It's always nice if you can find something about you're home town on the net.

A piece about wevelgem airfield viewed from No. 151 Repair Unit.

The Merlins, Alisons and Griffons roar,
The Sabres Rattle,
The Wasps Sting,
The Cyclones Blow,
and
The little Lycomings purr away.
These engines left our good unit for those on high, flying above and around us.
In their going out and their coming safely back, the Aircrew thanks go to 151.
The story of 151 enshrines the past,
As leaf by leaf,
So day by day,
Year by year,
Reunion after reunion,
The stories of our lives unfold.
Our eyes grow dim, our hair turns grey,
Could we, but have read when 151 began
That the story of our works would stand?
Through all our days and all our nights
Until the enemies were put to flight
- Epitaph to No. 151 Repair Unit (Aircraft), 2nd Tactical Air Force,
Wevelgem, Belgium, 1944-45, by Harold E Jacobson, ex. 151RU(A)

In September 1944, three Queen Mary lorries, each loaded with an aircraft engine test bench, and a Hillman Utility loaded with emergency rations, arrived at Wevelgem Airfield, near Brussels in Belgium. This was an advance party from No. 151 Repair Unit (Aircraft) - or 151RU(A) - a detachment of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.
Wevelgem itself had had a pedigree flying history, having been used by German flying ace Baron Von Richthofen during WW1, and from 1942 by the 'Top Guns of the Luftwaffe', the JG26, under the jurisdiction of legendary Jagdgeschwader General Adolph Galland.
But in 1944, Wevelgem was back under Allied control, initially under a Free French squadron of Spitfires. By the time the main unit of No. 151 Repair Unit (Aircraft) arrived in October 1944, the advance party had already established three aircraft engine test benches in position and ready for work. Eventually, there were six benches;

1. two for the Merlins
2. one for Wright-Cyclones
3. one for a Pratt and Witney Twin Wasp
4. one for a Lycoming
5. one for Griffon engines (for the Spitfires of 610 Squadron)

In addition, a Hawker Typhoon EJ693 was adapted by 151 RU (Repair Unit) as a test bench for Napier Sabre engines. All in all, the unit was able to service nine aircraft of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, four British and five American.

1. Spitfire (British)
2. Typhoon (British)
3. Mosquito (British)
4. Tempest (British)
5. Mustang (US)
6. Boston (US)
7. Mitchell (US)
8. Marauder (US)
9. Auster (US)

Standard propellers were used with a depression box to take the engines up to their rated altitudes. Notably, this was the only engine test bench facility in the 2nd Tactical Air Force and played a vital role in keeping the aircraft flying. And from the first engine test in November 1944, the two Merlin benches worked three shifts a day, day-in, day-out, until beyond VE Day, 8 May 1945.
During that period, at Christmas 1944, the men of 151RU(A) gave a festive party for the 2,000 or so children of Wevelgem. It was the same time as the Ardennes Offensive.

'We served the children carrying our Sten Guns and two clips of ammunition, whilst serving the children with currant bread and cocoa as the Germans dropped their troops behind our lines. One of the young children, Anny, sang God Save The King, in English. She is now is a very close friend of ours, and her husband Etienne Vanackere is now curator of the Wevelgem Airfield Museum.'
- Harold E Jacobson

Harry Jacobson formed part of the advance party arriving at Wevelgem from RAF Odiham in September 1944. With his wife Min, and uniquely for an English couple, he was invited to and attended a Luftwaffe reunion from 12-15 May 1994, there meeting up with members of the old JG26 who had used Wevelgem from 1942-44. The speech he gave, whilst exchanging plaques with ex-JG26 Luftwaffe flier, Gottfried Schmidt, at the reunion was approved by then British Prime Minister, John Major.
Harry also revisited Wevelgem Cemetery on 18 May 1997, laying there a wreath to commemorate those who lost their lives during WW2. Over 2,000 RAF and Commonwealth aircrew are buried in Belgium, some of whom share the same Flanders soil as their relatives who died in 1914-18.



source: BBC - WW2 People's War - No. 151 Repair Unit (Aircraft), Wevelgem, Belgium, 1944 - 1945



I will try to post some pictures of airmen who died in Wevelgem or who are buried in the cemetery starting with this commemeration plaque not far from the airfield:





in Moorsele (where there was an airstrip too) there's another one like the previous one for a blenheim-crew.





a bunker from the fake german airstrip. this was originally placed in ww1 but failed to do it's job. a new use in ww2 as a flak-bunker and reserve airstrip (no airplane has ever been recorded to take off from that airstrip)




I will try to find more info on the net about the airfield and try to translate some pieces from a book I just bought.



greetings from you're little Belgian friend Arneken.

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

another story:

The only major maintenance unit in the 2nd T.A.F. with aircraft engine Test benches, two for Roils Royce Merlin engines and two for American engines, Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp and Wright Cyclone engines.
One test bench for the little Lycoming and a Tempest Fuselage for the Sabre engines.
The 18 men divided into one Corporal and two fitters per shift.
3 continuous shifts on the Merlin benches and shift as required for the American engines. Seven days a week.
On the Merlin benches we worked under floodlights at night if there was an air raid an R.A.F. policeman was to cycle over the airfield and tell us to put the lights out. Ha, ha, ha. At about 8am every morning an Army Bowser would call and drop 5 gallon of water for drinking only. This was to last the 18 men 24 hours.
In May 1944 the R.A.F. Bomber command dropped bombs on the town of Courrai (Kortrijk ) and killed 600 people, the town was flat they should have hit the railway sidings, a lot fell on the town we lost 10 Lancaster’s on this raid. To help matters we gave a Christmas party to 2000 children on Christmas day 1944. This party was on and it was off due to the Germans breaking through in the Ardennes.
The Luftwaffe with bombers to bomb England and a group of Adolph Gallands unit, top class fighting units of JG26, used our airfield. Top Guns of the Luftwaffe. I believe my wife Min and myself are the only couple to be invited to there re-union in Germany. The Rt. Hon. John Major Prime Minister approved my speech at the time.
Did you know that one of our Typhoons machine-gunned some of our prisoners escaping from their camp, 39 killed? No apology from the R.A.F. A Flt. Lt. Who escaped lived in Gloucester.
On the test benches no engine could be issued unless it had our test certificate, there had been many problems men working at the front changing engines only to find they had faults. In the early days I recalled to my unit in Jurby I.O.M. No 5 bombing and gunnery school.10th May 1940 we had to search for gun racks and bomb racks for our Blenheims to send 10 Blenheims to the south coast to cover Dunkirk.
We never found the racks so the Blenheims never left. I also served in the Middle East Air Force from Jan 1941 until Jan 1944, then back to the UK under canvas until the invasion.
P.S It is my opinion that if you did not belong to Bomber command or fighter command they did not want to know you as both our Air Commanders Tedder and Coningham did not agree to the bombing and said that you will not win a war unless you have ground troops with a strong air force ahead this was proved in Egypt, our first victory which allowed our church bells to ring. The two Commanders brought back Tedder 2nd in command and Coningham to form 2nd T.A.F. I know more about Arnhem being in Belgium that’s another story. You never hear of the 2nd T.A.F. or Far East Air force,
My 511 forwards repair unit was re-grouped to form 151 repair unit, 2nd tactical air force R.A.F being an Honary member of the Flander aviation, they have been good enough to write my experiences of the Hamson crash of 7 squadron into the Snaefell mountain snow covers. On 1:01:1940 it was this crash that caused my lung problems later in life. It is possible for you to look at some of the support attitudes that went on during the War times days. My memories leave you an insight to the teams working under terrible conditions to keep our Air Force operational.
I am 83 years of age and 90% disabled.
WEVELGEM — BELGIUM
ROYAL AIR FORCE
The Epitaph to 151 Repair Unit (Aircraft)
2nd Tactical Air Force. Belgium 1944/46.
The Merlins, Alisons and Griffons Roar
The Sabres Rattle,
The Wasp’s Stings,
The Cyclones Blow,
And
The little Lycomings purr away.
These engines left our good unit for those on high,
Flying above and around us,
In their going out and their coming back safely, the aircrew thanks go to 151.
The story of 151 enshrines the past,
As leaf by leaf, so day by day, year by year, reunion after reunion the stories of our lives unfold, Our eyes grow dim, our hair turns grey, could we, but have read when 151 began that the story of our works would stand,
Though all our days and all our nights until the enemies where put to flight.
H.E Jacobson
When you are flying, everything is alright or it is not alright,
If it is alright there is no need to worry,
If it is not alright, one of two things will happen. Either you will crash or you will not
Crash. If you do crash, one of two things will happen.
Either you will be injured or you will not be injured.
If you are not injured there is no need to worry.
If you are injured one of two things is certain. Either you will recover or you will not recover.
If you recover there is no need to worry
If you do not recover, you cannot worry.
From ‘Spitfire Parade (1941)’.
V.E DAY MAY 8TH 1945
The following is a personal message to relatives and friends of all members of 2nd T.A.F from Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham. Air Officer, Commanding-in- Chief, 2nd T.A.F.
It is your courage and stead-
Fastness that have sustained
To you our relations and
Friends go our first thoughts
Of gratitude for the victory
In Europe.
It is your courage and stead
Fastness that have sustained
Us.
1. THE SECOND TACTICAL AIR FORCE WAS FORMED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ON 1ST JUNE 1943.
2. IT TOOK PART IN THE AIR OPERATIONS
3. OVER EUROPE WHICH PRECEDED THE INVASION OF THE CONTINENT.
4. IT COMMENCED TO LAND ON ‘D’DAY THE 6TH JUNE 1944 AND FOUGHT WITH 21 ARMY GROUP OVER FRANCE, BELGIUM AND HOLLAND AND INTO THE HEART OF GERMANY IN THE CAMPAIGN WHICH LIBERATED EUROPE FROM NAZI DOM.



source: BBC - WW2 People's War - H E JACOBSON

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

some better pictures about the dummy airfield of wevelgem:

Oostduinkerke - Wn Waldersee

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

Nice, Arneken!

I live in Belgium Too so very interesting.

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if I'm not mistaken you know allot about the Germans and you're pretty young.

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

Yes,

You know me from somewhere?

__________________

A small mistake: this was airfield Markebeke not far from Wevelgem. (about 10 miles)

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

the dutch ww2-forum. I've been a memeber there for some while and a member called sturmkreuz opened some impressive topics and made good comments

any change it might been you?

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

Having should be (it) Has been ... ?



You're right. :P. I'm pretty active here right now and I think I'll stay here for awhile too.

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German activitey on the airfield: Jagdgeschwader 26

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Hptm. Werner Palm, 1.5.39 - 27.6.39
• Hptm Herwig Knüppel, 28.6.39 - 19.5.40
• Hptm Karl Ebbighausen (acting), 29.5.40 - 31.5.40
• Hptm. Erich Noack, 1.6.40 - 24.7.40
• Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 25.7.40 - 16.8.40
• Hptm Erich Bode, 17.8.40 - 3.10.40
• Hptm Walter Adolph, 3.10.40 - 18.9.41
• Hptm Jochen Müncheberg, 19.9.41 - 21.7.42
• Hptm Karl-Heinz Meyer, 22.7.42 - 2.1.43
• Maj Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, 3.1.43 - 17.8.43
• Hptm Hans Naumann, 18.8.43 - 8.9.43
• Obstlt Johannes Seifert, 9.9.43 - 25.11.43
• Maj Wilhelm Gäth, 26.11.43 - 1.3.44
• Hptm Hans Naumann, 2.3.44 - 28.6.44
• Hptm Emil Lang, 29.6.44 - 3.9.44
• Hptm Georg Peter Eder, 4.9.44 - 8.10.44
• Maj Anton Hackl, 9.10.44 - 29.1.45
• Obstlt Waldemar Radener, 30.1.45 - 22.2.45
• Hptm Paul Schauder, 23.2.45 - 1.5.45

Formed 1.5.39 in Bönninghardt from II./JG132 with:

Stab II./JG26 from Stab II./JG132
4./JG26 from 4./JG132
5./JG26 from 5./JG132
6./JG26 from 6./JG132

On 1.10.43 increased to 4 staffeln:

5./JG26 from the old 4./JG26
6./JG26 from the old 5./JG26
7./JG26 from the old 6./JG26
8./JG26 from the old 10./JG26

8./JG26 was disbanded 15.2.45.


they've been in Wevelghem from 15.10.41 untill 22.12.41.

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Ernst Freiherr von Berg, 1.11.39 - 10.6.40
• Maj Adolf Galland, 11.6.40 - 20.8.40
• Maj Gerhard Schöpfel, 21.8.40 - 5.12.41
• Hptm Josef Priller, 6.12.41 - 10.1.43
• Hptm Fritz Geisshardt, 11.1.43 - 6.4.43
• Hptm Kurt Ruppert, 7.4.43 - 13.6.43
• Hptm Rolf Hermichen, 15.6.43 - 4.7.43
• Maj Klaus Mietusch, 5.7.43 - 17.9.44
• Hptm Paul Schauder, 18.9.44 - 26.9.44
• Hptm Walter Krupinski, 27.9.44 - 25.3.45

Formed 23.9.39 in Werl from parts of I. and II./JG26 with:

Stab III./JG26 new (1.11.39)
7./JG26 new
8./JG26 new
9./JG26 new (1.11.39)

In 1.10.43 increased to 4 staffeln (the old 8./JG26 had been renamed 4./JG26 on 21.9.43):

9./JG26 from the old 7./JG26
10./JG26 from the old 9./JG26
11./JG26
12./JG26

III./JG26 was disbanded on 25.3.45.

they've been in Wevelghem from 7.4.42 untill 14.5.43.

12. Staffel:

Formed 11.4.43 in Wewelghem from parts of III./JG26. Attached to III./JG26 and on 1.10.43 officially became part of III. Gruppe.
For bases, see III./JG26.

Ergänzungsgruppe:
Gruppenkommandeure:

• Olt Baron Hubertus von Holtey, 26.9.40 - 17.5.41
• Hptm Fritz Fromme, 17.5.41 - 27.1.42

source:Jagdgeschwader 26

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

well keep up the good work. you've made some good posts here and over there on the dutch one.

greetings arne(ken)

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

the gentlemen called josef "pips" priller took down 101 enemy planes in his fighter career.

a short overview of the victims taking of from Wevelgem.

- - Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Boulogne Not confirmed 63 13:45 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 N Gravelines Spitfire of 41 Sqn, RAF 64 18:26 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5km N Calais Spitfire of 118 or 129 Sqn, RAF 65 16:54 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 10km W St Étienne - 66 12:25 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 S Ardres Spitfire of 65 Sqn, RAF 67 12:30 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 15km NW Gravelines Spitfire of 65 Sqn, RAF 68 12:00 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Dunkirk-Gravelines Spitfire of 401 Sqn, RAF 69 19:30 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5km N Calais Spitfire of 457, 485 or 602 Sqn, RAF 70 15:40 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 11km SW Ypres Spitfire Vb (BM261) of 313 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt Karel Pavlik, killed 71 13:40 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 3km N Gravelines Spitfire of 118 of 501 Sqn, RAF 72 11:33 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 S Guines-Audembert Spitfire of 313 Sqn RAF flown by F/Lt Stanislav Fejfar (5.833/1/3 victories) 73 13:45 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5km N Blankenberghe Spitfire of 350 Sqn, RAF 74 12:10 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 30km N Gravelines Spitfire of 64 Sqn, RAF 75 15:38 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 8km NE Dover Spitfire of 402 Sqn, RAF - 19:00 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 Gravelines Not confirmed 76 11:10 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 50km N Gravelines - 77 11:46 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 15km NW Cap Gris Nez - 78 10:35 B-24 Stab III./JG 26 SW Roubaix-Wevelgem B-17 “Snoozy II” of 367 BS, 306 BG, USAAF flown by Capt John Olsen 79 14:40 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 20km N Calais Spitfire of 401 or 402 Sqn, RAF 80 12:10 Spitfire Stab III./JG 26 5-6km S Lille - 81 12:01 B-17 Stab III./JG 26 Baie de la Seine B-17 of 91 BG, USAAF 82 12:35 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 N Canterbury Spitfire of 332 Sqn, RAF 83 14:15 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 8km NW St Valery-en-Cause Spitfire of 340 Sqn, RAF 84 15:12 B-17 Stab/JG 26 20km W Ostend B-17 of 306 BG, USAAF 85 18:42 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 Westerschelde-NW Antwerp - 86 16:24 B-17 Stab/JG 26 Near Amplier-5km E Boulogne B-17 of 91 BG, USAAF 87 16:46 Spitfire Stab/JG 26 5km NW Étaples Spitfire of 416 Sqn, RAF
source:Aces of the Luftwaffe - Josef Priller

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Sixty-four bomber pilots and crew lie in the cemetery at Wevelgem Communal and today many locals still pay their respects to those brave men from high in the skies.

hauptmann Joachim Müncheberg did even better shooting down 135 enemy planes.

a short overview from his actions taking of in Wevelgem:

57 14:33 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Samer - 58 13:07 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Loon Plage Spitfire of Digby Wg or 412 Sqn, RAF 59 13:15 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NNE Dunkirk Spitfire of Digby Wg or 412 Sqn, RAF 60 14:17 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 W Boulogne - 61 16:01 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Dunkirk Spitfire of 411 Sqn, RAF 62 16:04 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 N Gravelines Spitfire of 411 Sqn, RAF 63 16:17 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Wirre Effroy Spitfire of 124 Sqn, RAF 64 16:30 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Rue-Cambron Spitfire of 412 Sqn, RAF 65 16:35 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Cambron Spitfire of 412 Sqn, RAF 66 11:46 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 W Calais - 67 17:50 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Etaples Spitfire of 340 Sqn, RAF 68 16:40 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Crécy - 69 16:43 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Rue - 70 18:05 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 WNW Calais Spitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF 71 18:06 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 10km W Cap Gris Nez Spitfire of 485 Sqn, RAF 72 14:47 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NE Dunkirk Spitfire of Tangmere Wg or 340 Sqn, RAF 73 16:06 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 N Mardyck Spitfire of 303 Sqn, RAF 74 16:04 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 Le Touquet Spitfire of Northolt Wg or 317 Sqn, RAF 75 19:36 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 W Somme Estuary Spitfire of 222 Sqn, RAF 76 19:31 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 SW Calais Spitfire of 122 or 222 Sqn, RAF - 19:40 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 5km N Calais not confirmed 77 18:53 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 NW Cap Gris Nez Spitfire of 303 Sqn, RAF - 13:43 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 15km S Gravelines Spitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF / not confirmed - 13:44 Spitfire Stab II./JG 26 15km S Gravelines Spitfire of 118 or 501 Sqn, RAF / not confirmed -