Airfield security (Page 82)

By 9 September 1944, General Max von Pohl had become concerned to improvise some defence for his principal airfields—including NSG 9's bases at Cavriago II, Palata Pepole and Vigatto—against Italian partisans. By the following afternoon, the Allies had decoded his signal:

XL 9706

ZZ

ON NINTH GAFCIT REQUESTED UNSPECIFIED MILITARY AUTHORITY THAT UNITS WITHDRAWN NORTH OF APPENINES SHOULD OCCUPY ALSO ENVIRONS OF HIS AIRFIELDS. DEFENCE OF THESE AIRFIELDS AGAINST GUERILLAS IMPERILLED BY SURRENDER OF CERTAIN GAF GROUND STAFF. PRINCIPAL AIRFIELDS PIACENZA, BOLOGNA, CAVRIAGO SECOND (WEST OF REGGIO), VIGATTO (SOUTH OF PARMA), AIRASCA AND PALATA PEPOLI (NORTH OF BOLOGNA).

COMMENT (ABLE) FIRST MENTION PALATA PEPOLI (BAKER) OMISSION OF POGGIO RENATICO SUGGESTS TWO NAG ONE ONE MAY HAVE MOVED.

101658Z/9/44

Note that this was the first the Allies had heard of Palata although 3./NSG 9 had already been operating from there for two weeks.