Autreville Airdrome

Autreville Airdrome
Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Located near: Autreville-sur-la-Renne, France

Dayton-Wright DH-4s of the VII Corps Observation Group at Autreville Airdrome, October, 1919
Autreville Airdrome
Coordinates 48°27′38″N 005°49′41″E / 48.46056°N 5.82806°E
Type Combat Airfield
Site information
Controlled by   Air Service, United States Army
Condition Agricultural area
Site history
Built 1918
In use 1918–1919
Battles/wars
World War I
Garrison information
Garrison VII Corps Observation Group
United States First Army Air Service

Autreville Airdrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located 1.9 miles (3.1 km) SSW of Autreville-sur-la-Renne, in the Haute-Marne department in the Champagne-Ardenne region in northeastern France.

Overview

Autreville Airdrome was one of the first airfields selected in the Toul sector for the Air Service. However, since it was 45 kilometers from the front at the time it was chosen for development, was used by the United States First Army Air Service as both a long-distance strategic reconnaissance airfield as well as for battlefield tactical reconnaissance.[1]

The Airdrome was obtained by the Air Service on 7 March 1918. It consisted of 268 acres of land, with a capacity of four aero squadrons and one-half a Park (Support) squadron. Buildings were constructed in a forested area next to the airfield for camouflage from enemy aircraft. On the Airdrome at the time of the November 1918 armistice consisted of 33 barracks and mess hals, two maintenance shops, 6 supply warehouses and a total of twenty-one French Bessonnenux aircraft hangars. There were a total of eight administration buildings, and a small medical clinic.[1]

Drawing made by the 482d Aero Squadron (Construction) of Autreville Airdrome

The airfield was mostly completed by the summer of 1918 with the exception of hangars, as the construction of the flying field was given priority. In the first week of August, Royal Air Force Handley-Page bombers arrived at the airfield from Ochey, after a bombing raid there had caused considerable damage. The British erected five hangars on the field. From Autreville, the RAF carried out a night bombing raid on Cologne before returning to Ochey by the end of September.[1]

In mid September, the first United States units began to arrive, although without any aircraft. Two more squadrons arrived in late September, along with Salmson 2A2 and Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft being flown in from the 1st Air Depot, the squadrons taking part in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.[1]

In preparation for a joint drive by the American Second Army and the French on Metz in November, arrangements were made for two additional French hangars to be shipped to Autreville from Lay-St. Remy. On 11 November some French squadrons moved in, however the Armistice prevented any combat flights over the front lines.[1]

Known units assigned to Autreville Airdrome were:[2]

Shortly after the armistice in November 1918, the American squadrons were re-assigned and the airfield was abandoned. It was turned over to the 1st Air Depot for de-construction. All hangars and other structures were dismantled and all useful supplies and equipment were removed and sent back to the Depot for storage. Upon completion, the land turned over to the French government.[3]

Eventually the land was returned to agricultural use by the local farmers. The site today is a series of cultivated fields located on the south side of the Départmental 674 (D674), about 2 miles north-east of Martigny-les-Gerbonvaux, with no indications of its wartime use. The wooded area to the west of the Airfield remains a forested area.

See also

References

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

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Series L, Miscellaneous Sections of the Air Service, Volume 11, History of the Design and Projects Section of the Construction Division, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  2. ↑ Series "D", Volume 2, Squadron histories,. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  3. ↑ Series 1, Paris Headquarters and Supply Section, Volume 30 History of the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-led-Belles, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

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