Mourmelon-le-Grand (A-80) | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 49°06′45″N 004°22′20″E / 49.11250°N 4.37222°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 | Pierces Steel Planking (PSP) |
| Battles/wars | Western Front (World War II)  Northern France Campaign |
Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield which is located approximately 1 miles east-southeast of Mourmelon-le-Grand; 93 miles northeast of Paris.
The airfield was a semi-permanent facility built by the USAAF in the Champagne region west of Monte Carnillet which was a fiercely contested region of the World War I Western Front. The 6000' Pierced Steel Planking runway of the airfield supported Fighters and transports from September 1944 though the end of the war in Europe.
History
Known as Advanced Landing Ground "A-80", the airfield consisted of a single 6000' PSP runway aligned 08/26. In addition, with tents were used for billeting and also for support facilities; an access road was built to the existing road infrastructure; a dump for supplies, ammunition, and gasoline drums, along with a drinkable water and minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting.[1]
Combat units stationed at the airfield were:[2]
- 406th Fighter Group, 22 Sep 1944-2 Feb 1945 (P-47)
- 358th Fighter Group, 16 Oct-9 Nov 1944 (P-47)
- 434th Troop Carrier Group, Mar-24 Jul 1945 (C-47)
The fighter planes flew support missions, patrolling roads in front of the beachhead; strafing German military vehicles and dropping bombs on gun emplacements, anti-aircraft artillery and concentrations of German troops when spotted.
After the war ended the facility was dismantled, and the land turned over to local French authorities. Today the remains of the airfield can be seen in aerial photography as a disturbed area south of Mourmelon-le-Grand. [3]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ IX Engineer Command ETO Airfields, Airfield Layout
- ^ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- ^ 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.
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