Dave, The Airfield at Staaken is within 15 minutes walk from my house and there are numerous foundations left of the buildings, but much of it is overgrown with the exceptions of the runways and Peritracks. It was taken over by the Russians at the end of the war and like everything under their control it was left to go to rack and ruin over the years. After reunification a new road was built to provide access to the B5, the main road from Berlin centre to Nauen and beyond. The result being the main runway was cut in two! Lots of aircraft history around here and also the great Luftwaffe museum was rehoused in Berlin, Gatow, which again is only 20 minutes drive for me. Free entrance and lots of excellent exhibits to see indoors and outdoors. They recently had a Zeppelin exhibit and a large scale model of one was suspended from the hanger, which was quite impressive. (No picture at the moment.) Attached is a photo of one of their exhibits, A Fokker I believe. Regards Tom
Dave, The local vicar at staaken is an amateur Historian and helped produce a book about Staaken. I bought a copy to learn more about where I now live and there is a short chapter on 'Der Flugplatz Staaken', with an article about LZ 104 (L59), like you said, interesting. Regards Tom
Tom That is fantastic to have so much history right on your doorstep. Nice to see that you have a such a keen interest in your local area. I find it strange, and I am no exception to the rule. that we will travel miles to visit/research/experience whatever interests us, but are almost ignorant about or choose to ignore what is so close to us. Best regards Dave
Tom That is fantastic to have so much history right on your doorstep. Nice to see that you have a such a keen interest in your local area. I find it strange, and I am no exception to the rule. that we will travel miles to visit/research/experience whatever interests us, but are almost ignorant about or choose to ignore what is so close to us. Best regards Dave Dave, You are absolutely correct and it is nice to have some history on the doorstep, so to speak. There is old airfield just off the B5, prior to the Berlin Autobahn (A100) where non other than the Red Baron learned to fly. Typical of the many airfields, it was abandoned and is now derelict. I will see what pictures I can dig up and get back to you. Regards Tom
to smudger jnr - does the book you mentioned contains picture/s from Staaken after 1945 when the airfield was under Russian control?
Hi ya have found 1 book zeppelin raids over england . by Andrew hyde amazon books 19,99 i think raider......... for our today they gave there toworrow
Coldwar, Unfortunately I have no photographs of Staaken airfield postwar. Due to its location close to the centre of Berlin, it was a Prime location. I have been told that it was extremely busy post war and it is more than possible that Russian Diplomats etc landed ther on route to the Potsdam Conference as a road leads direct to Potsdam from the location. The area like most Soviet sites, was off limits to the local population, again because it was so close to the border with West Berlin and the British Zone. I think if you were caught with a camera anywhere near, you would have ended up in Siberia! I drive past the old airfield frequently and the main runway is now looking well and truly overgrown with only a narrow track along what was a large runway. I will see if I can find anything on the web relating to Post war activity at Staaken. Regards Tom
...I have been told that it was extremely busy post war and it is more than possible that Russian Diplomats etc landed ther on route to the Potsdam Conference as a road leads direct to Potsdam from the location...Tom Yes, that's what we published in our book "Rote Plaetze" ("Red Squares") some time ago. By the way post war Staaken was named DALLGOW by the Russians! Had a meeting with the local vicar the other day and he was able to add some small pieces to the history. Outcome: the Russians used DALLGOW/Staaken 1945-1953. Next user of the airfield barracks was the "university for foreign trade" (GDR) starting 1. September 1953.
Coldwar, Just logged on after a few days away in Bremen, visiting my wifes family and have just read your post. Dallgow is the next village west of Staaken and there is now a large shopping centre. I have seen a good softback book all about Dallgow airfield and will try and obtain a copy as on my last visit it was sold out. I will post any pictures that may be of interest to you if I can obtain a copy of the book. Regards Tom
DaveW53, Dave, Whilst visiting my inlaws this weekend I was shown an old photo album from the first Word War, the album being a history of my father in laws father who was a soldier. Apparently first stationed with an Observation Ballon Division and later working with aeroplanes including early sea planes. I saw one picture of a Zeppelin, which had been shot down in the Thames estuary. The photo was obviously taken by either another Zeppelin or a German aeroplane and shows the partially destroyed Zeppelin on the water. The album states which Zeppelin was shot down. I had to photograph the original and due to its age was not in the best of condition, but I thought I would share it with everyone as, as far as I am aware, it is an original and I am sure has never been seen before other than by family members. The LZ19 was apparently shot down by British Aircraft and landed in the North Sea possibly near Dogger bank. The Trawler HMT King Stephen saw distress flares and investigated. The Zeppelin had about 19 survivers all believed armed and as the trawler had a crew of only 8 it was thought unwise to attempt a rescue that could result in the Trawler herself being taken. All of the Zeppelin crew perished. Regards Tom
Tom Thanks for sharing this fascinating family link to WW1. In fact there are 2 stories here. The tragic case of King Stephen trawler and zeppelin L19 of the German Naval Airship Division happened 110 miles east of Flamborough head 2nd February 1916. The airship was crippled by rifle fire from Dutch sentries whilst flying over Ameland. Note L19 is the Navy's designation. The builder's number begins with 'LZ'. L19's builder's number is LZ54. However the photo you produced I believe is of L12. See photo below from Robinson's book 'The Zeppelin in Combat.' L12 was destroyed on 10th August 1915. After a raid on England she was hit by rounds fired by Dover 3in naval guns. The zeppelin appeared to 'shudder' as it disappeared behind a 'smoke screen' which was actually the water ballast being released as she fought for safer heights. Despite lightening the load by dropping equipment overboad the ship eventually fell into the foggy waters of the Channel. A German torpedo boat towed the airship to Ostend. Several British planes from Dunkirk attempted to bomb L12 without success. In fact a pilot was killed when his aircraft was shot down. During attempts to salvage the airship using a crane to swing it onto the pier at Ostend quayside it exploded and burned. The commander of the airship, Werner Peterson, survived until 24th September 1916, when he was shot down in L32. The blazing wreckage struck ground at Snail's Hall Farm, South Green, near Billericay. All 22 crew members were killed. Cheers Dave
Dave, Thanks for the Correction, it appears that the author of the album was misinformed and obviously printed the information given him. Looking at the picture it is definitely the same airship, only seen from another angle. A good post on the actual facts, so many thanks. Regards Tom
Coldwar, Just logged on after a few days away in Bremen, visiting my wifes family and have just read your post. Dallgow is the next village west of Staaken and there is now a large shopping centre. I have seen a good softback book all about Dallgow airfield and will try and obtain a copy as on my last visit it was sold out. I will post any pictures that may be of interest to you if I can obtain a copy of the book. Regards Tom Just to make it clear: The village Dallgow never had an airfield. The field you writing about was Dallgow-DOEBERITZ (1910), one of the earliest airfields in Germany! It was closed after WW1. The Nazis raised up another airfield close by in 1934/35, named ELSTAL. When the Russians occupied Staaken airfield they called it DALLGOW to confuse everybody! DALLGOW (Staaken) and ELSTAL both used by the Russians after 1945. Dallgow-DOEBERITZ was never used by them (because it was no longer existing). See the book "Rote Plaetze", it contains a large number of details.
Coldwar, Yes you are correct and the book I mentioned was Dallgow-Döberitz. I was always led to believe that the Red Baron learned to fly at Elstal, but after what you have posted it must have been Dallgow-Döberitz. I have not had chance to visit the shop yet (recent roadworks and long delays from the shopping centre), but hope the book will clear up certain points. I will keep you posted. Regards Tom
Coldwar, Just bought myself the book, 'Flugplatz Döberitz' by Kai Biermann and Erhard Cielewicz. ISBN 3-86153-371-5Published by Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin. Apparently Boelke, Immelmann and Richthofen learned to fly there. The whole area is now a preserved nature site of about 3400 Hectars. Regards Tom
Dave, Sorry you had to wait so long, but here is the photo I talked about. The model is so large it is hard to get a good shot at it. Regards Tom
Hallo all Can I also recco this book about the Zep raids on London: Campaign 193: London 1914-17: The Zeppelin Menace…Amazon.co.uk: Ian Castle, Christa Hook: Books Very informative, with detailed maps of attacks Two doors down from my house was hit by firebomb during an attack by L10 which killed ten people two streets away over the back garden. Some of the housing built to replace the stuff destroyed was later destroyed by a V2! Kind regards all!
Hallo all Can I also recco this book about the Zep raids on London: Campaign 193: London 1914-17: The Zeppelin Menace…Amazon.co.uk: Ian Castle, Christa Hook: Books Very informative, with detailed maps of attacks Two doors down from my house was hit by firebomb during an attack by L10 which killed ten people two streets away over the back garden. Some of the housing built to replace the stuff destroyed was later destroyed by a V2! Kind regards all! Now that is what I call really bad luck. Regards Tom
Dave, Sorry you had to wait so long, but here is the photo I talked about. The model is so large it is hard to get a good shot at it. Tom Fabulous photo. Thanks for that. The zep looks to have an SL designation which would make it an German Army airship built by the Schutte-Lanz company. These airships had a wooden framework rather than the usual aluminium. Another Army ship, LZ38, was the first to attack England. I came across the attached pictures of the interior of LZ38. Painted by Felix Schwormstadt and published in 1917. Thought you may be interested. It looks pretty uncomfortable for the crew in there! Regards - Dave.
Dave, I just knew I had some more photographs of the Zeppelin model as they were assembling the exhibit. Problem was at the time I was experiencing a dodgy hard drive that finally gave up the ghost, but I loaded them on our other computer and forgot about them. I hope that the wait was worth it. The detail on and in the Gondolas is superb. Regards Tom
