Disaster at Ypenburg ETO (id:#67230)

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Ypenburg Airfield, Netherlands 1940-05-10 (88 others)

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Overview:

A few kilometers east of The Hague, Ypenburg Airfield became a critical objective in Germany’s audacious plan to capture the Dutch government and royal family in a single stroke. As part of FALL GELB, German High Command designated this airfield—along with those at nearby Ockenburg and Valkenburg—as landing zones for airborne forces tasked with this unprecedented decapitation strike. At approximately 0515 on 10 May, the first German aircraft appeared over Ypenburg. The assault unfolded in phases. Heinkel He-111 bombers conducted preliminary strafing and bombing runs. Dutch AA positions returned fire, downing at least two German aircraft. Immediately afterwards, 60 Junkers Ju-52 transport aircraft approached at low altitude and German paratroopers from Luftlande-Infanterie-Division 22 began dropping around the airfield perimeter. Due to Dutch AA fire, initial landings scattered wider than hoped. With partial control of the perimeter, Ju-52s began landing directly on the airfield. Around 40 aircraft survived the AA fire and landed in rapid succession, disembarking infantry from Infanterie-Regiment 47. Dutch defenders directed concentrated fire on landed aircraft, destroying or damaging at least 16 Ju-52s. Hand-to-hand combat erupted across the airfield as German forces attempted to secure a perimeter. The initial German success proved short-lived as Dutch forces rallied. Major Jan Mallinckrodt organized a three-pronged assault on the airfield, with 1e Compagnie, 1e Regiment Infanterie attacking from the northwest, 9e Compagnie, Garderegiment Grenadiers and police units pressed from the west, and 3e Compagnie, 1e Regiment Infanterie from the south. Dutch forces employed several Overvalwagen M38 armored cars for fire support.

Defender: German (Luftlande-Infanterie-Division 22)  

Errata (source)