Advanced Landing Ground

Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)
UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Occupied Germany

Photo of the runway at Advanced Landing Ground A-43 (St. Marceau, France) being constructed by IX Engineering Command, August 1944
Type Military airfield
Built 1944–1945
Controlled by Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
Occupants RAF Second Tactical Air Force
Ninth Air Force
Battles/wars European Theatre of World War II

Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) was the term given to the temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II in support of the invasion of Europe. They were built in the UK prior to the invasion and therefafter in North West Europe from 6 June 1944 to V-E Day, 7 May 1945.

Unlike the permanent airfields built in the United Kingdom and designed for the strategic bombardment of Germany, the tactical combat airfields on the continent were temporary, often improvised airfields to be used by the tactical air forces to support the advancing ground armies engaged on the battlefield. Once the front line moved out of range for the aircraft, the groups and squadrons moved up to newly built ALGs closer to the ground forces and left the ones in the rear for other support uses, or simply abandoned them.

Contents

Overview

When the Allies invaded Normandy on D-Day, United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) engineers were among those in the initial assault waves. Their mission was to rapidly construct forward operating airfields, known as Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs), on the European continent. As the Allied armies advanced across France and into Germany, several hundred airfields were built or rehabilitated for use by the allied air forces.

For security reasons, the airstrips were referred to by a coded number instead of location. In the United Kingdom, USAAF installations were identified by three digit (AAF) numbers ranging from AAF-101 to AAF-925. After D-Day, continental airfields in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) were also assigned coded numbers. American airfields were given A-, Y-, or R-, prefixes and numbered consecutively from 1 to 99. Both "A" and "Y" designated airfields could be found in France, however many "Y" fields would also be in France, as well as the Netherlands; Belgium and occupied areas of Germany. "R" coded fields were usually located in occupied Germany. British airfields on the continent were also consecutively numbered, but with a B-prefix.

The numbering system for airfields was sequentially assigned as airfields were allocated, not by location or by date of operational use. A-1, Saint Pierre du Mont, was declared operational on 13 June 1944; A-3 Cardonville on 14 June. However A-2, Cricqueville-en-Bessin, was declared operational a few days later on 19 June.

Also many of these airfields had no combat air group or squadron attached to them. They were designed for casualty evacuation and supply transport and consisted of a quickly built runway manned only by a small complement of station personnel with little or no infrastructure other than tents. As the ground forces moved east, wounded would be sent to the airfield to be picked up by C-47s and taken to hospitals in England or other rear areas. Also supplies would be airlifted to the fields and unloaded, to be quickly transported to the front line units. These were normally known as S&E Fields (Supply and Evacuation).

Once completed, airfields were usually utilized by the combat groups or squadrons within a day or so of being declared operational for military use by the IX Engineering command engineers. They would be used for perhaps a few days to a week, to several months, depending on the location, use, and operational requirements. Once the combat units moved up to the next assigned ALG, they could be utilized as S&E Fields, or deconstructed quickly and abandoned, with the land being released back to the landowners or civil authorities in the area.

Construction

The mission for constructing ALGs was placed in the hands of USAAF's Ninth Air Force and its specially created engineering arm, the IX Engineer Command. Each aviation engineer battalion in the command (of a total of sixteen) was composed of sufficient men and equipment to quickly construct an airfield or landing ground for a single tactical fighter or bomb group unit.

ALGs were selected in two ways. First, existing enemy military or civilian airfields which were captured as the ground forces advanced were noted by engineers assigned to ground units. Second, engineers noted areas in grid locations where an airfield was desired, that had flat terrain, good land drainage, and where an airfield could be constructed quickly

Captured airfields could be restored for use as advanced landing field in one to three days depending upon the amount of drainage and the number of mines and booby traps encountered.

Dry-weather advanced landing fields were constructed by a single battalion at a favorable site in flat terrain in from one to three days, including time for reconnaissance. At less favorable sites, where more clearing and grading were required, or all-weather fields which also needed additional infrastructure, the time varied from three to ten days.

ALGs were equipped with an access road was built for connection to the existing road infrastructure; a dump for supplies, ammunition, and gasoline drums, along with a drinkable water and a minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting. Tents were used for billeting and also for support facilities. Time was the all-important factor and ALGs serve its purpose if available for only a few days. As the forward area became the rear area, an advanced landing field could be improved for medium bomber use, but initially they primarily served fighter and transport groups.

Based on the experience obtained in the North African and Italian Campaigns, fighter groups required an airfield 120 feet x 3600 feet long, and fighter-bomber groups required fields 120 feet x 5000 feet long. Medium bomb groups required 120 feet x 6000 feet runways.

Runway types

Instead of using rough, unimproved dirt strips, engineers used surfacing material necessary to strengthen the soil to support the weight of the aircraft and as a measure of insurance against the wet weather. Airfields were initially single runway landing strips which were laid down east–west (09/27) unless local conditions dictated a different runway direction.

ALGs laid in the UK were of Sommerfeld Tracking a form of stiffened steel wire mesh.

The surfacing material selected for the building of advanced landing grounds during the first weeks after the Normandy invasion was known as square-mesh track (SMT). SMT, a British development, was material composed of heavy wire joined in three-inch squares. It was chosen over other surfacing materials because it was very lightweight, allowing sufficient quantities to be transported across the English channel on overtasked landing craft. Easily workable, a SMT landing mat for fighters could be laid like a carpet in about one week.

After the initial batch of airfields was completed using SMP, the Army aviation engineers switched almost exclusively to another surfacing material known as prefabricated hessian (burlap) surfacing (PBS or PBS). Light and easily transportable, PBS did not create the dust problem encountered with SMT fields. Made of an asphalt-impregnated jute delivered in rolls 300 feet in length and 36 inches or 43 inches in width, PBS was laid in overlapping layers to produce a dust-free fair weather surface. It was also common to build airstrips using both SMT and PBS, laying SMT on top.

To provide an all season durable airfield for the Ninth Air Force's medium and light bombers, a third type of surfacing material known as pierced steel plank (PSP), or Marsden Matting was introduced on the Normandy bridgehead in July 1944. It consisted of 10-foot-long (3.0 m), 15-inch-wide (380 mm) steel planks joined together and laid perpendicular to the line of flight. Long used in other theaters, PSP would have been ideal for all airfields on the continent, but its limited availability and greater weight made this impractical. Moreover, because of supply problems, construction of even a PSP fighter-bomber field could take a month or longer, while similar PBS and SMT fields could be constructed in two weeks and one week, respectively.

In addition, Sod and Earth runways were built for Emergency Landing Strips (ELS) and Refueling and Rearming Strips (R&R). Captured airfields contained a wide variety of runways, most commonly Asphalt; Concrete; Macadam or Tar-Penetrated Macadam.

Airfield types

There were five main types of airfields built by the USAAF combat engineers on the continent. These were:

Consisted of a rough, graded runway approximately 2000 feet long to provide a place for emergency belly-landings of damaged aircraft.

Usually a rough graded runway near the front line or an airfield in the rear that was used by C-47s for transport of casualties to the rear, or delivery of supplies and munitions to the front line.

Consisted of a runway and an aircraft marshalling area on each end of the runway. It was designed to provide an airfield near the front lines upon which aircraft based in rear areas could land, be refueled and rearmed, and take off again on a mission without having to return to their home field in the rear. Also could be used for dispersal or for when services other than refueling or rearming was required. These airfields could be expanded into advance landing grounds by the addition of dispersal and other station facilities. Generally if an R&R strip was built, it would be sited wherever possible with a view to further expand it later into an ALG.

An advanced landing ground could be constructed as such from the beginning or by development from an R&R Strip by the addition of dispersal facilities, expansion of the road network and other additions to the station and technical area in order for it to be used over an extended period of time.

A number of ALGs were expanded into tactical air depots by the addition of hangars, shops, more dispersal hardstands, roads, and other facilities. Some were developed from the beginning.

Deployment

An unforeseen development was the extraordinary demand for transport, supply, and evacuation fields as the Allied armies pushed past Paris toward the German frontier. In late 1944, supplies could not keep pace with U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower's forces, and to help lessen the supply shortage airfields for C-47 Skytrain cargo planes became a priority. Bringing in ammunition of all types and especially gasoline on the trip to the ALGs on the continent, the C-47s on the return trip evacuated wounded to the rear.

By 15 September 1944, IX Engineer Command had placed over eighty ALG airfields in operation, while British engineers had constructed 76 airfields in their zone. In Southern France, another twenty or so fields had been built by American engineers from Twelfth Air Force from the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). In October these uncoded airfields were assigned to the ETO and given ALG code numbers.

The stabilization of the front lines in the Netherlands, Belgium, and eastern France in mid-September 1944, which would last into the new year, allowed aviation engineers a chance to reorganize and prepare for the upcoming winter season. As expected, they could not build new PHS and SMI airstrips during the fall rain and winter snow seasons because of the moist ground. Besides concrete, the American-made PSP was the only available surfacing material that could be laid down during this inclement weather in Europe.

To keep the supply lines open, selected airfields in Belgium and France were therefore "winterized" with PSP. Because of the limited supply of PSP, however, only a limited number of airfields could be winterized, making it necessary to base two group sized units per airfield. But sufficient fighter-bomber and medium bomber airfields were completed that winter to ensure Ninth Air Force aircraft could continue flying combat missions.

The major problem affecting airfield construction in early 1945 was not the surprise German Ardennes counteroffensive (which caused the Abandonment on only one airfield – Y-39, Haguenau). Rather, an early February thaw threatened to make airfields inoperable due to the mud and water. Using local civilian labor, engineers performed extensive maintenance on the threatened airfields and successfully resolved the crisis

The renewed allied offensive in early 1945, following the Battle of the Bulge, was supported in earnest by the building of tactical airfields in occupied Germany. Trier (Y-57), became the first operational tactical American airfield on German soil on 10 March 1945. When a crossing over the Rhine River was spearheaded at Remagen, Germany, a supply and evacuation strip was quickly set up to support the bridgehead. As Allied tank columns struck out rapidly into the heartland of Germany, the airfield "clutches" of the Ninth Air Force's tactical air commands moved east of the Rhine river within range of virtually any target in Germany.

Scores of former Luftwaffe sod and hard surfaced airfields were captured in the lightning advance through Central Germany, virtually undamaged, lessening the requirement for SMT, PHS, and PSP prefabricated surfacing. The relative lack of German military opposition in late March, April and May 1945 lessened the need for close air support and produced a greater demand for supply airstrips to keep the offensive moving. Every opportunity was used to clear captured German airfields for use along the armies' route, allowing C-47s and other transports to land with food, gas, and ammunition. The supply effort received top airfield priority. By V-E Day, 9 May 1945, 76 of the 126 airfields made operational east of the Rhine river were strictly supply and evacuation fields.

Summary

USAAF Engineers constructed or rehabilitated over 280 continental airfields in the ETO from D-Day to V-E Day. In the summer months that followed, a few new airfields were constructed, but the vast majority were abandoned and turned over to local landowners or civil governments. Throughout Western Europe, as well as the airfields built by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces in the MTO, a significant number were developed into permanent, civilian airports or NATO military bases after the war.

The airfield coding system remained in effect until after the Japanese surrender in the Pacific, when, on 14 September 1945, the system was officially discontinued. Thereafter, airfields were referenced by their geographic name.

Airfields

Only active combat ALGs are shown. Dedicated S&E, Liaison, Transport, and other non-combat airfields are not listed. Runway types are listed as follows:

  • ASP Asphalt
  • BRK Brick
  • CON Concrete
  • ETH Compressed Earth
  • MAC Macadam
  • PHS Prefabricated Hessian Surfacing
  • SMT Square-Mesh Track
  • SOD Sod
  • PSP Pierced Steel Planking
  • TAR Tar-Penetrated Macadam

Kent

"A" Fields

"A" ALGs were located in France. They were constructed and used by Ninth Air Force units during the Invasion of Normandy (6 June – Mid July 1944) and during Operation Cobra, the breakout from Normandy, starting on 25 July 1944 until 25 August 1944. Those in Normandy were mostly decommissioned after their combat use, however others in Central France were used in various non-combat roles until the end of the war.

A-1 to A-20

Sites Used Runway Units
A-1 Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, France 13 June 1944 to 5 September 1944 Runway: 5000x120, SMT, (09/27) 366th Fighter Group, 17 June – 24 August 1944 (P-47)
A-2 Cricqueville-en-Bessin (Cricqueville), France 16 June 1944 to 15 September 1944 Runway: 5000x120, SMT/ETH, (17/35) 354th Fighter Group, 22 June – 13 August 1944 (P-51)
367th Fighter Group, 14 August – 4 September 1944 (P-38)
A-3 Cardonville, France 14 June 1944 to 1 September 1944 Runway: 5000x120, SMT (15/33) 368th Fighter Group, 20 June – 23 August 1944 (P-47)
370th Fighter Group, 24 July – 15 August 1944 (P-38)
A-4 Deux-Jumeaux, France 30 June 1944 to 15 September 1944 5000x120, SMT (11/29) 48th Fighter Group, 18 June – 29 August 1944 (P-47)
A-5 La Chapelle-en-Juger (Chippelle), France 5 July 1944 to 9 July 1944 5000x120, SMT (06/24) 404th Fighter Group
6 July – 29 August 1944 (P-47)
A-6 Beuzeville-la-Bastille (Beuzeville), France (Abandoned) 15 June 1944 to 18 September 1944 5000x120, SMT (05/23) 371st Fighter Group, June – 18 September 1944 (P-47)
367th Fighter Group, 22 July – 14 August 1944 (P-38)
A-7 Azeville, France 24 June 1944 to 15 September 1944 3600x120, SMT (08/26) 365th Fighter Group, 28 June – 15 August 1944 (P-47)
363d Fighter Group, August–September 1944 (P-51)
A-8 Picauville, France 26 June 1944 Closed: 15 September 1944 5000x120, PHS (07/25) 405th Fighter Group
30 June – 14 September 1944 (P-47)
A-9 Le Molay-Littry (Le Molay), France 30 June 1944 to 5 October 1944 4000x120, SMT (04/22) 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
July–August 1944 (F-4/P-38; F-5/P-51)
A-10 Carentan, France 16 June 1944 to 4 November 1944 5000x120, PHS (08/26) 50th Fighter Group, 25 June – 16 August 1944 (P-47)
A-11 Saint-Lambert, France 5 August 1944 Closed: 11 September 1944 5000x120, PHS (05/23) 474th Fighter Group, 6–29 August 1944 (P-38)
A-12 Lignerolles, France 18 July 1944 to 4 November 1944 5000x120, PHS (07/25) 362d Fighter Group, 2 July – 10 August 1944 (P-47)
365th Fighter Group, 15 August – 3 September 1944 (P-47)
A-13 Tour-en-Bessin, France 28 July 1944 to 2 December 1944 Runway 1: 5000x120, PSP (12/30)
Runway 2: 5000x120, PSP (01/19)		 373d Fighter Group, 19 July – 19 August 1944 (P-47)
406th Fighter Group, 5–17 August 1944 (P-47)
394th Bombardment Group, 25 August – 18 September 1944 (B-26)
A-14 Cretteville, France 4 July 1944 to 5 September 1944 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (04/22) 358th Fighter Group, 3 July – 14 August 1944 (P-47)
406th Fighter Group, 17 August – 4 September 1944 (P-47)
A-15 Maupertus-sur-Mer (Maupertus), France
Aéroport de Cherbourg - Maupertus		 4 July 1944 to 22 December 1944 Runway 1: 6000x120, PSP (11/29)
Runway 2: 5000x120, PSP (17/35)		 363d Fighter Group, 9 July – August 1944 (P-38)
387th Bombardment Group, 22 August – 18 September 1944 (B-26)
422d Night Fighter Squadron, 25 July – 28 August 1944 (P-61)
A-16 Brucheville, France 2 August 1944 to 5 September 1944 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (07/25) 36th Fighter Group, 4 July – 25 August 1944 (P-47)
A-17 Méautis, France 17 August 1944 to 7 September 1944 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (10/28) 50th Fighter Group, 16 August – 4 September 1944 (P-47)
A-19 Saint-Pierre-la-Vieille (La Vieille), France 14 August 1944 to 7 September 1944 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (01/19) 370th Fighter Group, 15 August – 6 September 1944 (P-38)
A-20 Lessay, France
now Lessay Airport		 25 August 1944 to 28 September 1944 Runway 1: 6000x120, PSP (06/24)
Runway 2: 5000x120, PSP (12/30)		 323d Bombardment Group, 26 August – 21 September 1944 (B-26)

A-26 to A-40

Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 16 August 1944 Closed: 28 September 1944
Runway: 6000x120, PSP (07/25)
Used by:
397th Bombardment Group, August – 11 September 1944 (B-26)
  • A-27 Rennes/St-Jacques, France
Located:
Now: Rennes - Saint-Jacques Airport (IATA: RNS, ICAO: LFRN)
Captured 7 August 1944 Opened: 10 August 1944 Closed: 30 November 1944
Runway 1: 5593x260, CON (10/28)
Runway 2: 4676x260, CON (14/32)
Used by:
362d Fighter Group, 10 August – 19 September 1944 (P-47)
10th Reconnaissance Group, 11 August – September 1944 (P-38/F-5; P-51/F-6)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 10 August 1944 Closed: 28 September 1944
Runway: 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (08/26)
Used by:
358th Fighter Group, 14 August – 14 September 1944 (P-47)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 14 August 1944 Closed: 28 September 1944
Runway: 5000x120, PHS (13/31)
Used by:
373d Fighter Group, 19 August – 19 September 1944 (P-47)
Located: (Undetermined)
Captured: 10 August 1944 Opened: 11 August 1944 Closed: 28 September 1944
Runway: 4500x120, SOD/ETH (08/26)
Used by:
354th Fighter Group, 13 August – 17 September 1944 (P-51)
  • A-33 Vannes, France
Located:
Now: Meucon Airport (IATA: VNE, ICAO: LFRV)
Captured 10 August 1944 Opened: 29 August 1944 Closed: 20 June 1945
Runway 1: 6000X200, CON/TAR (13/31)
Runway 2: 4400x200, CON/TAR (04/22)
Used by:
425th Night Fighter Squadron, 18 August – 11 September 1944 (P-61)
Located: (Undetermined)
Captured: 12 August 1944 Opened: 3 September 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Runway: 5000x120, PHS (14/32)
Used by:
36th Fighter Group, 25 August – September 1944 (P-47)
440th Troop Carrier Group, 30 September – 2 November 1944 (C-47)
Located:
Now: Reims-Prunay Airport (IATA: QYR, ICAO: LFQA)
Opened: 4 September 1944 Closed: 28 September 1944
Runway: 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (00/18)
Used by:
406th Fighter Group, 4–22 September 1944 (P-47)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 4 September 1944 Closed: 5 October 1944
Runway: 5000x120, (3600 PHS/1400 ETH) (01/19)
Used by:
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, September – 4 October 1944
  • A-39 Châteaudun, France
Located:
Now: Châteaudun Airport (IATA: XSU, ICAO: LFOC)
Also   Châteaudun Air Base (BA 279)
Captured 20 August 1944 Opened: 26 August 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway 1: 7250x262, CON (10/28)
Runway 2: 5600x262, CON (05/23)
Used by:
10th Reconnaissance Group, November 1944 (P-38/F-5; P-51/F-6)
422d Night Fighter Squadron, 28 August – 16 September 1944 (P-61)
387th Bombardment Group, 18 September – 30 October 1944 (B-26)
439th Troop Carrier Group, 4 November 1944 – 7 September 1945 (C-47)
  • A-40 Chartres, France
Located:
Now: Chartres-Champhol Airport (IATA: QTJ, ICAO: LFOR)
Captured 21 August 1944 Opened: 26 August 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway: 5500x260, CON/PSP (08/26)
Used by:
368th Fighter Group, 23 August – 11 September 1944 (P-47)
323d Bombardment Group, 21 September – 13 October 1944 (B-26)

A-41 to A-50

  • A-41 Dreux/Vernouillet, France
Located:
Now: Vernouillet Airport (IATA: XDR, ICAO: LFON)
Captured 21 August 1944 Opened: 26 August 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway 1: 5500x200, CON/PSP (02/20)
Runway 2: 4400x200, CON (12/30)
Used by:
366th Fighter Group, 24 August – 8 September 1944
397th Bombardment Group, 11 September – 6 October 1944
441st Troop Carrier Group, 3 November 1944 – 12 August 1945
  • A-42 Vélizy-Villacoublay (Villacoublay), France
Also known as AAF-180
Located:
Now:  Vélizy - Villacoublay Air Base (IATA: LFPV) (BA 107)
Captured 27 August 1944 Opened: 30 August 1944 Closed: August 1946
Runway : 4000x200, CON/TAR (13/31)
Used by:
48th Fighter Group, 29 August – 15 September 1944
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 31 August 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Runway : 5000x120, PHS (08/26)
Used by:
474th Fighter Group, 29 August – 6 September 1944
441st Troop Carrier Group, 2 October – 3 November 1944
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 2 September 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Runway : 5000x120, PHS (10/28)
Used by:
367th Fighter Group, 4–8 September 1944
442d Troop Carrier Group, 5 October – 7 November 1944
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 3 September 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Runway : 5000x120, PHS (05/23)
Used by:
370th Fighter Group, 6–11 September 1944
439th Troop Carrier Group, 28 September – 4 November 1944
  • A-46 Toussus-le-Noble, France
Also known as: AAF-384
Located:
Now: Toussus-le-Noble Airport (IATA: TNF, ICAO: LFPN)
Captured: 26 August 1944 Opened: 28 August 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway : 4070x106, SMT (07/25)
Used by:
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, August–September 1944
Located:
Now: Paris-Orly Airport (IATA: ORY, ICAO: LFPO)
Captured 27 August 1944 Opened: 28 August 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway 1: 6137x197, CON (02/20)
Runway 2: 5170x197, CON (08/26)
Used by:
50th Fighter Group, 4–15 September 1944
  • A-48 Brétigny, France
Located:
Now:   Brétigny-sur-Orge Air Base (BA 217)
Captured 27 August 1944 Opened: 29 August 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway 1: 5100x197, CON/PSP (04/22)
Runway 2: 4880x197, CON/PSP (11/29)
Used by:
404th Fighter Group, 29 August – 13 September 1944
365th Fighter Group, 3–15 September 1944
409th Bombardment Group, September 1944 – February 1945
435th Troop Carrier Group, 13 February – 25 June 1945
  • A-50 Orleans/Bricy, France
Located:
Now:   Orléans - Bricy Air Base (BA 123) (IATA: XCR, ICAO: LFOK)
Captured 22 August 1944 Opened: 24 August 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway : 7788x263, CON (07/25)
Used by:
394th Bombardment Group, 18 September – 8 October 1944
440th Troop Carrier Group, 2 November 1944 – 18 October 1945

A-51 to A-70

  • A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France
Located:
Now: Melun-Villaroche Airport (ICAO: LFPM)
Captured: 1 September 1944 Opened: 15 September 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway 1: 5336x200, CON (01/19)
Runway 2: 5376x200, ASP (10/29)
Used by:
416th Bombardment Group, September 1944 – February 1945 (A-20)
436th Troop Carrier Group, 21 February – 15 July 1945 (C-47)
  • A-58 Coulommiers/Voisins, France
Located:
Now: Coulommiers-Voisins Airport (ICAO: LFPK)
Captured: 1 September 1944 Opened: 8 September 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway 1: 6565x264, CON (09/28)
Runway 2: 6000x264, ASP (04/22)
Used by:
425th Night Fighter Squadron, 11 September – 13 October 1944 (P-61)
410th Bombardment Group, September 1944 – February 1945 (A-20)
437th Troop Carrier Group, 24 February – 28 July 1945 (C-47)
  • A-59 Cormeilles-En-Vexin, France
Located:
Now: Pontoise - Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport (IATA: POX, ICAO: LFPT)
Captured: 6 September 1944 Opened: 15 September 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway : 6413x165, CON (12/30)
Used by:
344th Bombardment Group, 30 September 1944 – 5 April 1945 (B-26/A-26)
  • A-60 Beaumont-sur-Oise, France
Located:
Now: Persan-Beaumont Airport (ICAO: LFPA)
Captured: 3 September 1944 Opened: 26 September 1944 Closed: 17 July 1945
Runway : 5250x164, CON (05/23)
Used by:
386th Bombardment Group, 2 October 1944 – 9 April 1945 (B-26)
410th Bombardment Group, May–June 1945 (A-26)
  • A-61 Beauvais/Tille, France
Also known as B-42 (Royal Air Force)
Located:
Now: Paris Beauvais Tillé Airport (IATA: BVA, ICAO: LFOB)
Captured: 6 September 1944 Opened: 10 September 1944 Closed: 17 August 1945
Runway 1: 6023x164, CON (12/30)
Runway 2: 5510x164, CON (04/22)
Used by:
322d Bombardment Group, September 1944 – March 1945 (B-26)
  • A-62 Reims/Champagn, France
Located:
Now:   Reims - Champagne Air Base (IATA: RHE, ICAO: LFSR) (BA 112)
Opened: 3 September 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway 1: 5000x100, PSP (05/23)
Runway 2: 5000x120, SOD (06/24)
Used by:
440th Troop Carrier Group, 11–30 September 1944 (C-47)
373d Fighter Group, 19 September – 22 October 1944 (P-47)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 5 September 1944 Closed: 23 May 1945
Runway : 3600x150, SOD (07/25)
Used by:
441st Troop Carrier Group, 8 September – 2 October 1944
  • A-64 Saint-Dizier/Robinson, France
Located:
Now:   Saint-Dizier - Robinson Air Base (BA 113)
Captured: 7 September 1944 Opened: 10 September 1944 Closed: 7 May 1945
Runway 1: 5500x262, CON/PSP (12L/30R)
Runway 2: 4678x198, CON (12R/30L)
Used by:
10th Reconnaissance Group, September–November 1944 (P-38/F-5; P-51/F-6)
405th Fighter Group, 14 September – February 1945 (P-47)
367th Fighter Group, 1 February – 14 March 1945 (P-38)
27th Fighter Bomber Group, 22 February – 19 March 1945 (A-36) (12th AF)
415th Night Fighter Squadron, 18 March – 17 April 1945 (P-61)
417th Night Fighter Squadron, 5–24 April 1945 (P-61)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 9 September 1944 Closed: 5 October 1944
Runway : 5000x120, SOD (10/28)
Used by:
371st Fighter Group, 18 September – 1 October 1944 (P-47)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: 15 September 1944 Closed: 1 December 1944
Runway : 5000x120, PHS (11/29)
Used by:
354th Fighter Group, 17 September – 1 December 1944 (P-47)
  • A-67 Vitry-En-Artois (Vitry), France
Located:
Captured: 9 September 1944 Now: Vitry-En-Artois Airport (IATA: LFQS)
Opened: 15 September 1944 Closed: 18 December 1945
Runway : 5000x120, PHS (09/27)
Used by:
358th Fighter Group, 14 September – 16 October 1944 (P-47)
Located: (Abandoned)
Captured: 5 September 1944 Opened: 7 September 1944 Closed: 2 July 1945
Runway 1: 5500x160, CON (09/27)
Runway 2: 5420x160, CON (17/35)
Used by:
439th Troop Carrier Group, 8–28 September 1944 (C-47)
404th Fighter Group, 13 September – 4 October 1944 (P-47)
365th Fighter Group, 15 September – 4 October 1944 (P-47)
36th Fighter Group, 1–27 October 1944 (P-47)
367th Fighter Group, 28 October 1944 – 1 February 1945 (P-38)
368th Fighter Group, 27 December 1944 – 5 January 1945 (P-47)
410th Bombardment Group, February–May 1945 (A-20)
  • A-69 Laon/Athies, France
Located:
Waa: Laon-Athies Air Base (Abandoned)
Captured 7 September 1944 Opened: 10 September 1944 Closed: 23 May 1945
Runway : 5386x163, CON (08/26)
Used by:
368th Fighter Group, 11 September – 2 October 1944 ((P-47)
323d Bombardment Group, 13 October 1944 – February 1945 (B-26)
416th Bombardment Group, February–May 1945 (A-20)
  • A-70 Laon/Couvron, France
Located:
Now:   Quartier Mangin sur l'ancienne base de Couvron (Armée de Terre)
Captured 7 September 1944 Opened: 9 September 1944 Closed: 23 May 1945
Runway 1: 5450x167, CON (02/20)
Runway 2: 5350x167, CON (10/28)
Used by:
50th Fighter Group, 15–28 September 1944 (P-47)
409th Bombardment Group, February–June 1945

A-71 to A-80

  • A-71 Clastres, France
Located:
Now: Saint-Simon - Clastres Air Base (Abandoned)
Captured: 7 September Opened: 9 September 1944 Closed: Unknown
Runway 1: 5730x164, CON (05/23)
Runway 2: 5963x164, CON (10/29)
Used by:
367th Fighter Group, 8 September – 28 October 1944 (P-38)
387th Bombardment Group, 30 October 1944 – 29 April 1945 (B-26)
  • A-72 Peronne/St Quentin, France
Located:
Now: Peronne-St Quentin Airport (ICAO: LFAG)
Captured: 5 September Opened: 6 September 1944 Closed: Unknown
Runway 1: 5250x164, CON (04/22)
Runway 2: 5400x164, CON (09/27)
Used by:
474th Fighter Group, 6 September – 1 October 1944 (P-38)
397th Bombardment Group, 6 October 1944 – 25 April 1945 (B-26)
Located: (Abandoned)
Captured: 6 September Opened: 8 September 1944 Closed: 8 August 1945
Runway 1: 5600x164, CON (05/23)
Runway 2: 5965x164, CON (10/28)
Used by:
370th Fighter Group, 11–26 September 1944 (P-47)
391st Bombardment Group, 19 September 1944 – 16 April 1945 (B-26)
349th Troop Carrier Group, April – 13 July 1945 (C-47)
  • A-74 Cambrai/Niergnies, France
Located:
Now: Cambrai-Niergnies Airport (ICAO: LFYG)
Captured: 10 September Opened: 12 September 1944 Closed: Unknown
Runway 1: 5330x164, CON/PSP (15/33)
Runway 2: 5068x164, CON/TAR (09/27)
Used by:
48th Fighter Group, 15–30 September 1944 (P-47)
394th Bombardment Group, 6 October 1944 – 2 May 1945 (B-26)
Located: (Abandoned)
Captured: Opened: 4 September 1944 Closed: 4 October 1945
Runway : 5600x120, SMT (09/27)
Used by:
36th Fighter Group, September – 1 October 1944 (P-47)
  • A-78 Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium
Located:
Now:   Florennes Air Base
Captured: 11 September
Opened: 11 September 1944 Closed: Unknown
Runway 1: 4343x164, CON (16/34)
Runway 2: 5509x164, CON/PSP (17/35)
Used by:
422d Night Fighter Squadron, 18 September 1944 – 6 April 1945 (P-61)
370th Fighter Group, 26 September 1944 – 27 January 1945 (P-38)
474th Fighter Group, 1 October 1944 – 22 March 1945 (P-38)
344th Bombardment Group, 5 April – 15 September 1945 (B-26)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 21 September 1944 Closed: 4 July 1945
Runway : 6000x120, PSP (08/26)
Used by:
362d Fighter Group, 19 September – 5 November 1944 (P-47)
425th Night Fighter Squadron, 13 October – 9 November 1944 (P-61)
438th Troop Carrier Group, February–May 1945 (C-47)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 20 September 1944 Closed: 2 July 1945
Runway : 6000x120, PSP (08/26)
Used by:
406th Fighter Group, 22 September 1944 – 2 February 1945 (P-47)
358th Fighter Group, 16 October – 9 November 1944 (P-47)
434th Troop Carrier Group, March – 24 July 1945 (C-47)

A-81 to A-98

Located:
Now: Verdun-Le-Rozelier Airport (ICAO: LFGW)
Also known as: AAF-393
Opened: 19 September 1944 Closed: 22 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (08/26)
Used by:
362d Fighter Group, 5 November 1944 – 8 April 1945 (P-47)
425th Night Fighter Squadron, 9 November 1944 – 12 April 1945 (P-61)
  • A-83 Denain/Prouvy, France
Also known as: B-74 (Royal Air Force)
Located:
Now: Valenciennes-Denain Airport (ICAO: LFAV)
Captured: 12 September
Opened: 14 September 1944 Closed: 25 June 1945
Runway: 5500x164, CON/PSP, (06/24)
Used by:
323d Bombardment Group, February – 15 May 1945 (B-26)
  • A-84 Chievres, Belgium (AAF-181)
Located:
Now:   Chièvres Air Base
Captured: 13 September Opened: 16 September 1944 Closed: 15 May 1945
Runway 1: 5516x165, CON, (02/20)
Runway 2: 5902x165, CON, (09/27)
Used by:
368th Fighter Group, 2 October – 27 December 1944 (P-47)
365th Fighter Group, 4 October – 27 December 1944 (P-47)
352d Fighter Group, 27 January – 14 April 1945 (P-51) (8th AF)
361st Fighter Group, 1 February – April 1945 (P-47) (8th AF)
  • A-87 Charleroi, Belgium (AAF-184)
Located:
Now: Brussels South Charleroi Airport (IATA: CRL, ICAO: EBCI)
Opened: 14 September 1944 Closed: 10 August 1945
Runway: 3600x100, PSP, (06/24)
Used by:
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, September 1944 – March 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
  • A-89 Le Culot, Belgium
Also known as: B-68 (Royal Air Force)
Located:
Now:  Beauvechain Air Base (ICAO: EBBE)
Captured: Opened: 28 October 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway 1: 5793x165, TAR/PSP, (04/22)
Runway 2: 4955x165, TAR, (12/30)
Used by:
373d Fighter Group, 22 October 1944 – 11 March 1945 (P-47)
36th Fighter Group, 27 October 1944 – 26 March 1945 (P-47)
322d Bombardment Group, March–June 1946 (B-26)
Located:
Now: Non-Aviation use (Industrial Estate)
Captured: 14 September 1944 Opened: 14 September 1944 Closed: 22 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (10/28)
Used by:
358th Fighter Group, 9 November 1944 – 2 April 1945 (P-47)
  • A-92 Sint-Truiden (Saint Trond) (B-62), Belgium
Located:
Now:   Sint-Truiden Air Base
Captured 16 September 1944
Opened: 18 September 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Runway 1: 5250x165, CON (14/32)
Runway 2: 4740x165, CON (09/27)
Runway 3: 5070x165, CON (06/24)
Used by:
48th Fighter Group, 30 September 1944 – 26 March 1945 (A-20)
404th Fighter Group, 4 October 1944 – 30 March 1945 (P-37)
386th Bombardment Group, 9 April – 27 July 1945 (B-26)
  • A-94 Conflans-en-Jarnisy (Conflans), France
Located:
Now: Doncourt-lès-Conflans Airport (ICAO: LFGR)
Opened: 20 November 1944 Closed: 22 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (08/26)
Used by:
10th Reconnaissance Group, November 1944 – March 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
367th Fighter Group, 14 March – 20 April 1945 (P-38)
  • A-96 Toul/Ochey, France
Located:
Now:   Nancy - Ochey Air Base (BA 133)
Opened: 9 October 1944 Closed: 11 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (07/25)
Used by:
50th Fighter Group, 3 November 1944 – 20 April 1945 (P-47)
415th Night Fighter Squadron, 30 November 1944 – 18 March 1945 (P-61)
27th Fighter Bomber Group, 19 March – April 1945 (P-47) (12th AF)
  • A-97 Sandweiler, Luxembourg
Located:
Now: Luxembourg - Findel Airport (IATA: LUX, ICAO: ELLX)
Opened: 18 September 1944 Closed: 15 August 1945
Runway: 3400x132, SOD, (06/24)
Used by:
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 4–29 October 1944 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
  • A-98 Rosieres En Haye, France
Located:
Now:   Toul-Rosières Air Base (BA 136)
Opened: 21 November 1944 Closed: 22 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (03/21)
Used by:
354th Fighter Group, 1 December 1944 – 8 April 1945

"Y" Fields

"Y" ALGs were initially located in Southeastern France, built by Twelfth Air Force engineers as part of Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. Initially uncoded, they were given "Y" designations when they came under IX Engineering Command control in late 1944. ALGs were also coded "Y" in Northeastern France, Belgium; The Netherlands and Occupied Germany, after "A" coding reached 99 November 1944.

Y-1 to Y-10

Located:
Opened: 25 December 1944 Closed: 29 May 1945
Runway: 5000/120, PSP, (02/20)
Used by:
371st Fighter Group, 20 December 1944 – 15 February 1945 (P-47)
86th Fighter Group, 20 February – 17 April 1945 (P-47) (12th AF)
  • Y-2 Luneville, France
Located:
Now: Lunéville-Croismare Airport (ICAO: LFQC)
Opened: January 1945 Closed: 29 May 1945
Runway: 5000/120, PSP, (09/27)
Used by:
324th Fighter Group, 4 January – 8 May 1945 (P-47) (12th AF)
  • Y-5 Ambérieu-en-Bugey (Ambérieu), France
Located:
Now:   Ambérieu-en-Bugey Air Base (BA 278)
Opened: September 1944 Closed: 29 May 1945
Constructed by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 6000/100, ETH, (01/19)
Used by:
324th Fighter Group, 6–20 September 1944 (P-47) (12th AF)
  • Y-6 Lyon/Bron, France
Located:
Now: Lyon-Bron Airport (IATA: LYN, ICAO: LFLY)
Captured: September 1944 Opened: September 1944 Closed: 20 June 1945
Repaired by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 6000/130, CON/PSP, (17/35)
Used by:
79th Fighter Group, September–November 1944 (P-47)(12th AF)
  • Y-7 Dôle/Tavaux, France
Located:
Now: Dôle-Tavaux Airport (IATA: DLE, ICAO: LFGJ)
Captured: September 1944 Opened: September 1944 Closed: 17 July 1945
Repaired by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 5500/272, CON/PSP, (05/23)
Used by:
324th Fighter Group, 20 September 1944 – 4 January 1945 (P-47)(12th AF)
371st Fighter Group, 1 October – 20 December 1944 (P-47)
320th Bombardment Group, 1 April – 18 June 1945 (B-26)
  • Y-9 Dijon/Longvic, France
Located:
Now:   Dijon Air Base (BA 102) (IATA: DLE, ICAO: LFGJ)
Captured September 1944 Opened: September 1944 Closed: 1 July 1945
Repaired by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 6000/120, CON/PSP, (01/19)
Used by:
415th Night Fighter Squadron, 25 September – 30 November 1944 (P-61)
320th Bombardment Group, 11 November 1944 – 1 April 1945 (B-26)
17th Bombardment Group, 20 November 1944 – June 1945 (B-26) (12th AF)
  • Y-10 Le Culot/East, Belgium
Located:
Now:   Goetsenhoven Military Airfield (ICAO: EBTN)
Captured: September 1944 Opened: September 1944 Closed: 25 June 1945
Runway: 3600/120, PSP, (04/22)
Used by:
371st Fighter Group, 1 October – 20 December 1944

Y-12 to Y-39

  • Y-12 St. Raphael/Frejus, France
Located:
Now: Frejus Airport (IATA: FRJ) (Closed)
Opened: 26 August 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Runway: 6000x150, SOD/ETH, (08/26)
Constructed by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Used by:
79th Fighter Group, 25 August – October 1944 (P-47) (12th AF)
  • Y-16 Salon, France
Located:
Now:   Salon-de-Provence Air Base (BA 701)
Opened: 28 August 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Runway: 6000x150, SOD/ETH, (04/22)
Repaired by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Used by:
27th Fighter Bomber Group, 30 April – 11 September 1944 (P-47) (12th AF)
47th Bombardment Group, 7–18 September 1944 (A-20) (12th AF)
  • Y-17 Istres/Le Tube, France
Also known as: AAF-196
Located:
Now:   Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (BA 125)
Opened: 27 August 1944 Closed: Undetermined
Repaired by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway 1: 5800x197, ASP, (15/33)
Runway 2: 6000x150, ETH, (15/33)
Runway 3: 6000x200, ASP, (10/28)
Used by:
324th Fighter Group, 2–6 September 1944 (P-47) (12th AF)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 30 August 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Constructed by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 7800x300, SOD, (13/31)
Used by:
415th Night Fighter Squadron, 1–25 September 1944 (P-61)
417th Night Fighter Squadron, 12 September – 5 April 1945 (Bristol Beaufighters) (12th AF)
  • Y-23 Valence, France
Located:
Now: Valence-Chabeuil Airport (IATA: VAF, ICAO: LFLU)
Opened: 2 September 1944 Closed: 20 November 1944
Constructed by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 5500x150, SOD, (01/19)
Used by:
79th Fighter Group, September 1944 (P-47) (12th AF)
Located: (Undetermined)
Opened: Closed: 20 November 1944
Constructed by MTO (12AF) Engineers
Runway: 6000x150, SOD, (02/20)
Used by:
27th Fighter Bomber Group, 11 September – October 1944 (P-47) (12th AF)
  • Y-29 Asch, Belgium
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 20 November 1944 Closed: 20 June 1945
Runway: 5000x150, SOD, (06/24)
Used by:
366th Fighter Group, 19 November 1944 – 11 April 1945 (P-47)
406th Fighter Group, 8 February – 15 April 1945 (P-47)
391st Bombardment Group, 16 April – 27 May 1945 (B-26)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 10 December 1944 Closed: 29 May 1945
Runway: 5000x150, PSP, (12/30)
Used by:
370th Fighter Group, 27 January – 20 April 1945 (P-47)
405th Fighter Group, February – 30 April 1945 (P-47)
  • Y-34 Metz, France
Located:
Now:   Metz-Frescaty Air Base (BA 128)
Opened: 25 December 1944 Closed: 29 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (02/20)
Used by:
365th Fighter Group, 27 December 1944 – 30 January 1945 (P-47)
368th Fighter Group, 5 January – 15 April 1945 (P-47)
406th Fighter Group, 2–8 February 1945 (P-47)
371st Fighter Group, 15 February – 7 April 1945 (P-47)
  • Y-39 Haguenau, France
Located:
Now: Haguenau Airport (ICAO: LFSH)
Opened: 20 December 1944 Closed: 17 July 1945
Runway 1: 3400x160, CON, (07/25)
Runway 2: 3200x180, CON, (03/21)
Used by:
69th Reconnaissance Group, 2 April – 30 June 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)

Y-44 to Y-64

  • Y-44 Maastricht, Netherlands
Located:
Now: Maastricht Aachen Airport (IATA: MST, ICAO: EHBK)
Opened: 23 March 1945 Closed: 1 August 1945
Runway: 5565x120, PSP, (04/22)
Used by:
387th Bombardment Group, 29 April – 24 May 1945 (B-26)
Located:
Now: Merzbruck Airport (ICAO: EDKA)
Opened: 14 March 1945 Closed: 11 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (05/23)
Used by:
365th Fighter Group, 16 March – 13 April 1945 (P-47)
36th Fighter Group, 26 March – 8 April 1945 (P-47)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 23 March 1945 Closed: 10 July 1945
Runway: 3600x120, PSP/PAP, (15/33)
Used by:
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, March – 2 April 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
  • Y-54 Kelz, Germany
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 24 March 1945 Closed: 11 July 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP, (09/27)
Used by:
48th Fighter Group, 26 March – 17 April 1945 (P-47)
404th Fighter Group, 30 March – 12 April 1945 (P-47)
  • Y-55 Venlo, Netherlands
Located:
Now:   RAF Bruggen (Germany)
Opened: 12 March 1945 Closed: 14 August 1945
Runway 1: 4200x300, BRK, (08/26)
Runway 2: 5500x300, PSP/BRK, (12/30)
Used by:
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, March – 15 April 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
373d Fighter Group, 11 March – 20 April 1945 (P-47)
397th Bombardment Group, 25 April – 24 May 1945 (B-26)
394th Bombardment Group, 2 May – September 1945 (B-26)
  • Y-57 Trier, Germany
Located:
Now: industrial area
Opened: 10 March 1945 Closed: 10 July 1945
Runway: 3625x120, CON/PSP, (06/24)
Used by:
10th Reconnaissance Group, March – 4 April 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 29 March 1945 Closed: 17 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP/CON, (07/25)
Used by:
474th Fighter Group, 22 March – 22 April 1945 (P-38)
414th Night Fighter Squadron (DET), 3–23 April 1945 (P-61) (12th AF)
422d Night Fighter Squadron, 6–24 April 1945 (P-61)
  • Y-62 Mendig (Niedermendig), Germany
Located:
Now:  Mendig Air Base (ICAO: ETHM)
Opened: 17 March 1945 Closed: 11 May 1945
Runway: 5000x120, PSP/CON, (07/25)
Used by:
36th Fighter Group, 26 March – 8 April 1945 (P-47)
  • Y-64 Ober-Olm, Germany
Located:
Now: Mainz Finthen Airport (ICAO: EDFZ)
Opened: 27 March 1945 Closed: 20 June 1945
Runway 1: 4000x120, SOD, (07/25)
Runway 2: 5000x120, SMT, (08/26)
Used by:
10th Reconnaissance Group, March – 4 April 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
354th Fighter Group, 8–30 April 1945 (P-47)

Y-72 to Y-99

Located:
Captured: March 1945; Opened: 27 March 1945
Runway: 5571/150, Soil, Cement & PSP, (07/25)
Used by:
415th Night Fighter Squadron, 17 April – 2 October 1945 (P-61)
86th Fighter Group, 17 April – 26 September 1945 (P-47) (12th AF)
Closed: 30 October 1945, Now: agricultural use
  • Y-73 Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, Germany
Located:
Captured: 30 March 1945 Opened: 10 April 1945
Runway: 6000/120, CON, (07/25)
Used by:
362d Fighter Group, 8–30 April 1945 (P-47)
425th Night Fighter Squadron, 12 April – 2 May 1945 (P-61)
368th Fighter Group, 15 April – 13 May 1945 (P-47)
Redesignated: AAF Station Rhine-Main 9 May 1945; Rhein-Main AFB, 26 September 1947; Rhein-Main AB, 17 November 1955
Closed 10 October 2005
Now: Frankfurt Airport (IATA: FRA, ICAO: EDDF)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 31 March 1945 Closed: July 1945
Runway: 5200/120, PSP, (12/30)
Used by:
371st Fighter Group, 7 April – 5 May 1945 (P-47)
367th Fighter Group, 20 April – July 1945 (P-47)
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 2 April 1945 Closed: July 1945
Runway: 5000/120, SOD/SMT, (11/29)
Used by:
27th Fighter Bomber Group, April – 24 June 1945 (A-36) (12th AF)
  • Y-79 Mannheim/Sandhofen, Germany
Located:
Now:  Coleman Army Airfield (ICAO: ETOR)
Opened: 4 April 1945
Runway 1: 5200/120, PSP, (05/23)
Runway 2: 5200/120, SMT, (05/23)
Used by:
358th Fighter Group, 2 April – 23 June 1945 (P-47)
  • Y-83 Limburg (Limburg an der Lahn), Germany
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 3 April 1945 Closed: June 1945
Runway: 3600/120, SOD, (08/26)
Used by:
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 2–10 April 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
  • Y-86 Fritzlar, Germany
Located:
Now:  Fritzlar Air Base (IATA: FRZ, ICAO: ETHF)
Opened: 31 March 1945
Runway: 5000/120, PSP, (12/30)
Used by:
404th Fighter Group, 12 April – 23 June 1945 (P-47)
365th Fighter Group, 13 April – 29 July 1945 (P-47)
Redesignated AAF Station Fritzlar, 9 May 1945
Turned over to United States Army, 14 September 1947
  • Y-90 Giebelstadt, Germany
Located:
Now: Giebelstadt Army Airfield
Captured: 3 April 1945 Opened: 5 April 1945
Runway: 6000/120, CON, (08/26)
Used by:
50th Fighter Group, 20 April – 21 May 1945 (P-47)
417th Night Fighter Squadron, 24 April – 21 May 1945 (P-61)
Redesignated: AAF Station Giebelstadt 9 May 1945; Giebelstadt AB, 26 September 1947
Transferred to United States Army Control, 1 August 1968
Closed 23 June 2006
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 12 April 1945 Closed: June 1945
Runway: 5019/120, TAR, (08/26)
Used by:
366th Fighter Group, 11 April – 25 June 1945 (P-47)
406th Fighter Group, 15 April – 5 June 1945 (P-47)
Located:
Captured: 7 April 1945 Closed: 12 July 1945
Runway: 4750/120, SMT/PSP, (08/26)
Used by:
373d Fighter Group, 20 April – 20 May 1945 (P-47)
  • Y-99 Gütersloh, Germany
Located:
Now:  Princess Royal Barracks (British Army) (IATA: GUT, ICAO: EUTO)
Captured: 4 April 1945 Opened: 6 April 1945 Closed: 22 June 1945
Runway: 4040/120, SMT, (08/26)
Used by:
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 15–22 April 1945 (P-38/F-4; P-51/F-5)
370th Fighter Group, 20 April – 27 June 1945 (P-38)

"R" Fields

"R" ALGs were located in Occupied Germany. Many more were constructed than are listed here, consisting primarily of Supply and Evacuation airfields either laid down quickly in agricultural areas or on captured Luftwaffe airfields. R coding began after Y-coding reached 99 in April 1945.

  • R-2 Langensalza, Germany
Located:
Now: Bad Langensalza Airport (ICAO: EDEB)
Caputured 8 April 1945 : Opened: 8 April 1945 Closed: 5 July 1945
Runway: 4921/120, SOD/TAR, (08/26)
Used by:
474th Fighter Group, 22 April – 16 June 1945 (P-38)
422d Night Fighter Squadron, 24 April – 25 May 1945 (P-61)
  • R-6 Kitzingen, Germany
Located:
Was: Kitzingen Army Airfield (Harvey Barracks) (Closed)
Now: Kitzingen Airport (IATA: KGZ, ICAO: ETIN)
Captured: 11 April 1945 Opened: 15 April 1945
Runway: 5500/120, ASP/CON, (04/22)
Used by:
405th Fighter Group, 30 April – 8 May 1945
  • R-10 Illesheim, Germany
Located:
Now:  Storck Barracks United States Army
Captured 16 April 1945 Opened: 17 April 1945
Runway: 4500/120, PAP, (06/24)
Used by:
48th Fighter Group, 29 April – 5 July 1945
362d Fighter Group, 3–12 May 1945
Located: (Abandoned)
Captured 6 April 1945 Opened: 7 April 1945 Closed: Undetermined
Runway: 3500/120, SOD, (12/30)
Used by:
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 10 April – July 1945
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 7 April 1945 Closed: Undetermined
Runway: 5000/120, PSP, (13/31)
Used by:
48th Fighter Group, 17–29 April 1945
36th Fighter Group, 21 April – 15 November 1945
Located: (Abandoned)
Opened: 19 April 1945 Closed: Undetermined
Runway: 4500/120, PSP, (09/27)
Used by:
10th Reconnaissance Group,
362d Fighter Group, 30 April – 3 May 1945
  • R-37 Brunswick/Waggum, Germany
Located:
Now: Braunschweig Airport (IATA: BWE, ICAO: EDVE)
Captured: 20 April 1945 Opened: 22 April 1945 Closed: Undetermined
Runway: 3600/120, SOD, (08/26)
Used by:
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 22 April – May 1945
  • R-45 Ansbach, Germany
Located:
Now:  Katterbach Kaserne United States Army
Captured: 23 April 1945 Opened: 29 April 1945
Runway: 4000/120, PAP, (07/25)
Used by:
354th Fighter Group, 30 April – 18 May 1945

RAF ALGs

Advanced Landing Ground airfields built by American or British combat engineers for the Royal Air Force ("B" airfields) Some of these were also used by USAAF Troop Carrier Groups and Command and Control organizations.

RAF: No 184 Squadron RAF
USAAF: 442d Troop Carrier Group, November 1944 – September 1945
RAF ALG, Used by USAAF 314th Troop Carrier Group, February–October 1945
RAF ALG, Used by following USAAF units:
315th Troop Carrier Group, 6 April – May 1945
438th Troop Carrier Group, May – 3 August 1945
HQ, 52d Troop Carrier Wing, 5 March – 20 June 1945
RAF ALG, Used by USAAF 313th Troop Carrier Group, 28 February – 4 August 1945
RAF ALG, Assigned to USAAF 387th Bombardment Group, 24 May – November 1945
RAF ALG, Used by USAAF 61st Troop Carrier Group, 13 March – 19 May 1945
Headquarters: 71st Fighter Wing, 16 July – 25 September 1945
Headquarters:
9th Bombardment Division, April – 20 November 1945
99th Bombardment Wing, 1 July – August 1945
98th Bombardment Wing, October–November 1945
112th Liaison Squadron, 26 October 1944 – 11 February 1945
Headquarters:
84th Fighter Wing, 8 March – 3 April 1945
303d Fighter Wing, 8 March – 3 April 1945
Closed: 30 September 1945, turned over to Royal Air Force as part of British Zone of Occupation.
Now: Düsseldorf-Mönchengladbach Airport (IATA: MGL, ICAO: EDLN)
Headquarters:
IX Fighter Command, April–July 1945
IX Tactical Air Command, 26 April – 26 June 1945
125th Liaison Squadron, 9 March – 4 April 1945
Closed 30 June 1945, turned over to Soviet Union as part of Soviet Zone of Occupation.
Headquarters: 84th Fighter Wing, 22 April – 12 August 1945
153d Liaison Squadron, 20 May – 4 June 1945
Closed: 31 August 1945, turned over to Royal Air Force as part of British Zone of Occupation.
Headquarters:
XII Tactical Air Command, July – 1 November 1945
IX Fighter Command, September–November 1945
40th Bombardment Wing, 15 November 1945 – 25 December 1946
14th Liaison Squadron, 22 April – 4 May 1945
Turned over to United States Army, 15 October 1947

Army of Occupation ALGs

The Army of Occupation in Germany and Austria (May 9, 1945 to May 5, 1955) used several wartime non-combat ALGs as occupation garrisons for the destruction of former Luftwaffe aircraft and/or as airfields in the American Zone of Germany. Some are listed above as "R" or "Y" airfields. The below listed airfields were used prior to 7 May 1945 as non-combat ALGs, or opened after the German Capitulation.

Although initially designated as "Advanced Landing Ground", the name of these airfields were changed to "Army Airfield Station" after 7 May 1945. Units and airfields were assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe XII Tactical Air Command after 2 December 1945.

  • AAF Station Darmstadt/Griesheim
Located:
Captured 31 March 1945, Wartime use: Liaison Field (Y-76)
72d Liaison Squadron, 1–15 April; June–July 1945
167th Liaison Squadron, 10 June – 2 July 1945
63d Fighter Wing, 17 July – 1 December 1945
64th Fighter Wing, 7 July – 1 December 1945
71st Fighter Wing, 25 September – November 1945
155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 28 September – 24 November 1945
160th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 22 September – 24 November 1945
Transferred to United States Army, December 1945 (Darmstadt Army Airfield)
Now: Griesheim Airport (IATA: ZCS, ICAO: EDES)
  • AAF Station Wiesbaden
Located:
Captured 3 April 1945, Wartime use: Liaison Field (Y-80)
47th Liaison Squadron, 2 May 1945 – 24 June 1946
United States Air Forces in Europe, 26 September 1945 – 15 August 1953
Twelfth Air Force, 1 January 1951 – 27 April 1953
51st Troop Carrier Wing, September 1945 – 5 January 1948
2d Air Division, 1–10 June 1949
3d Air Division, 25 October 1953 – 1 March 1954
322d Troop Carrier Wing, 1–22 March 1954
363d Reconnaissance Group, May–August 1945
60th Troop Carrier Group*, 15 December 1948 – 26 September 1949
317th Troop Carrier Group*, 30 September – 15 December 1948
* Assigned to 1st Airlift Task Force (Berlin Airlift)
Redesignated: Wiesbaden AFB, 26 September 1947; Wiesbaden AB, 17 November 1955
Transferred to United States Army, 31 December 1975 (Project Creek Swap)
Now:  Wiesbaden Army Airfield
  • AAF Station Schweinfurt
Located:
Captured 18 April 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field (R-25)
474th Fighter Group, 16 June – 25 October 1945
86th Fighter Group, 23 October 1945 – 15 February 1946
355th Fighter Group, 15 April – 1 August 1946
52d Fighter Group, 9 November 1946 – 5 May 1947
507th Air Materiel Squadron, 1 June – 31 September 1947 (Air Technical Service Command)
Redesignated as Schweinfurt AB, 1 August 1947
Turned over to United States Army 5 October 1947.
Now:  Schweinfurt Army Heliport (ICAO: ETOA)
  • AAF Station Bayreuth/Bindlach
Located:
Captured 18 April 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field (R-26)
366th Fighter Group, 25 June – 14 September 1945
Closed and Inactivated 30 September 1945
Now: Bindlacher Berg Airport (IATA: BYU, ICAO: EDQD)
  • AAF Station Herzogenaurach
Located:
Captured 19 April 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field (R-29)
354th Fighter Group, May 1945 – 15 February 1946
320th Bombardment Group, 18 June – October 1945
Transferred to United States Army, 28 February 1946 (Herzo-Base); Closed 1992
Now: Herzogenaurach Airport (IATA: HZH, ICAO: EDQH)
  • AAF Station Buchschwabach
Located: (Approximate)
Captured 21 April 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field (R-42)
368th Fighter Group, 13 May – 13 August 1945
Closed and Inactivated 31 August 1945
Now: Abandoned
  • AAF Station Stuttgart/Echterdingen
Located:
Captured 25 April 1945, Opened 7 May 1945 (R-50)
324th Fighter Group, 8 May – 20 October 1945
404th Fighter Group, 23 June – 2 August 1945
27th Fighter Group, 15 September – 20 October 1945
371st Fighter Group, September–October 1945
474th Fighter Group, 25 October – 21 November 1945
Closed 30 November 1945 (Remains as USAF transport auxiliary airfield used occasionally by Air Mobility Command)
Now: Stuttgart Airport (IATA: STR, ICAO: EDDS)
  • AAF Station Nordholz
Located:
Occupied 16 May 1945, Opened 5 June 1945 (R-56)
406th Fighter Group, 5 June 1945 – 20 August 1946
86th Fighter Group, 20 August – 1 December 1946
86th FG squadrons remained deployed to Nordholz AB on rotating basis until 31 December 1947 providing air defense of Bremen area.
Closed 31 December 1947 (Remains in use as host to deployed USAF ACC/ANG fighter units to Germany)
Now: Nordholz Naval Airbase (ICAO: ETMN)
  • AAF Station Straubing
Located:
Captured 30 April 1945 Wartime use: S&E Field (R-68)
405th Fighter Group, 8 May – July 1945
362d Fighter Group, 12 May – August 1945
368th Fighter Group, 13 August 1945 – 20 August 1946
Transferred to United States Army, 31 August 1946 (Mansfield Kaserne)
Now: Straubing Wallmuhle Airport (IATA: RBM, ICAO: EDMS)
  • AAF Station Lechfeld
Located:
Captured 1 May 1945, Opened 1 December 1945 (R-71)
305th Bombardment Group, December 1945 – December 1946
306th Bombardment Group, 13–25 December 1946
86th Fighter Group, 1 December 1946 – 5 March 1947
Closed 1 June 1947, placed in standby status.
Turned over to West German Luftwaffe (Bundesluftwaffe: federal air force) 7 July 1956
Now:   Lechfeld Airbase (IATA: RBM, ICAO: ETSL)
  • AAF Station Gablingen
Located:
Captured 7 May 1945, Opened 15 May 1945 (R-77)
323d Bombardment Group, 15 May – 16 July 1945
355th Fighter Group, 3 July 1945 – 15 April 1946
Transferred to United States Army, 1 July 1946
Was: Gablingen Kaserne, Now: Non-aviation use.
  • AAF Station Landsberg
Located:
Captured 7 May 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field, Tactical Air Depot (R-78)
323d Bombardment Group, 16 July – October 1945
34th Air Depot (later Air Ammunition Depot), 1 August 1945 – 31 December 1949
2d Air Division, 10 June 1949 – 7 May 1951
7280th/7030th Support Group, 1 January 1950 – 1 January 1954
7351st Flying Training Wing (ATC), 1 January 1954 – 31 December 1957
Redesignated: Lansberg AFB, 26 September 1947; Lansberg AB, 17 November 1955
Turned over to West German Luftwaffe (Bundesluftwaffe: federal air force) 31 December 1957
Now:   Landsberg-Lech Air Base (IATA: ETSA)
  • AAF Station Munich-Reim
Located:
Captured 6 May 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field, Tactical Air Depot (R-82)
442d Troop Carrier Group, September 1945 – 30 September 1946
60th Troop Carrier Group, 30 September 1946 – 14 May 1948 (elements at Munich AFB/AB until 1955)
Munich Air Depot (ATSC), 1 February 1946 – 31 May 1948
1602d Air Transport Wing (MATS), 1 June 1948 – 31 December 1956
Redesignated: Munich AFB, 26 September 1947; Munich AB, 17 November 1955
Returned to German civil control: 30 June 1957
Was: Munich-Riem Airport (Closed 16 May 1992), Now: non-aviation use
  • AAF Station Munich/Neubiberg
Located:
Occupied 15 May 1945, Opened 22 June 1945 (R-85)
70th Fighter Wing, 10 November 1945 – 25 September 1947
357th Fighter Group, 21 July 1945 – 20 August 1946
33d Fighter Group, 20 August 1946 – July 1947
86th Fighter Group, 12 June 1947 – 9 August 1952
317th Troop Carrier Group, 21 March 1953 – 17 April 1957
7101st Air Base Group, 1 April 1957 – 1 June 1958
Redesignated: Neubiberg AFB, 26 September 1947; Neubiberg AB, 17 November 1955
Turned over to West German Luftwaffe (Bundesluftwaffe: federal air force) 1 June 1958
Now:   Neubiberg Air Base (Non-Flying)
Located:
Occupied: 5 May 1945, Wartime use: S&E Field (R-87)
17th Bombardment Group, 27 June – 31 October 1945
79th Fighter Group, July 1945 – 25 June 1947
Turned over to Provisional Austrian Government, 1 July 1947
Now: Linz Airport (IATA: LNZ, ICAO: LOWL)
  • AAF Station Vienna/Tulln Airfield, Austria
Located:
Occupied: 12 August 1945 (R-92)
1407th AAF Base Unit, 27 July 1945 – 31 May 1947
516th Troop Carrier Group, 4 September 1945 – 20 December 1947
313th Troop Carrier Group, 30 September 1946 – 25 June 1947
7360th Base Complement Squadron, 1 June 1947 – 15 May 1955
Redesignated: Tulln Air Base, 26 September 1947
Turned over to Austrian Government, 15 May 1955
Now:   Fliegerhorst Brumowski (ICAO: LOXT)
  • AAF Station Bad Kissingen
Located:
Occupied: 7 April 1945, Opened 6 June 1945, Liaison Field (R-98)
316th Station Complement Squadron, 6 June – 31 December 1945
64th Fighter Wing, 1 December 1945 – 5 June 1947
XII Tactical Air Command, 1 November 1945 – 10 November 1947
86th Fighter Group, 5 March – 12 June 1947
52d Fighter Group, 5 May – 25 June 1947
33d Fighter Group, July – 15 August 1947
Transferred to United States Army, 31 December 1947
Now: Bad Kissingen Airport, (ICAO: EDFK)
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References

Notes
Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links