SF-39 Fake Airfield at Schandelo

Lingsendijk 12, Schandelo

Netherlands, the Limburg Schandelo

During the war, every large fliegerhorst in the Netherlands had its own mock airfield. In Venlo this was in Schandelo. The code name was SF39 Bei Schandelo. There was a fake runway, with lighting in the form of pit lamps. These were on wooden planks. Earth color on the underside and white on top. When the lights went out on FHV, the pit lights were turned on here and then the white side was turned up.
Narrow gauge rails had been laid on which fake wooden planes were moved back and forth by means of pulleys and ropes.
The Luftschutzdienst Luftgau Holland manned this fake airfield. Usually between 4-8 people. There was a Wehrmacht house on the northern side of the field, but it was demolished after the war.
The fake buildings, the searchlight and the FLAK Vierling are no longer there, but they were here, according to sources. The field that now runs parallel to Villa Sonnevanck was then diagonal. Many traces of that time can still be found in the yard. Now the villa is built in parts on top of the old foundations.
The current residents are fully aware of the history, but also value their privacy. So don't just walk into the yard.

On the other side is a bunker for troops, which could be sheltered during shelling or bombing raids. There are 'embrasures' in it, but there is doubt as to whether it ever contained artillery or other weaponry. The current owner uses the bunker as a horse stable.

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