Western Front

Nachtschlachtgruppe 2 Under Attack at Lippe, Germany, March 1945

Coverage from a USAAF reconnaissance sortie on 14 March 1944 showed an attack on Lippe Airfield where elements of Nachtschlachtgruppe 2 (NSGR.2) were based at the time. According to Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-1945, the airfield was attacked on 14 March by 9th Air Force P-47’s, resulting in the destruction of 22 Ju 87 Stuka’s. At the time, the aircraft were loaded and preparing to attack the Remagen bridge on the Rhine, 60 km to the east-southeast.

aerial photo of Ju 87 Stuka's of Luftwaffe Nachtschlachtgruppe 2 Under Attack at Lippe Airfield, German 14 March 1945 Nachtschlachtgruppe 2 at Lippe Airfield, Germany on 14 March 1945

Only partial coverage of the airfield was achieved on 14 March and only 16 Ju 87’s could be accounted for, including five in the northwest and 11 in the southeast dispersal areas. The group of 11 aircraft were lined up in the direction of the landing area, indicating they probably were preparing to depart. Three aircraft in the northwest area were burning. Smoke covered the other group, but it appeared that at least four of the aircraft had been destroyed.

Coverage of the airfield showed the landing area had been damaged from an earlier attack on 11 March, but the field was still serviceable.