Feld post nr. ?

[Lee Luke]

Hello, does any one have info on feld post nr. L 43655 in 44/45, L 43871 IN 41' , and L 37714 in 41'. Where can a guy look for a list of feld post numbers? thanks

[Ian Jewison]

L 43655 in 44/45 - Feldwerft-Abteilung der Luftwaffe Tropen II
L 43871 in 41 - Flieger-Werkstatt-Zug 4/VI
L 37714 in 41 - I. Gruppe Stuka-Geschwader 1, became II. Gruppe Stuka-Geschwader 3

/Ian

[Lee Luke]

What exactly is the first unit? In english, please and history on it. thank you

[Larry deZeng]

What exactly is the first unit? In english, please and history on it. thank you

Feldwerft-Abt.d.Lw. Tropen II = Air Force Field Workshop Detachment - Tropical II (to distinguish it from another of the same name that was called Tropen I). It was formed during the winter of 1941-42 and served in Crete and Greece until October 1944. It was equipped with "tropical" gear and the men were issued tropical uniforms. It frequently dispatched small repair sections to Libya for short periods.

Flieger-Werkstatt-Zug 4/VI = Air Force Workshop Platoon 4/VI. It was formed in late 1940 and was stationed at Athens-Eleusis until spring 1942 when it was re-numbered Flieger-Werkstatt-Zug 2/VI. On 15.07.41 it had a strength of one officer and 51 NCOs and men. It specialized in the repair of Skoda military equipment (probably motor vehicles).

--BHS1956

[Larry deZeng]

Where can a guy look for a list of feld post numbers? thanks

Kannapin, Norbert. Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945. 3 Bde (I – III) (Osnabrück, 1980-82).

--BHS1956

[Larry deZeng]

FpN 43655
Feldwerft-Abteilung der Luftwaffe Tropen II
1945:

Feldwerft-Abt.d.Lw. Tropen II

Formed fall 1941 for employment in the Mediterranean area as a mobile field workshop unit for servicing and repairing aircraft under X. Fliegerkorps.

History
25 May 42: first positive identification was this date with location on Crete, probably at the large and important airfield at Heraklion (Iraklion) in the east-central portion of the island. It is believed the Abteilung arrived some weeks before this, perhaps even several months.
5 Sep 42: one man from the Abt. was reported as WIA during a bombing of Heraklion airfield by Allied aircraft.
15 Jun 43: two Werftstaffeln belonging to the Abt. were ordered to transfer (from Crete of southern Greece) to Larisa airfield in east-central Greece.
10 Apr 44: as of this date the Stab (HQ) of Feldwerft-Abt.d.Lw. (mot) Tropen II was located at Athens – New Smyrna with component Werftstaffeln located on Crete and in Greece. The Stab in New Smyrna reported a strength of 4 officers and 60 NCOs and men.
Aug 44: locations unchanged from April.
Sep – Oct 44: began evacuating Greece and Crete along with all other German forces. Most of the units and personnel withdrew north through Macedonia and Serbia by train and motor vehicle while under frequent attack by Bulgarian (formerly allied with Germany), Soviet and Yugoslav partisan forces.
13 Dec 44: Feldwerft-Abt.d.Lw. (mot) Tropen II located in the Vukovar - Sotin area in eastern Croatia. There was no Luftwaffe airfield in that area, so the Abt. was probably waiting for train transportation back to Germany after having completed its withdrawal through Serbia.
Mar 45: now back in Germany and located in the Luftgau VI area centered on the Ruhr. It was undoubtedly being employed on one of the many airfields in that area, but more specific information has not been found.

FpN: L 43655

Kommandeur:
Flieger-Stabsingenieur Weise ( ? - ? ) 4/44

[Sources: BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA Signals to the Field Commands, esp. ULTRA signal MK5830, and AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence documents; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-78 roll 130/Heeresgeneralpostmeister, FpÜ Teil I); (T-311 roll 175/frame 67); (T-321 roll 112); (T-501 rolls 257 and 259)].