Insterburg, East Prussia, Saturday, 26 November 1949
Commandant Galley was busily preparing his latest report for Paris, summarizing his observations of the training done here in East Prussia by the German Air Force’s heavy construction troops. His hosts had kindly provided him a collection of photographs taken earlier in the season; there was no doubt that they should show the training programme in the best light, but he could not deny that the construction troops worked hard and were competent in their specialty. He was impressed with the mass of machinery available to them, from many
bouteurs in use, the mobile cranes, and the
niveleuse that could level whole fields. The
plaques en acier perforées that could be quickly laid to create a hard surface on soft ground were new to him; he whole-heartedly recommended the adoption of the concept.
Winter had come early this season, and still the personnel of operational repair squadron continued their training, maintaining the advanced landing ground they had built against the onslaught of snow and ice that now threatened.