Immola airfield,

Immola Airfield ( ICAO : EFIM ) is an airfield in Imatra, Finland, about 9 kilometres  northeast of Imatrankoski, the centre of Imatra.

Detachment Kuhlmey (German: Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey) was a temporary unit of Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe during World War II. The unit was commanded by Oberstleutnant Kurt Kuhlmey and the detachment was built around the unit Schlachtgeschwader 3, which also was commanded by Kuhlmey.

Planning of the airfield began in 1933, and the airfield was 

opened in 1936. 

Before and during the Second World War, the airfield served as a base of the Finnish Air Force. 

------------

               

                               The Fiat G50 waiting for engine

                

                  Brewster machine guns are discussed (4x12,7mm)

               

                Hurricane fighter is preparing for the start

                

In summer 1944, the Detachment Kuhlmey operated mainly from Immola. 

>>>  Focke-Wulff 190A-6, belonging to 4./ JG 54 of Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey in Immola, summer 1944.

TV-DOKUMENT

The unit participated in large battles in summer 1944, during the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War. When the Soviet Red Army launched its fourth strategic offensive on 9 June 1944 C. G. E. Mannerheim asked Nazi Germany for help. Among the help that arrived was a Luftwaffe unit that arrived in Finland on 12 June.

The aircraft landed at the Immola Airfield on 17 June. The unit used the whole airfield from there on. The unit flew some 2,700 missions against the enemy and dropped 770 tonnes of bombs on the enemy. It destroyed over 150 Soviet aircraft, about 200 tanks, dozens of bridges and transport vessels. 

------------

Personnel losses included 23 pilots killed and 24 wounded in battle. The unit lost 41 of its aircraft to all reasons.

               

              

                 

                

               

               

The following units and aircraft in Finland belonged to Detachment Kuhlmey:

I./SG 3: 33 Junkers Ju 87 D-5 Stuka dive bombers

II./JG 54: 29–62 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 fighters

I./SG 5: 16 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-3 and F-8 jabos at Alakurtti.

I./NaGr 5: 1–8 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-8 reconnaissance aircraft.

The transport squadron TGr.10 also belonged to the unit, and it consisted of 35 Savoia Marchetti SM.81/AR transport aircraft and a number of transport, liaison and reconnaissance aircraft.

The majority of the aircraft of the unit left Finland on 23 July, but I/SG 5 who stayed until 13 August. A memorial was raised at the Immola Airfield on 23 July 1994 in memory of the unit.

-----------

The detachment consisted of some 70 airworthy aircraft to support the 200 strong Finnish force, but its operational strength varied due to losses, additions and troop movements. The unclear structure is partly explained by the Luftwaffe replacement programs, where obsolete Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bombers were replaced by Focke-Wulf Fw 190 jabo's (fighter-bombers).

According to this, II./SG 3 was training at Jēkabpils, I./SG 5 in Pori, and III and IV./JG 54 in Illesheim, and they could not participate in the fighting on the Karelian Isthmus. I./SG 3, which was in Finland, received new Fw 190 aircraft as soon as they left Finland for Tartu.

             

                

                          Jabo pilot a sleep

               

An emergency sign is issued, the pilot of ground fighter (JaBo - pilot) rushes to the cab with a mechanic assisted. 

               

The Soviet planes (PE-2, Boston and LA-7) is suddenly attacking the field and this ground fighter does not get out and air, destroy in field and pilot die.

Immola 1944.07.02