Vavincourt Aerodrome

Vavincourt Aerodrome
Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Located near: Touquin, France

Vavincourt Aerodrome, France, 23 September 1918
Vavincourt Aerodrome
Coordinates 48°48′56″N 005°12′44″E / 48.81556°N 5.21222°E / 48.81556; 5.21222
Type Combat Airfield
Site information
Controlled by   Air Service, United States Army
Condition Agricultural area
Site history
Built 1918
In use 1918–1919
Battles/wars
World War I
Garrison information
Garrison First Army Observation Group
United States First Army Air Service

Vavincourt Aerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) North of Vavincourt, in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.

Overview

The airfield was built during the summer of 1918 by the French with an approximate area of 498,000 square meters. It was completed on 30 October 1918 having a capacity for 45 officers and 300 enlisted men with 7 barracks. It was able to accommodate 63 aircraft in 9 hangars.[1]

Vavincourt Aerodrome was used by the Air Service, United States Army as a main operating base. Beginning in September, 1918, it was the home of the 1st Army Observation Group during both the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives, with three squadrons of aircraft.[2]

In support of the flying squadrons, the 3d Air Park had a flight of mechanics for repair of both aircraft and vehicles. Also, the airfield was the home of Photo Sections #2 and #10 for processing and analyzing aerial photography. The ground support station consisted of various aircraft hangars, support buildings and quarters for personnel.[2]

After the armistice in November 1918, Vavincourt remained active with two observation squadrons being assigned to it, awaiting demobilization. The order came down in May 1919 to inactivate the Air Service in France and was turned over to the 1st Air Depot for de-construction. All hangars and other structures were dismantled and all useful supplies and equipment were removed and sent back to the Depot for storage. Upon completion, the land turned over to the French government.[3]

Eventually the land was returned to agricultural use by the local farmers. Today, what was Vavincourt Aerodrome is a series of cultivated fields located south of Vavincourt. The airfield was located to the east of the Départmental 28 (D28), with no indications of its wartime use.

Known units assigned

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. ↑ Series L, Miscellaneous Sections of the Air Service, Volume 11, History of the Design and Projects Section of the Construction Division, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Series "D", Volume 2, Squadron histories,. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  3. ↑ Series 1, Paris Headquarters and Supply Section, Volume 30 History of the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-led-Belles, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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