Juvincourt Airfield: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Built |
Built during 1938 and 1939 as a [[French Air Force]] facility. Juvincourt Airfield consisted of a grass airfield, with concrete aprons and a large support station to the west of the field. Juvincourt had three small grass subfields associated with it: |
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* Amifontaine {{Coord|49|49|54|N|003|57|08|E|}} |
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* Guignicourt {{Coord|49|26|49|N|003|56|08|E|}} |
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* Proviseux {{Coord|49|28|57|N|004|01|59|E|}} |
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It is undetermined which French units and aircraft were assigned to the airfield. After World War II broke out in September 1939, the [[Royal Air Force]] sent 16 [[Fairey Battle]]s of 76 Wing, 142 Squadron to Proviseux (Berry-au-Bac).<ref>[http://france1940.free.fr/uk/raf_may.html Royal Air Force Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940]</ref> |
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It was seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the [[Battle of France]], and was used as a major [[Luftwaffe]] military airfield during the occupation. |
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The airfield was attacked on several occasions by [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] heavy bombers and later by [[IX Bomber Command]] [[B-26 Marauder]] medium bombers, the airfield was liberated by by Allied Forces in early September 1944. Once in American hands, combat engineers of the IX Engineering Command 820th Engineer Aviation Regiment repaired the damaged airfield and declared it operationally ready for combat units on 7 September, only a few days after its capture from German forces, being designated as "[[Juvincourt Airfield|A-68]]"<ref>[http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/general.php IX Engineering Command Advanced Landing Grounds]</ref> |
The airfield was attacked on several occasions by [[United States Army Air Force]] [[Eighth Air Force]] heavy bombers and later by [[IX Bomber Command]] [[B-26 Marauder]] medium bombers, the airfield was liberated by by Allied Forces in early September 1944. Once in American hands, combat engineers of the IX Engineering Command 820th Engineer Aviation Regiment repaired the damaged airfield and declared it operationally ready for combat units on 7 September, only a few days after its capture from German forces, being designated as "[[Juvincourt Airfield|A-68]]"<ref>[http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/general.php IX Engineering Command Advanced Landing Grounds]</ref> |
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Revision as of 01:36, 26 September 2009
Juvincourt Airfield (A-68) | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 49°26′50″N 003°53′35″E / 49.44722°N 3.89306°E |
| Type | Military Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built by | IX Engineering Command |
| In use | Sep 1944-Jul 1945 |
| Materials | Concrete |
Juvincourt Airfield is an abandoned military airfield, which is located near the commune of Juvincourt-et-Damary in the Aisne department of northern France.
History
Built during 1938 and 1939 as a French Air Force facility. Juvincourt Airfield consisted of a grass airfield, with concrete aprons and a large support station to the west of the field. Juvincourt had three small grass subfields associated with it:
- Amifontaine 49°49′54″N 003°57′08″E / 49.83167°N 3.95222°E
- Guignicourt 49°26′49″N 003°56′08″E / 49.44694°N 3.93556°E
- Proviseux 49°28′57″N 004°01′59″E / 49.48250°N 4.03306°E
It is undetermined which French units and aircraft were assigned to the airfield. After World War II broke out in September 1939, the Royal Air Force sent 16 Fairey Battles of 76 Wing, 142 Squadron to Proviseux (Berry-au-Bac).[1]
It was seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the Battle of France, and was used as a major Luftwaffe military airfield during the occupation.
The airfield was attacked on several occasions by United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force heavy bombers and later by IX Bomber Command B-26 Marauder medium bombers, the airfield was liberated by by Allied Forces in early September 1944. Once in American hands, combat engineers of the IX Engineering Command 820th Engineer Aviation Regiment repaired the damaged airfield and declared it operationally ready for combat units on 7 September, only a few days after its capture from German forces, being designated as "A-68"[2]
The airfield was used by numerous Ninth Air Force combat units until May 1945. Afterward, the airfield was used for transport and as a maintenance base until being closed in July 1945, and was returned to French Air Force Control.[3][4]
After the war, the French Air Force began building a new faculty, with a new taxiway and modern dispersal pads. However, it appears that construction was never completed and the airfield was abandoned. Today the remains of Juvincourt Airfield consist of several abandoned World War II-era runways, along with the unfinished modern airfield in a vacant area.
References
- ^ Royal Air Force Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940
- ^ IX Engineering Command Advanced Landing Grounds
- ^ 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.
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