Asnelles-sur-Mer (B-1) Added 14 Okt 2012 - Sommervieu (B-8) Added 14 Okt 2012 - airfield Added dd mmm yyyy

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Bazenville (B-2)

49°18'18"N 000°33'44"W

runway: 07/25 - 1700x40m/5000x120feet - SMT

Airfield Bazenville (Advanced Landing Ground B-2 Bazenville or B-2 Crépon) was an Allied wartime airfield in Normandy, France.

The airfield was built by the Royal Engineers 16th Airfield Construction Group together with the RAF's 3207 and 3209 Servicing Commandos starting just after midnight after D-Day.

The groups built a runway, dispersal areas, communications facilities, landing lights and many other requirements to run an airfield.

It was located between the villages of Crépon, Bazenville and Villiers-le-Sec.

ALG B-2 would have been completed as the first ALG in Normandy on 9 June, but a B-24 Libeator crashlanded at the uncompleted airfield that morning and ripped up a lot of SMT.

Instead it was completed two days later, on June 11, and serviced the first 36 aircraft (Spitfires) of 127 Wing that same day.

The complete Wing (403, 416, 421 and 443 Sqns) moved in on 16 June 1944.

Map of the airfield, map of the area, and aerial photo of the airfield
(source: La bataille aérienne de Normandie 1944, Jean-Pierre Benamou & François Robinard,
ISBN 2-908561-07-7, Editions-Diffusion du Luys, via Flickr)

Despite being a temporary airfield, its facilities were those of a full air base, with dispersals all around the airstrip.

A fuel and ammunition dump was located south of the airfield.

Rows of tents housing nearly 1000 men were located in orchards to the southeast.

A local church is believed to have served as Ground Control for the entire Normandy 2TAF area of responsibility.

The airfield was located only 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the Normandy beaches, and when it opened the frontline was only 9 kilometers (5 miles) away.

Over the first month of its existence the frontline only moved to 19 kilometers (11 miles) away.

While 127 Wing operated from the airfield it was also used to evacuate thousands of injured soldiers, sailors and airmen to England.

In addition a constant stream of other Allied squadrons used the airfield for fuel, ammunition or repair.

Hawker Typhoon pilots of 121 and 124 Wings discuss operations at Bazenville, Normandy, on the
evening of 14 June 1944. In the foreground, standing on the left, are five pilots of 175 Sqn RAF,
including the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader M R Ingle-Finch (fourth from left): on the right
stand members of 181 Sqn RAF with their commander, Squadron Leader C D 'Kit' North-Lewis
sitting on the far right. In the farthest group, those identified include Wing Commander C L Green
(wearing helmet) leader of 121 Wing, and Squadron Leader W Pitt-Brown, commander of
174 Sqn RAF (on the right, wearing a lanyard). In the background, Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXs of
66 Sqn RAF stand at their dispersal points.
(Royal Air Force, 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945 © IWM (CL 151))

The RAF's top scoring fighter pilot flying in north west Europe, Wing Commander James E. 'Johnny'
Johnson, seen on 31 July 1944 at Bazenville with his pet Labrador dog 'Sally'. He recorded 38
victories, though at the time of the photograph his total was 35. He commanded No 127 Wing
composed of three Canadian Spitfire squadrons. The decorations on his tunic are a DSO with two
Bars and a DFC with one Bar.
(Royal Air Force, 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945 © IWM (TR 2145))

Douglas Dakota Mk.IIIs of 46 Group at B2/Bazenville, Normandy, loading casualties for evacuation
to the United Kingdom. Identifiable aircraft include KG432 'H' of No. 512 Squadron RAF (centre),
and KG320 'B1' of No. 575 Squadron RAF (extreme right).
Royal Air Force Transport Command, 1943-1945. © IWM (CL 3885)

Bazenville was used until 28 August 1944.

The lands were then returned to their respective owners.

Today, nothing remains of the former airfield.

The lands have been converted back to agricultural use.

In front of the Bazenville church stands a memorial to the airfield and those who fought there: a Spitfire wing shaped statue with inscriptions.

B-2 Bazenville today, nothing remains of the airfield (Google Earth)

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Bény-sur-Mer

49°17'54"N 000°25'34"W

Runway: 18/36 - 1200x40meters/...feet - wire-mesh

Air field Bény-sur-Mer (french: Aérodrome de Bény-sur-Mer, also known as Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) B.4) was an Allied temporary invasion airfield in Normandy, France

The airfield was completed on 15 June 1944, only 10 days after the initial invasion.

Soon after the airfield began seeing use by the RCAF's 401, 411 and 412Sqn) and RAF's 35 Recce Wing (2 and 268Sqn), 136 Wing(263Sqn) and 146 Wing(193,197,257,266Sqn), flying Typhoons and Spitfires.

The units were tasked with close air support and reconnaissance, and were to be based as close to the frontline as possible.

This maximised their effectiveness, because they would not have to use too much time transitting to and from their bases.

ALG B.4 Bény-sur-Mer in 1944

412Sqn Spitfires at Bény-sur_Mer, summer 1944

The units flew out to newer ALGs in early August.

411Sqn left on 8 Uag 1944 for B.18 Cristot.

The airfield closed shortly after, and the grounds were returned to their normal agricultural use.

Today, nothing remains of the former airfield.

Only a small monument reminds us of the existence of the once very important airfield.

Bény-sur-Mer in the summer of 2006. Not a trace to be found in aerial photography (Google Earth)

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St.Croix-sur-Mer

49°19'11"N 000°31'09"W

runway: ../.. - 1200x40m/3600x120feet - SMT

Airfield St.Croix-sur-Mer (Advanced Landing Ground B.3 St.Croix-sur-Mer) was an Allied wartime airfield in Normandy, France.

The airfields construction by a Royal Engineers Airfield Construction Group began just after after D-Day.

The group built a runway and dispersal areas, while communications facilities were provided by equipment installed in vehicles.

It was located between the villages of St.Croix-sur-Mer, Crépon and Ver-sur-Mer.

ALG B-3 became the first ALG in Normandy in the morning of 10 June, but the planned opening did not proceed as foreseen.

While the press was waiting for the formal first landing of Air Vice Marshall Harry Broadhurst and 144 Wing (Canadian), a damaged Typhoon bearing empty rocket rails and a vibrating motor arrived instead to christen the new landing ground, thereby claiming the historic moment.

The pilot was a Flying Officer Bill Smith from 245Sqn, RAF, who decided B.3 was the best location to land his Flak damaged Typhoon.

Building B.3 St.Croix-sur-Mer

11 Minute video of newsreel footage shot at B.3 in 1944, describing the construction and initial use of the airfield
(Click to view at British Pathé, via TwoSpitfires)

The ground element of 144Wing awaiting the arrival of the air wing at B.3 on 10 June 1944.

144Wing Spitfires after their arrival at B.3 on 10 June 1944.

Groundcrew rearming a 144 Wing Spitfire at B.3 on 10 June 1944.

Being a temporary airfield, its facilities were basic, but adequate.

A fuel and ammunition dump was located near the airfield.

A church near ALG B.2 is believed to have served as Ground Control for the entire Normandy 2TAF area of responsibility.

The airfield was located only 2.5 kilometers from the Normandy beaches, and when it opened the frontline was not much further away.

Over the first month of its existence the frontline only moved to 19 kilometers (11 miles) away.

B.3 St.Croix-sur-Mer from the air on 12 June 1944, showing 12 Spitfires above and 11 Spitfires under the main runway.
Photo by Lt John S Blyth of the 14th Squadron, 7th Photo Group, Mount Farm, Oxfordshire, UK, via Flickr

While 144 and 146Wing operated from the airfield it was also used to evacuate injured soldiers, sailors and airmen to England.

In addition a constant stream of other Allied squadrons used the airfield for fuel, ammunition or repair.

On 23 July 1944 Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid a morale boosting visit to B.3 St. Croix-sur-Mer, flown by Air Vice Marshall Harry Broadhurst in his captured Fieseler Storch.

He did a speech at the airfield, and then visited troops in the area by jeep.

Winston Churchill, just after he left the captured Fieseler Storch (here in RAF markings) at St.Croix-sur-Mer (1000aircraftpictures.com)

Bazenville was used until 4 September 1944.

The lands were then returned to their respective owners.

Today, nothing remains of the former airfield.

The lands have been converted back to agricultural use.

Just outside the village of St.Croix-sur-Mer stands a small memorial to the airfield and the men who fought there.

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Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (A-21)

49°21'51"N 000°52'21"W

runway: 15/33 - 1500m/5000ft - SMT

Air field Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (also known as Emergency Landing Ground E-1, Transport Landing Ground T-1, Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)-1 and Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)-21) was an advanced airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France.

Its short history is a bit confused because of the American numbering system, which initially allowed two airfields on the beachhead to exist with the number 1.

The other airfield was Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, until St. Laurent was renumbered to ALG-21.

Reconstructing events I have come to the conclusion that the description on this page is the correct version.

The airfield was completed as emergency airstrip E-1 at the end of D-Day, the invasion of France.

It was built by the 834th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

On 8 and 9 June 1944 an RAF Ames Type 15 GCI radar site was active on the west side of the airfield, but it moved to St. Pieree du Mont in the night of 9 and 10 June.

It was expanded and then taken into service as a transport airfield accepting aircraft up to the size of a C-47.

The C-47s brought fresh infantry to the beachhead and flew out again with casualties.

The airfield was abandoned on 25-Aug 1944.

Map of St. Laurent de la Mer airfield (Skylighters.org).

The airfield under construction by the 834th Engineer Aviation Battallion (6juin1944.com (french)).

The first medevac C-47 flight landed on 9 June 1944 at 1800 (source in french).

Shortly after they left the airfield was dismantled and returned to the original owners.

Today there is little or no physical evidence of its existence or its location.

It is easy to find though, as it is the ground immediately west of the Omaha Beach American Cemetary.

The location of the airfield in 2005 (Google Earth)

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Saint-Pierre-du-Mont (A-1)

49°23'30"N 000°56'42"W

runway: 09/17 - 1500m/5000ft - SMT

Air field Saint-Pierre-du-Mont (also known as Emergency Landing Strip (ELS) A-1, Refuelling and Rearming Strip (RRS) A-1, Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-1) was an advanced airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France

The airfield was completed only 2 days after the D-Day landings in France and built by the 834th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

Its short history is a bit confusing because of the American numbering system, which initially allowed two airfields on the beachhead to exist with the number 1.

The other airfield was Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, until that airfield was renumbered to ALG-21.

Reconstructing events I have come to the conclusion that the description on this page is the correct version.

Construction of the airfield began on 7 June, the day after the initial invasion, and was completed on 8 June at 1800 hrs.

It was pressed into service as Emergency Landing Strip 1 (ELS A-1) with a 1000x35m/3400x120ft untracked (grass/dirt) runway.

It served only small observation aircraft at that time.

Just over 24 hours later (18:45) it had been upgraded from a Refuelling and Rearming Strip (RRS A-1) to an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG A-1), able to handle aircraft up to the C-47 transport.

From 10 June 1944 an RAF Ames Type 15 GCI radar site became active at the airfield, the only survivor of three that were accidentally sent to the Normandy beaches on D-Day, instead of D-Day+3 of the invasion.

An unknown P-38 unit began using the airfield on 11 June.

After his day trip to Normandy on June 12, General "Hap" Arnold, USAAF commander, returned to the UK from A-1.

A Piper L-4 taking off from the yet uncovered runway (6juin1944.com (french)).

A P-38 Lightning taking off from the uncovered runway on 10 June 1944 with a Piper L-4 parked to the side of the runway
(PhotosNormandie, on Flickr (french)).

Aerial view of the St. Pierre du Mont airfield (6juin1944.com (french)).

834th EAB engineers laying out the SMT tracks to reinfoce the runway for intensive use by USAAF P-47s (6juin1944.com (french)).

Corporal Paul Stock (left) on air traffic control duties at St. Pierre du Mont airfield on 11 June 11 1944.
The P-38 Lightning 42-68071 on the airfield is the same as pictured in the U.S. Navy photo below
(U. S. Signal Corps, via Skylighters.org).

P-38J Lightning 42-68071 (either 367 or 370 FG) on the airfield on 14 june 1944, showing just how close to the invasion beaches
the airfield actually is (U.S. Navy, via Skylighters.org).

P-47Ds being serviced at St. Pierre du Mont (6juin1944.com (french)).

Aerial view of the St. Pierre du Mont airfield in 1944 (Skylighters.org).

On 17 June, TAC 366th Fighter Group arrived from Thruxton, UK, flying P-47s.

They were the first USAAF unit to move to continental Europe, and were joined by 401st Fighter Group.

Last to move into the airfield was 390FS on 20 June.

It also housed the 2nd Platoon of the 1st Air Force Clearing Station, which had landed at Omaha Beach on 16 June.

The medical unit set up a field hospital just off base, which by that time would still occasionally receive incoming enemy fire, as the front line was not far away.

The platoon consisted of 4 Medical Officers, 1 Dental Officer, 1 Medical Administrative Officer, 6 (female) Nurses, and 57 Enlisted Men.

366 and 401 FG remained at the airfield until 5 Sep 1944.

Shortly after they left the airfield was dismantled and returned to the original owners.

Today there is little or no physical evidence of its existence or its location.

Aerial view of the St. Pierre du Mont airfield in 2005. Pointe du Hoc cliff is located just over a mile to the west (Google Earth).

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Cardonville (A-3)

49°20'42"N 001°03'52"W

Runway: 16/34 - 1500x35meters/5000x120feet - SMT

Air field Cardonville (also known as Advanced Landing Ground A-3) was an advanced airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France.

The airfield was built between 7 and 19 June 1944, but had already been pressed into service on the 10th.

It was one of the first airfields established in liberated France and built by the 816th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

It also housed the 1st Platoon of the 1st Air Force Clearing Station, which had landed at Omaha Beach on 22 June.

The medical unit set up a field hospital just off base, which by that time would still occasioannly receive incoming enemy fire, as the front line was not far away.

The platoon consisted of 4 Medical Officers, 1 Dental Officer, 1 Medical Administrative Officer, 6 (female) Nurses, and 57 Enlisted Men.

Flying units stationed at the airfield were:

368th Fighter Group (20 June-23 August) flying P-47D Thunderbolts.

370th Fighter Group (24 July-15 August) flying P-37J Lightnings.

As with all the fighter units stationed at advanced landing grounds both Fighter Groups were tasked with patroling roads in front of the beachhead and attacking german vehicles, troop concentrations and weapons.

16 June 1944: A dazed 1LT Jacob C. Blazicek, 367FS/358FG is lifted from the cockpit of his P-47D (42-76436, coded CP-D) at Cardonville airstrip (fold3.com).

Taxiing P-47 at A-3 Cardonville

Photo of 1AFCS Cardonville, Normandy, July 1944. From L to R: Arnold Edwards, Raymond E. Thompson, Paul-
Gerhardt Lion, Eugene J. Grotjohn, Andrew J. Foray, Milburn J. Whiteford (back row), Marjorie E. Strong, June H.
Friedman (Nurses, middle row), John Flanagan (kneeling).
(med-dept.com)

After the Allied forces moved east into Central France with the advancing Allied Armies the airfield was used for resupply and casevac missions.

The 1st Air Force Clearing Station stayed at the airfield for three months.

It was finally closed on 1 September 1944 and returned to its former users.

Today the fields are a mixture of various agricultural fields.

Map of A-3 Cardonville and its surroudings according to a map posted on Michel Le Querrec on Flickr.
Compared to the map at ixengineercommand.com the airfield is rotated 180 degrees.
Rémi Brouillaud sent me a 1947 IGN aerial photo that proves the version on Flickr is the correct orientation:

The remains of A-3 Cardonville on a 1947 IGN photo (Google Earth and IGN, via Rémi Brouillaud).

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Cricqueville-en-Bessin (A-2)

49°21'58"N 001°00'23"W

runway: 17/35 - 1500x..m/5000x..ft - SMT

Cricqueville airfield (also known as Advanced Landing Ground A-2 or Cricqueville-en-Bessin airfield) was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France.

The airfield was completed by the 820th Engineer Aviation Battalion, 11 days after the D-Day landings in France.

It became home to two fighter groups:

354th Fighter Group, with P-51 Mustangs from 22 June through 13 August 1944.

367th Fighter Group, with P-38 Lightnings from 14 August though 4 September 1944.

Like all fighter units stationed at advanced landing grounds both Fighter Groups were tasked with patroling roads in front of the beachhead and attacking german vehicles, troop concentrations and weapons.

367FG P-38 Lightnings at Cricqueville on 20 August 1944 (LIFE magazine, via mayenne-ww2).

A pilot driving past a P-38 Lightning in a captured German Schwimmwagen at Cricqueville in August 1944 (LIFE magazine, via thesamba.com).

After the advancing Allied Armies moved east into Central France, the airfield was closed on 15 September 1944.

It remained clearly visible in the landscape for at least three years.

'Les Demoiselles de Creil: Les B-17 de l'IGN' shot this photo of the airfield in June 1947, almost 3 years after the airfield had closed.

Today is it almost indistinguishable from the surrounding fields.

Only parts of the famous Normandy hedges are still missing where the runway used to be.

Two memorials can be found on the site, commemorating the presence of both Fighter Groups.

The same area as above, notice the absence of hedges at parts of the former runway (Google Earth)

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Saint Lambert (A-11)

49°17'04"N 001°05'46"W

runway: 06/24 - 1525x36m/5000x150ft - Prefab Butimous Surface

Saint Lambert airfield (also known as Advanced Landing Ground A-11 "Saint Lambert") was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France.

The airfield was completed by the 832nd Engineer Aviation Battalion, nearly two months after the D-Day landings in France.

It was one of the last airfields to be completed in the Normandy area.

It became home to 474 Fighter Groups, flying the P-38J and P-38L Lightning as one of the last units to still operate from British soil.

The group began arriving on 1 August and was declared operational on 5 August 1944.

As fighter-bombers the P-38s earned quite a reputation, with the Germans referring to them as "fork-tailed devil" ("der Teufel Gabelschwanz").

Like all ighter units stationed at advanced landing grounds both Fighter Groups were tasked with patroling roads in front of the beachhead and attacking german vehicles, troop concentrations and weapons.

Life at the airfield had its problems, mainly caused by dust during summer.

The dust was everywhere, in tents, clothes, equipment and laundry.

After the advancing Allied Armies moved east into Central France, the airfield was closed on 5 September 1944.

A-11 St. lambert was still clearly recognisable in this photo taken on 11 Juni 1947 (IGN.fr).

Map of the airfields' layout on todays road network (6Juin1944.com).

Today is it almost indistinguishable from the surrounding fields.

Only parts of the famous Normandy hedges are still missing where the runway used to be.

This makes it very easy to recognise the former airfield from the air.

The area of the former ALG in 2004, notice the absence of hedges at parts of the former runway (Google Earth)

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Deux Jumeaux

49°20'50"N 000°58'55"W

runway: 11/29 - 5000x120ft - Square Mesh Track

Deux Jumeaux air field (also known as Advanced Landing Ground A-4 "Deux Jumeaux") was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France.

The airfield was built by elements of the 816th Engineer Aviation Battalion, who were at the same time still finishing ALG A-3.

Construction of the airfield began on the morning of 14 June 1944 under the protection of 22 .50-calibre guns.

The airfield was limited operational on 20 June, and was completed on the 30th.

The first P-47s of the 48th Fighter Group arrived at A-4 on 27 June.

The group consisted of the 492FS (coded F4), 493FS (coded I7) and 494FS (coded 6M).

The Thunderbolts were joined by a single P-38 squadron, 485 FS (coded 7F).

Their parent unit, 370 Fighter Group, had been sent to Normandy, but because there were not sufficient airfields available it was spead over 3 ALGs.

The 485 FS sister units were located at the nearby ALG A-1 (401 FS) and A-3 (402 FS).

With the airfields located extremely close to each other, it was believed cohesion between the Fighter Group would remain.

Although the two Fighter Groups were not part of the same Fighter Wing, they were part of the same Command.

The squadrons shared the airfield until 15 August 1944.

The airfield was abandoned on 15 September 1944.

A member of 18 AAA Group, armed with a pair of binoculars and a tripod mounted watercooled M2A1 .50 calibre
Browing machine gun, scans the sky 'Somewhere in France'. The runway is not fully completed yet, and the photo is
dated 26 June. 6juin.com discovered the photo was taken at Deux Jumeaux by identifying the building in the distance.

By 1947 the airfield had almost completely disappeared.

Only the outlines of the runways and taxitracks were still visible.

Today is it almost indistinguishable from the surrounding fields.

Only parts of the famous Normandy hedges are still missing where the runway used to be.

This makes it very easy to recognise the former airfield from the air.

Only a small monument reminds of the airfield and the men that flew from it.

The remains of A-4 Deux Jumeaux were still visible on 28 August 1947, nearly 3 years after the Allies had abandoned the airfield (IGN)

1994 drawing of ALG A-4 by Michel Le Querrec, on Flickr

The plaque on the memorial (Aerostoteles.net).

From this photo, taken in 2005, nothing of the former airfield could be made out (Google Earth)

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Colleville-sur-Mer (A-22C)

49°20'19"N 000°49'55"E

runway: 09/27 - 3750x120ft - Prefabicated Bitumous Surface

Colleville-sur-Mer airfield (Advanced Landing Ground A-22C Colleville-sur-Mer) was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France

The airfield was built by elements of the 816th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

Built for transport aircraft like the C-47 Skytrain, it was the first to be built with the tar paper that had been experimented with in England.

Construction had begun on 30 June.

Because of many soft spongy soil areas the soil had to be excavated up to 12 feet and replaced with a layer of logs at the bottom and filled up with dry soil.

An English war correspondent who learned of this, dubbed the airstrip the 'floating runway'.

The airfield was operational from 13 July 1944 and was returned to the French goverenment on 4 November 1944.

Cleaning out and refilling a big mud hole at Colleville in July 1944 (ixengineercommand.com).

Unfortunately, no photos of the airfield while in use have been located

After the war the location of the airfield was still visible from aerial photography until at least 3 years later.

10 years later all visible remains had disappeared however.

In aerial photography from 2005 even the famous Normandy hedges had returned.

In 1947 the outlines of the airfield were still clearly visible in aerial photography. The village of Colleville-sur-Mer is visible in the upper left corner (IGN)

By 1955 no traces were left of the ALG (IGN)

The location of the former airfield in 2005 (Google Earth)

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Le Molay (A-9)

49°15'57"N 000°52'39"E

runway: 04/22 - 4000x120ft - SMT

Le Molay airfield (Advanced Landing Ground A-9 Le Molay, later designated A-9C Le Molay) was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France, 12 kilometers west of Bayeux.

The airfield was built by the "Dozer Devils", the 834th Engineer Aviation Battalion.

Construction began on 21 June 1944.

It became operational on 30 June 1944 as A-9 Le Molay.

Initially, the airfield was used by two Reconnaissance Groups: 10th PRG and 67th TRG.

10 Photographic Reconnaissance Group consisted of 4 squadrons flying F-5 Lightnings: 30PRS (marked I6), 31PRS (marked 8V), 33PRS (marked 2W) and 34PRS (marked S9).

67 Tactical Reconnaissance Group consisted of 4 squadrons flying F-6 Mustangs: 12 TRS (marked ZM), 15TRS (marked 5M), 107TRS (marked AX) and 109TRS (marked VX).

107TRS was never actually based at Le Molay however, but remained at Deux-Jumeaux and Maupertus instead.

Additionally, the eairfield featured a PSP platform for the personal aircraft of the generals De Gaulle, Montgomery and Eisenhouwer, who had their respective headquarters nearby.

Both Reconnaissance units remained until August, when the airfield was converted into an Air Depot (a maintenance base), redesignating the airfield to A-9D.

For this purpose, large hangar tents were set up around the airfield.

USAAF handed the airfield back to French authorities on 5 October 1944.

Start of construction of ALG A-9 Le Molay by the 834th EAB (Wikipedia).

A VIP C-47 parked at A-9 Le Molay. De Gaulle, Eisenhouwer and Montgomery all had their transports fly into the airfield.

An F-6 Mustang of 109TRS undergoing maintenance at Le Molay (Wikipedia).

Butler hangars as utilised at A-9 Le Molay (Wikipedia).

The airfield remained clearly visible from aerial photography until at least 1947.

About a decade later it had nearly completely disappeared, save for the hedges, which were sill missing where the runway used to be.

Those were largely still absent in the early 1970s.

Today, it is impossible to recognise the area from any other surrounding field.

The hedges have largely regrown.

A plaque and map are all that remain of the former air field.

This IGN aerial photo clearly shows most of the outlines were still visible in 1947, three years after the airfield had closed.

This June 1972 IGN photo shows many of the hedges had not yet reformed almost 30 years after the war ended at Le Molay.

This 2004 aerial overview shows very little traces of the advanced landing ground remaining (Google Earth)

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Longues-sur-Mer

49°20'23"N 000°42'25"E

runway: 13/31 - 1200x40m - compacted earth

Longues-sur-Mer airfield (Advanced Landing Ground B-11 Longues-sur-Mer) was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France, 7 kilometers north of Bayeux.

The airfield became operational on 26 June 1944.

To cover the runway, the British set up anti-aircraft guns on the roof of the Longues-sur-Mer coastal artillery bunker .

Inside the former German bunker they stored the ammunition for the airfield.

An explosion in this makeshift magazine caused the deaths of four soldiers.

The violence of this explosion was so great it led to the total destruction of a blockhouse built by the Germans and a twisted gun barrel in front of the casemate.

The airfield was used by the Royal Air Forces 125 Wing (132 Sqn (RAF), 602Sqn (RAF), 453 Sqn (RAAF), 441Sqn (RCAF).

During their operations from Longues-sur-Mer, both 602Sqn and 453Sqn claimed to have strafed a German staff car.

(The same claim was also made by 412Sqn RCAF)

The attack severely injured Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, who fractured his skull.

Generalfeldmarschall Rommel had to be hospitalised for weeks, keeping him from the battlefield.

Australian pilots of No 453 Squadron help to flatten the airstrip at Longues-sur-Mer (B-11).
Flying Officer D Osborne and Pilot Officer A Rice man a jeep, while Pilot Officer J Scott
steadies the two 500lb bombs being used to add weight to a locally acquired agricultural roller.
In the background, Spitfires of No 602 Squadron depart on an operation, watched by a runway
controller working from a converted sentry box.
(Royal Air Force 1939-1945: Fighter Command © IWM (CL 509)

Wing Commander A G Page, leader of No. 125 Wing, in the cockpit of his Supermarine
Spitfire Mk IXE 'AGP', with a 500-lb GP bomb under the fuselage and two 250-lb GP bombs on
wing racks, ready for take off at B11/Longues, Normandy. Later the same day, Page was to shoot
down his 14th enemy aircraft, a Messerschmitt Bf 109, returning to Longues wounded in the leg
and his aircraft damaged by anti-aircraft fire.
(ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945 © IWM (CL 726))

Two flight mechanics refuel a Spitfire IX under the blazing midday sun at Longues-sur-Mer,
19 July 1944. Leading Aircraftman Ken Townsend passes another jerrican up to
Aircraftman Robert Simmonds. The changable weather of June had given way to hotter, drier
conditions, and these two servicing commandos dress accordingly.
(ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: FIGHTER COMMAND © IWM (CL 510))

The airfield was closed on 4 September 1944.

By 1947 all visible traces of the airfield had disappeared.

The location of A-11 Longues-sur-Mer in 1947. Bomb craters from the pre-D-Day bombing missions were still recognisable
to the right, but the airfield had disappeared without a trace (IGN.fr)

The same locations as above in 2005 (Google Earth)

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Asnelles-sur-Mer (B-1)

..°..'.."N ...°..'.."E

runway: ../.. - 600x00m - compacted earth

Air field Asnelles(-sur-Mer) was an Emergency Landing Strip near Gold Beach in Normandy, France

The airfield was completed on 7 June 1944.

It served as a safe haven for aircraft in trouble and unable to reach another airfield.

The strip only measured 600m in length, because it was only intended for landings, and not for takeoffs.

The landing strip was completed on D-Day, and remained in use for a while.

It is not known if it was actually used.

No photos have been located

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Sommervieu (B-8)

49°17'59"N 000°40'16"W

runway: 10/28 - 1200x40m - SMT

Sommervieu airfield (Advanced Landing Ground B-8 Sommervieu) was an airfield on the Normandy beachhead in France, 2 kilometers northeast of Bayeux.

The airfield was completed on 22 June 1944.

The airfield was used by 39 Recce Wing (400 and 168Sqn) and 145 Wing (74, 329, 340 and 341Sqn).

145 Wing was tasked with patroling roads in front of the beachhead and attacking german vehicles, troop concentrations and weapons.

Aerial overview of B-8 Sommervieu on 5 July 1944

A North American Mustang Mk.I of 168 Sqn RAF takes off from Sommervieu, Normandy, on a tactical-reconnaissance sortie.
(Royal Air Force, 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945 © IWM (© IWM (CL 827))

Pilots of No. 168 Squadron RAF relax under an apple tree at B8/Sommervieu, Normandy, during a break from
operations. Their North American Mustang Mark Is can be seen at dispersal points in the background.
(Royal Air Force, 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945 © IWM (CL 370))

After the advancing Allied Armies moved east into Central France, the airfield was closed.

The airfield was dismantled and returned to the original owners.

By the end of August 1947 the airfield had nearly completely disappeared.

In aerial photography from 2004 the area looked just like any other area in the region.

Photo of Sommervieu shot ion 28 August 1947 (IGN)

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airfield

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runway: 00/00 - 0000x00m - surface

Air field name was an airfield in country

The airfield was built ....

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No photos have been located

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No photos have been located

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If you have any information about airfields (listed and unlisted) in France, email RonaldV.

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