Querqueville Airfield: Difference between revisions
←Created page with '{{Infobox Military Structure |name=Querqueville Airfield<BR>{{smaller|Advanced Landing Ground A-23}} |partof = |location= <center> {{Location map|France|label...' |
→History: edited and expanded |
||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
'''Querqueville Airfield''' is a former airfield, located 0.4 km north-northwest of [[Querqueville]] in the [[Normandy]] region, [[France]]. |
'''Querqueville Airfield''' is a former airfield, located 0.4 km north-northwest of [[Querqueville]] in the [[Normandy]] region, [[France]]. |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
The airfield was already in use before World War II and served as a training and research airfield for the Aeronavale. It was captured by the Germans after the [[Battle of France]] in May 1940, and was taken over by the Luftwaffe and became a German Fliegerhorst. |
|||
it was used by JG2 Richthofen during the Battle of Britain. Between 1940 and 1944 it was attacked several times by both the RAF and USAAF. After Cherbourg fell to US forces following a lengthy battle in June 1944, US IX Engineering Command, 830th Engineer Aviation Battallion began rebuilding the airfield. Assisted by 826 EAB they found and cleared 4500 landmines at the airfield. |
|||
As the mines could not be detected by their mine detectors, this meant an extraordinary effort, for which the units' men were awarded with several Bronze Stars. The 830th EAB then proceeded to convert Querqueville into a transport airfield. designated ALG A-23. They constructed a large platform and managed to squeeze in a 4600x120ft runway. A hangar was repaired, only to be destroyed again by a B-17 in distress, abd repaired a second time. |
|||
Immediately after the war it was used by both the RAF and USAAF as the location where captured german military aircraft were brought to in preparation to the transport to the UK and USA as part of "[[Operation Lusty]]". The airfield ultimately closed on 8 Aurgust 1945. |
|||
It was handed over to the Aeronavale who used it until 1948. It was then put on a Care and Maintenance status. It was finally struck off in 1966. Today, the area had changed very much, with a naval academy and a new suburb having been built over the site. |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 14:47, 25 April 2012
| Querqueville Airfield Advanced Landing Ground A-23 | |
|---|---|
  Querqueville Airfield Querqueville Airfield (France) | |
| Coordinates | 49°40′07″N 001°41′48″W / 49.66861°N 1.69667°W |
| Type | Military Airfield |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1930s-August 1945 |
| Battles/wars | Western Front (World War II) |
Querqueville Airfield is a former airfield, located 0.4 km north-northwest of Querqueville in the Normandy region, France.
History
The airfield was already in use before World War II and served as a training and research airfield for the Aeronavale. It was captured by the Germans after the Battle of France in May 1940, and was taken over by the Luftwaffe and became a German Fliegerhorst.
it was used by JG2 Richthofen during the Battle of Britain. Between 1940 and 1944 it was attacked several times by both the RAF and USAAF. After Cherbourg fell to US forces following a lengthy battle in June 1944, US IX Engineering Command, 830th Engineer Aviation Battallion began rebuilding the airfield. Assisted by 826 EAB they found and cleared 4500 landmines at the airfield. As the mines could not be detected by their mine detectors, this meant an extraordinary effort, for which the units' men were awarded with several Bronze Stars. The 830th EAB then proceeded to convert Querqueville into a transport airfield. designated ALG A-23. They constructed a large platform and managed to squeeze in a 4600x120ft runway. A hangar was repaired, only to be destroyed again by a B-17 in distress, abd repaired a second time.
Immediately after the war it was used by both the RAF and USAAF as the location where captured german military aircraft were brought to in preparation to the transport to the UK and USA as part of "Operation Lusty". The airfield ultimately closed on 8 Aurgust 1945.
It was handed over to the Aeronavale who used it until 1948. It was then put on a Care and Maintenance status. It was finally struck off in 1966. Today, the area had changed very much, with a naval academy and a new suburb having been built over the site.
References
- Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
.svg)