusis or Elevsis
General
Fliegerhorst
18 km West Northwest of Athens in Southern Greece, the airfield was located 3 km North North East of the town. [1]
Played a major role in the air war over the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa.[1]
Diary
27-30 Apr 1941 - Taken over by the Luftwaffe. [1]
27 Jun 1943 - both Eleusis and Kalamaki airfields bombed by about 50 B-24's. The following damage was claimed by the Americans:- 3 hangars, the runway intersection, and administration buildings at Eleusis claimed as hit; fires and smoke observed over whole area; of the intercepting aircraft, 3 were claimed as destroyed and 5 as probably destroyed.[2]
22 Sep 1943 - Eleusis was the target for 27 B-24 s, which dropped 64 tons of bombs on runways and dispersal areas and among parked aircraft; a number of JU-88s were believe damaged or destroyed on the ground.[3]
5 Oct 1943 - Forty-eight B-24's bomb the airfield. The Americans estimated that 30-35 German fighters contested the attack. As a result 4 Messerschmitts and 2 FW-190's were claimed as destroyed; 1 aircraft claimed probably destroyed and 1 damaged. Three of the attacking Liberators were shot down.[4]
7 Oct 1943 - Eleusis airfield hit by 48 Mitchells escorted by 24 P-38's.[4]
8 Oct 1943 – 12th Air Force B-24’s bombed Tatoi and Eleusis airfields as well as airfields at Kastelli and Heraklion, and Maritsa on Rhodes. B-25’s also hit Eleusis in a separate raid.[4]
9 Oct 1943 - Medium bomber raids took place on Eleusis, Salonika Sedes, and Argos airfields, "fair results" were claimed by the attacking force.[5]
22 Oct 1943 - Thirty-six escorted B-25s bombed the airfield, clouds prevented damage assessment. The attacking force claimed 1 enemy fighter destroyed in air.[4]
24 Oct 1943 - Minor attack on the airfield.[4]
29 Oct 1943 - Eleusis was attacked by B-25s.[4]
15 Nov 1943 - Eleusis aerodrome sustained severe damage, resulting from raid by 46 B-24s with an escort of P-38s. Approx 60 tons of fragmentation bombs were dropped damaging hangars and fuel stores, 6 aircraft were claimed destroyed on the ground.[6]
16 Nov 1943 - Seventy-nine B-25s with P-38 escort bombed Eleusis airfield. The attacking force claimed that extensive damage was caused to runways, hangars and other buildings, 5 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 10 fires started. [6] See the separate detailed article by Dan Setzer covering this operation by the 340th Bomb Group.
17 Nov 1943 - On this day Eleusis and Kalamaki airfields were the targets for US bombers - 41 B-17s. Damage caused to hangars, buildings, taxi strip and the dispersal area. 5 aircraft destroyed on the ground with damage to 10 more.[7]
18 Nov 1943 - the airfield was again heavily damaged by U.S. bombers; 50 B-17's hit hangar and dispersal areas and claimed to have destroyed 10 aircraft on the ground. Intense AA fire damaged 17 Allied bombers.[7]
6 Dec 1943 - Forty-five B-24s attacked Eleusis airdrome claiming good results. the Allied crews claimed that of the 15-20 Axis aircraft opposing the Allied forced 3 were destroyed, 2 probably destroyed and 2 damaged. In return the Axis defenders were able to destroy 1 B-24, 1 aircraft from the escort was recorded as missing.[8]
8 Dec 1943 - Two Athens airfileds were attacked by Allied heavy bombers with 61 B-17's drop 81.5 tons on Eleusis; 1 B-17 was destroyed by AA fire and 1 B-24 missing.[8]
14 Dec 1943 - Eleusis and Kaltmaki airfileds were attacked by 80 B-17s dropping 236 tons of explosive, claiming to have covered the target areas thoroughly. [8]
20 Dec 1943 - Force of 109 B-17's with escort of 66 P-38s drops 297 tons of bombs on Eleusis aerodrome, inflicting extensive damage. Allied planes claimed to have been opposed by about 35 aircraft of which 19 were claimed destroyed, 3 probably, and 3 damaged.[8]
21 Dec 1943 – Airfield opened at 17.00 hrs for take off and landing on runway, taxying on a hundred metre strip to the west of the runway. The eastern half of the landing area still closed.[9]
13 Sep 1944 - During night 92 Wellingtons, B-24s, and Halifaxes dropped 194 tons of bombs on the three airfields near Athens(Eleusis, Kalamaki, and Tatoi) claiming fair to excellent results.[10]
14 Sep 1944 - Eleusis, Tatoi, and Kalamaki airfields were again targets for 84 B-24s and Wellingtons which dropped 202.4 tons with good to excellent results.[10]
15 Sep 1944 - Force of 327 heavy bombers escorted by 84 P-51s pounded Salamis submarine base and Eleusis, Kalamaki, and Tatoi airfields with 686.8 tons of bombs; claimed damage included 51 enemy planes destroyed on airfields, destroyer, floating.dock, and submarine claimed sunk, another destroyer damaged, 2 floating cranes destroyed,and another submarine missing; according to Allied intelligence reports approx 200 Germans were reported killed. Fighters also strafed Eleusis airfield.[11]
24 Sep 1944 - 252 B-24s dropped 473 tons of bombs on airfields at Kalamaki, Eleusis, and Tatoi[10]
4 Oct 1944 - Kalamaki, Eleusis and Tatoi in Athens area strafed by P-51s, 9 enemy planes claimed destroyed on the ground with 21 damaged.[12]
6 Oct 1944 - Eleusis, Tatoi, Kalamaki, and Megara airfields attacked by 53 P-51s which claimed the destruction of 5 planes, ammunition dump, MG and oil dump and damage to 10 planes. [12]
9 Oct 1944 - 19 Wellingtons attacked Tatoi, Eleusis, and Kalamaki airfields near Athens throughout night dropping 44.35 tons of bombs with hits on landing ground,hangars, and buildings. [12]
Mid Oct 44 - Evacuated by the Luftwaffe.[13]
Air Units[14]
Stab./LG 1 (1 May 41 - 17 Feb 1942, Sep 1942 - 7 May 1943 and 15 Nov 1943 - 22 Jan 1944)
I./LG 1 (15 May 41 - 17 Feb 1942, 30 Jan 1943 - 7 May 1943 and 10 Nov 1943 - 23 Jan 1944)
II./LG 1 (16 May 41 - 16 Mar 1942, 7 Aug 1942 - 10 Aug 1942 and 2 Apr 1943 - 11 Jun 1943)
III./LG 1 (11 Dec 1941 - 30 Dec 1941)
I.(Jagd)/LG 2 (27 Apr 19 41 - 11 May 1941)
II./KG 26 (May 1941 - Nov 1942) - ex.6./KG 26 which moved to Buzeau (Romania) in Sep 1941.
II./KG 54 (20 May 1942 - Jun 1942) a detachment located here from Gerbini/Comiso, later moved to Derna.
III./KG 100 (10 Jan 1943 - 18 Feb 1943)
Einsatzstaffel./KG 100, operating from Kalamaki, used Eleusis as a reserve airfield. (10 Apr 1943 - 10 Nov 1943)
Kdo. Petersen (Aug 1941 - Sep 1941) - Elements of I./KG 40 for operations over the Gulf of Suez, the canal and the northern
part of the Red Sea.(Also used Heraklion)
Stab./St.G. 3 (Jun 1943 - 18 Oct 1943)
Stab and Stabstaffel/SG 3 (18 Oct - Dec 43)
JG 27 (May 41, 1942)
Stab./JG 27 (26 Apr. 1941 - 13 May 1941)
I./JG 27 (24 Oct 1942 - 25 Oct 1942)
II./JG 27 (26 Apr. 1941 - 11 May 1941)
III./JG 27 ( (26 Apr. 1941 - 2 May 1941)
11./ZG 26 (Jun 1943 - Aug 1944)
4./Minensuchgruppe 1 (1944)
IV./TG 1 (1944)
2./KG 4 (28 Sep 1944 - 4 Oct 1944) - for the evacuation of Greece.
Aufklärungsstaffel XI. Fliegerkorps (24 Apr 1941 - 21 Jul 1941)
Westa 76 (May 1941 - Jun 1941)
Station Units[15]
Fl.H.Kdtr. E 15/VII (Jun 1941 - Oct 1942)
Fl.H.Kdtr. A 202/IV (Oct 1942 - Apr 1943)
Fl.H.Kdtr. A 210/III (Apr 43 - 1 Apr 1944)
Fl.H.Kdtr. A(o) 105/XVII (1 Apr 1944 - Oct 44)
Other Assigned Units[16]
Lg.Nachr.Rgt. Südost - II. Abteilung formed Nov 1941, 22. schwere Flugmelde-Kompanie in Eleusis
Fl.Werkstatt-Zug (Skoda) 4/VI (1941)
Frontreparaturbetrieb GL 2563 (Junkers) (1941-42)
Feldwerft-Abt. IV./20 (1942-43)
132. Flugh.Betr.Kp. (Qu) (1944)
Werft-Kp. 58 (1944)
Werftzüge 105, 719 and 720 (1944)
1. Lufttorpedo-Betr.Kp. (1944)
10. Lufttorpedo-Betr.Kp. (1944)
11. Nachschub-Kp. d.Lw. 2/I (1941)
mittl.Fl.Betr.St.Kol. 1/VI (1941)
Flug-Betr.St.Kol. 519/VI (1944)
Trsp.Kol. d.Lw. 6/XVII (1941)
Lw.-Baugeräte-Zug 14/IV (1942-43)
Ger.Kol. Lw.-Bau-Btl. 130/XVII (1944)
Ldssch.Zug d.Lw. 304/VI (1942-44)
Ldssch.Zug d.Lw. 146/XI (1944)
22.(schw.Flugm.)/Luftgau-Nachr.Rgt. Südost
I./Flak-Rgt. 6 (gem. mot.) (Jul 1941)
Flakscheinw.Abt. 449 (Nov 1941-42)
gem.Flak-Abt. 131 (1942)
1.Flak-Abt. 891 (Oct 1942- Oct 1944);
Co-Ordinates
38.03 N 23.33 E
End of Occupation
The Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report Serial No. 262, dated 2nd January, 1945
Listed enemy (Axis) aircraft crashed in Greece and examined by Technical Intelligence Officers.
It lists the following aircraft found and examined on Eleusis airfield:-
Type | Markings | Engine(s) | Remarks |
Ju 52/3m | Burnt out | ||
Ju 52/3m | Burnt out | ||
Ju 52/3m | Burnt out | ||
Ju 52/3m | 1Z+RX
R (White) X (Black) On fin RX On rudder D 1 (in yellow) R |
BMW 132 | This machine had been specially strengthened to carry heavy loads. |
Ju 52/3m | 3K + GM
G (Blue, outlined white) M (Black) |
This aircraft had been used as a minesweeper and 11 white lines indicating the number of "kill" were painted on the rudder. |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009
- ↑ Jun 1943 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department
- ↑ Sep 1943 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Oct 1943 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department.
- ↑ USAAF Combat Chronology.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nov 1943 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department. Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "ftn12" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Nov 1943 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department. Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Dec 1943 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department. Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009
- ↑ DEFE3/14 pg 104 VL2412
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Sep 1944 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department.
- ↑ Sep 1944 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department. Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Oct 1944 World War II Chronology - Military Intelligence Division, US War Department.
- ↑ Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009
- ↑ Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009 with additional data from Michael Holm's - The Luftwaffe 1939-45 website.
- ↑ Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009
- ↑ Larry deZeng - Post to TOCH 30 Dec 2009