Vannes Airport: Difference between revisions
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The facility was a civil airport built prior to [[World War II]]. It was seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the [[Battle of France]], and was used as a [[Luftwaffe]] military airfield during the occupation. It was attacked on several missions by [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] bombers during 1943. <ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/209/382.xml USAFHRA Document 00209382]].</ref> |
The facility was a civil airport built prior to [[World War II]]. It was seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the [[Battle of France]], and was used as a [[Luftwaffe]] military airfield during the occupation. It was attacked on several missions by [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] bombers during 1943. <ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/209/382.xml USAFHRA Document 00209382]].</ref> |
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It was liberated by Allied ground forces about 10 August 1944 during the Northern France Campaign. Almost immediately, the USAAF IX Engineering Command 850th Engineer Aviation Battalion cleared the airport of mines and destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft. Subsequently, Vannes Airport became a USAAF Ninth Air Force combat airfield, designated as "A-33" about 29 August.<ref>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.</ref><ref>[http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php IX Engineer Command ETO Airfields, Airfield Layout]</ref> |
It was liberated by Allied ground forces about 10 August 1944 during the Northern France Campaign. Almost immediately, the USAAF IX Engineering Command 850th Engineer Aviation Battalion cleared the airport of mines and destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft. Subsequently, Vannes/Meucon Airport became a USAAF [[Ninth Air Force]] combat airfield, designated as "A-33" about 29 August.<ref>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.</ref><ref>[http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php IX Engineer Command ETO Airfields, Airfield Layout]</ref> |
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As the airport was in the rear area when repaired and opened, the Americans used it as a defensive field, stationing the [[425th Night Fighter Squadron]], flying [[P-61 Black Widow]]s from 18 August though 11 September 1944 flying night air defense missions. Once the Luftwaffe threat was diminished in the area, the night fighters were moved east and it became a resupply and evacuation airfield for casualties to be treated, prior to being moved to England or the United States.<ref>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.</ref><ref>Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.</ref> |
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The airport was returned to French civil control after the war ended on 20 June 1945. Today it remains a regional civil airport. Today, the former secondary (13/31) runway is now a parking apron. A grass runway (08/26) is of postwar vintage. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 21:52, 22 September 2009
Meucon Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Meucon, France | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 440 ft / 134 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 47°43′10″N 002°43′24″W / 47.71944°N 2.72333°W | ||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Vannes-Meucon Airport is a regional airport in France (IATA: VNE, ICAO: LFRV). It supports general aviation with no commercial airline service scheduled.
History
The facility was a civil airport built prior to World War II. It was seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the Battle of France, and was used as a Luftwaffe military airfield during the occupation. It was attacked on several missions by United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force bombers during 1943. [1]
It was liberated by Allied ground forces about 10 August 1944 during the Northern France Campaign. Almost immediately, the USAAF IX Engineering Command 850th Engineer Aviation Battalion cleared the airport of mines and destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft. Subsequently, Vannes/Meucon Airport became a USAAF Ninth Air Force combat airfield, designated as "A-33" about 29 August.[2][3]
As the airport was in the rear area when repaired and opened, the Americans used it as a defensive field, stationing the 425th Night Fighter Squadron, flying P-61 Black Widows from 18 August though 11 September 1944 flying night air defense missions. Once the Luftwaffe threat was diminished in the area, the night fighters were moved east and it became a resupply and evacuation airfield for casualties to be treated, prior to being moved to England or the United States.[4][5]
The airport was returned to French civil control after the war ended on 20 June 1945. Today it remains a regional civil airport. Today, the former secondary (13/31) runway is now a parking apron. A grass runway (08/26) is of postwar vintage.
References
- ^ USAFHRA Document 00209382].
- ^ 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.
- ^ IX Engineer Command ETO Airfields, Airfield Layout
- ^ 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.
- ^ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
External links
- Airport information for LFRV at Great Circle Mapper.
- Template:WAD
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