Bonne Maison Aerodrome
| Bonne Maison Aerodrome | |
|---|---|
| Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) | |
| Located near: Fismes, France | |
|
103d Aero Squadron SPAD VII aircraft parked on the flightline, Bonne Maison Aerodrome, France during the Battle of the Lys in April 1918. | |
  Bonne Maison Aerodrome | |
| Coordinates |
49°18′26″N 003°40′48″E / 49.30722°N 3.68000°ECoordinates: 49°18′26″N 003°40′48″E / 49.30722°N 3.68000°E Approximate Location |
| Type | Combat Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |
 Air Service, United States Army |
| Condition | Agricultural area |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1918 |
| In use | 1918 |
| Battles/wars |
 World War I |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison |
3d Pursuit Group United States First Army Air Service |
Bonne Maison Aerodrome was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located near the commune of Fismes, in the Marne department in the Champagne-Ardenne region of north-eastern France.[1]
Bonne Maison was a French Service Aéronautique Aerodrome, temporally used by the 103d Aero Squadron while attached to the French Groupe de Combat 21, during April 1918. On 10 April 1918, the squadron was moved from La Noblette Aerodrome to Bonne Maison during the Battle of the Lys to support the 4th French Army. The squadron operated from the airfield from 11 April until 30 April.[2]
Operations
On 11 April, the squadron flew a patrol of two aircraft. During the patrol, Lt. Baer attacked a German biplane, firing 50 rounds. The enemy aircraft spun out of control and was lost in the clouds near Bouvancourt.[3]
On 12 April, the squadron carried out four patrols, During the first patrol, Capt. Biddle attacked a German aircraft, firing about 100 rounds, causing the aircraft to spew white smoke as it fell out of the sky about 500 meters southeast of Forbury. Combat was made twice more during the day, causing the Germans to turn back to their own lines.[3]
Due to rain, no patrols were flown until 20 April when four patrols were carried out, one of which shot down an enemy observation balloon about 18:00. Two German aircraft were also shot down during the day. Again, poor flying conditions were encountered and no patrols were flown for the next ten days.[3]
On 30 April, with the battle ended, the squadron again moved by train to Leffrinckoucke, near Dunkerque for operations in the Flanders area under the Service Aéronautique.[2]
Subsequent use
It is presumed that the airfield remained active as part of the Service Aéronautique until November 1918, and with the end of the war was dismantled and returned to the local farmers for agricultural use. Today little or no traces of it remain.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- ↑ Series "D", Volume 2, Squadron histories,. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- 1 2 Series "N", Volume 13, First Army Operations History, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
- 1 2 3 Series "N", Volume 16, History of the 103d Aero Squadron, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.