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Châteaudun Air Base

August 29, 2023

Châteaudun Air Base (French: Base aérienne 279 Châteaudun) (ICAO: LFOC) was a French Air Force (French: Armée de l'Air base, between 1934 and 2014. The base was located approximately 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) southeast of Châteaudun and about 112 kilometres (70 mi) southwest of Paris. It is currently an airfield attached to Orléans – Bricy Air Base.

Châteaudun Air Base


Base aérienne 279

Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-39
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerGovernment of France
OperatorArmée de l'air
LocationChâteaudun, France
Elevation AMSL433 ft / 132 m
Coordinates48°03′29″N 001°22′35″E / 48.05806°N 1.37639°E / 48.05806; 1.37639
Map
LFOC
Location of Châteaudun Air Base
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 7,552 2,302 Asphalt
05/23 Closed
Source:World Aero Data [1]

The base is primarily used for aircraft storage and ferrying them to other squadrons of the Air Force. Entrepot de l'Armee de l'Air 601 was assigned to perform this mission. Each French Air Force squadron stores some of its planes for a while thereby artificially prolong the life of the fleet and better material management. The EAA also has the task of storing new aircraft to be used in times of war. To fulfil its mission, the EAA has the Group Maintenance, repair and storage of aircraft (GERS).

A SAN Jodel D.140 Mousquetaire training aircraft is assigned to the base for courier duties.

History Edit

The facility was a French Air Force base built in 1934. It was used by the air force for the storage of aircraft as well as a supply and maintenance depot. At the beginning of World War II, the base had 643 aircraft, which gave it great importance. It became a priority target for the Luftwaffe during the Battle of France who bombed it heavily on 12 and May 19, 1940. On June 14, against the German advance, the airfield was abandoned.,[1] after the heroic sacrifice of flight lieutenant Marcel Beau.

German use during World War II Edit

Seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the Battle of France, Châteaudun was used as a Luftwaffe military airfield during the occupation. Under occupation, the German army, owner, undertook infrastructure projects including the construction of dispersal areas called "daisies" and the track. Chateaudun also served as a starting point for air raids on England. Known units assigned (all from Luftlotte 3, Fliegerkorps IV):[1][2][3]

JG 21 and JG 54 fought in the Battle of Britain as fighter escort units; LG 1 was a training unit; KG 76 engaged in night bombardment operations over England, along with KG 40 and KG 100 to a limited extent due to fuel shortages; NJG2 was a night interceptor unit against RAF Bombers; KG 51 flew the jet Me 262A2a on day jet interceptor missions against American heavy bomber attacks.

Largely due to the presence of the Me 262, Châteaudun became a major target of USAAF Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauder medium bombers and P-47 Thunderbolts mostly with 500-pound General-Purpose bombs; unguided rockets and .50 caliber machine gun sweeps to attack the German jets on the ground. It was known that the Me 262 was relatively short-legged, with a relatively short flying radius, so the attacks were timed to have the maximum effect possible on the jets to keep the jet interceptors pinned down on the ground and be unable to attack the heavy bombers. Also the P-51 Mustang fighter-escort groups of Eighth Air Force would drop down on their return to England and attack the base with a fighter sweep and attack any target of opportunity to be found at the airfield.[5]

American use Edit

Châteaudun was heavily attacked on several missions by United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force bombers in 1943 and 1944.[6] It was liberated by Allied ground forces about 20 August 1944 during the Northern France Campaign. Almost immediately, the USAAF IX Engineering Command 832d and 833d Engineer Aviation Battalions began clearing the airport of mines and destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft, and repairing operational facilities for use by American aircraft. Subsequently, Châteaudun became a USAAF Ninth Air Force combat airfield, designated as "A-39" about 26 August, only a week after its capture from German forces.[7]

Under American control, Châteaudun initially became the home of numerous combat groups. Initially, the 422d Night Fighter Squadron moved in and provided an air defense with P-61 Black Widows from 28 August to 16 September 1944. The Black Widows were replaced by the B-26 Marauders of the 387th Bombardment Group on 18 September, remaining until 30 October 1944. The last American combat unit to use the airfield was the 10th Reconnaissance Group, which flew a variety of photo-reconnaissance aircraft from the field during November 1944. With the combat units moving east with the front lines, Châteaudun became a transport airfield, with the 439th Troop Carrier Group flying C-47 Skytrains from the field from 4 November 1944 until 7 September 1945.[8]

Return to French Air Force Edit

The Americans returned control of the field to the French Air Force in September 1945 and it returned to being a French military airfield.

In 1967, during the period of tension précéding the Six-Day War, fifty Dassault Mirage 5 jets ordered by Israel were stored on the base of Chateaudun. The settlement of this dispute took place in 1971, with the aircraft being bought by the Armée de l'Air. On 13 June 1990, the base was named Lieutenant-Beau, remembering Lieutenant Marcel Beau, a pilot at Air Base 134 Versailles in 1935.

Today, the remains of World War II bomb craters are very evident in the grass areas of the airfield, as well as the abandoned 05/23 secondary runway in which the wartime patching with asphalt is still visible. On 2 July 2014, the installation was closed as an Air Force Base.[9]

In 2014, the base was linked to Air Force base Orléans-Bricy. Element Air Reattache 279 (EAR 279) retained the mission of aircraft storage, as well as aerial activity (the field being open two days a week). The unit also operates an aircraft deconstruction center.

On 26 January 2015, the 2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash occurred. One of the nine French victims came from EAR 279.[10]

See also Edit

References Edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ^ a b History of Châteaudun Air Base 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
  2. ^ The Luftwaffe, 1933-45
  3. ^ Identification codes of units of the Luftwaffe 1939 - 1945
  4. ^ If it has been initially considered to operate from Chateaudun with Me 262 (3rd wing, 1ste Grupe, KG51) to target UK from July 20, the troubles on the Normandy front and poor preparation of German crews led the Luftwaffe to deploy the M262 finally in Juvincourt between August 22 and August 28. On the other hand, a camouflaged convoy carrying technicians, spare parts and engines went to Chateaudun, then Etampes, Creil and Juvincourt. Source: Die Chronik des Kampfgeschwaders 51 der deutschen Luftwaffe von 1.1.1944 bis Kriegsende. Autor Jan Horn, 2010
  5. ^ Derived from information in USAAF Film "Target For Today" (available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkGL7vuC2A4)
  6. ^ USAFHRA document 00221368
  7. ^ IX Engineering Command ETO Airfields General Construction Information
  8. ^ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  9. ^ Dissolution de la BA 279 http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/actus-air/la-base-aerienne-279-devient-un-ear and Diminuer les coûts, car les ressources diminuent http://www.opex360.com/2014/07/04/la-base-aerienne-279-de-chateaudun-transformee-en-element-air-rattache/
  10. ^ "Accident aérien à Albacete : in memoriam". Armée de l’air (in French). 31 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015..
  • French Senate Document, LIST AIR BASES, AND THEIR MAIN ACTIVITIES

External links Edit

  • Airport information for LFOC at Great Circle Mapper.

External links Edit

  • Association Mémoire et Histoire : Military History of Châteaudun, 1870-71, 1939-1945, Airfield A-39
  • (In French)

August 29, 2023
châteaudun, base, french, base, aérienne, châteaudun, icao, lfoc, french, force, french, armée, base, between, 1934, 2014, base, located, approximately, kilometres, southeast, châteaudun, about, kilometres, southwest, paris, currently, airfield, attached, orlé. Chateaudun Air Base French Base aerienne 279 Chateaudun ICAO LFOC was a French Air Force French Armee de l Air base between 1934 and 2014 The base was located approximately 3 5 kilometres 2 2 mi southeast of Chateaudun and about 112 kilometres 70 mi southwest of Paris It is currently an airfield attached to Orleans Bricy Air Base Chateaudun Air Base Base aerienne 279Advanced Landing Ground ALG A 39IATA noneICAO LFOCSummaryAirport typeMilitaryOwnerGovernment of FranceOperatorArmee de l airLocationChateaudun FranceElevation AMSL433 ft 132 mCoordinates48 03 29 N 001 22 35 E 48 05806 N 1 37639 E 48 05806 1 37639MapLFOCLocation of Chateaudun Air BaseRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m10 28 7 552 2 302 Asphalt05 23 ClosedSource World Aero Data 1 The base is primarily used for aircraft storage and ferrying them to other squadrons of the Air Force Entrepot de l Armee de l Air 601 was assigned to perform this mission Each French Air Force squadron stores some of its planes for a while thereby artificially prolong the life of the fleet and better material management The EAA also has the task of storing new aircraft to be used in times of war To fulfil its mission the EAA has the Group Maintenance repair and storage of aircraft GERS A SAN Jodel D 140 Mousquetaire training aircraft is assigned to the base for courier duties Contents 1 History 1 1 German use during World War II 1 2 American use 1 3 Return to French Air Force 2 See also 3 References 4 External links 5 External linksHistory EditThe facility was a French Air Force base built in 1934 It was used by the air force for the storage of aircraft as well as a supply and maintenance depot At the beginning of World War II the base had 643 aircraft which gave it great importance It became a priority target for the Luftwaffe during the Battle of France who bombed it heavily on 12 and May 19 1940 On June 14 against the German advance the airfield was abandoned 1 after the heroic sacrifice of flight lieutenant Marcel Beau German use during World War II Edit Seized by the Germans in June 1940 during the Battle of France Chateaudun was used as a Luftwaffe military airfield during the occupation Under occupation the German army owner undertook infrastructure projects including the construction of dispersal areas called daisies and the track Chateaudun also served as a starting point for air raids on England Known units assigned all from Luftlotte 3 Fliegerkorps IV 1 2 3 Jagdgeschwader 21 JG 21 19 22 June 1940 Messerschmitt Bf 109E Jagdgeschwader 54 JG 54 19 20 June 1940 Messerschmitt Bf 109E Lehrgeschwader 1 LG 1 25 June 1940 10 January 1941 Junkers Ju 88A Geschwaderkennung prefix L1 Kampfgeschwader 76 KG 76 6 February April 1941 Junkers Ju 88A Geschwaderkennung prefix F1 Kampfgeschwader 40 KG 40 19 December 1943 January 1944 Heinkel He 177A 3 amp A 5 Geschwaderkennung prefix F8 Kampfgeschwader 100 KG 100 21 January 1 May 1944 Heinkel He 177A 3 amp A 5 Geschwaderkennung prefix 6N Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 NJG 2 2 July 9 August 1944 Junkers Ju 88C G Geschwaderkennung prefix 4R Kampfgeschwader 51 KG 51 20 July 12 August 1944 Messerschmitt Me 262A 2a 4 JG 21 and JG 54 fought in the Battle of Britain as fighter escort units LG 1 was a training unit KG 76 engaged in night bombardment operations over England along with KG 40 and KG 100 to a limited extent due to fuel shortages NJG2 was a night interceptor unit against RAF Bombers KG 51 flew the jet Me 262A2a on day jet interceptor missions against American heavy bomber attacks Largely due to the presence of the Me 262 Chateaudun became a major target of USAAF Ninth Air Force B 26 Marauder medium bombers and P 47 Thunderbolts mostly with 500 pound General Purpose bombs unguided rockets and 50 caliber machine gun sweeps to attack the German jets on the ground It was known that the Me 262 was relatively short legged with a relatively short flying radius so the attacks were timed to have the maximum effect possible on the jets to keep the jet interceptors pinned down on the ground and be unable to attack the heavy bombers Also the P 51 Mustang fighter escort groups of Eighth Air Force would drop down on their return to England and attack the base with a fighter sweep and attack any target of opportunity to be found at the airfield 5 American use Edit Chateaudun was heavily attacked on several missions by United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force bombers in 1943 and 1944 6 It was liberated by Allied ground forces about 20 August 1944 during the Northern France Campaign Almost immediately the USAAF IX Engineering Command 832d and 833d Engineer Aviation Battalions began clearing the airport of mines and destroyed Luftwaffe aircraft and repairing operational facilities for use by American aircraft Subsequently Chateaudun became a USAAF Ninth Air Force combat airfield designated as A 39 about 26 August only a week after its capture from German forces 7 Under American control Chateaudun initially became the home of numerous combat groups Initially the 422d Night Fighter Squadron moved in and provided an air defense with P 61 Black Widows from 28 August to 16 September 1944 The Black Widows were replaced by the B 26 Marauders of the 387th Bombardment Group on 18 September remaining until 30 October 1944 The last American combat unit to use the airfield was the 10th Reconnaissance Group which flew a variety of photo reconnaissance aircraft from the field during November 1944 With the combat units moving east with the front lines Chateaudun became a transport airfield with the 439th Troop Carrier Group flying C 47 Skytrains from the field from 4 November 1944 until 7 September 1945 8 Return to French Air Force Edit The Americans returned control of the field to the French Air Force in September 1945 and it returned to being a French military airfield In 1967 during the period of tension preceding the Six Day War fifty Dassault Mirage 5 jets ordered by Israel were stored on the base of Chateaudun The settlement of this dispute took place in 1971 with the aircraft being bought by the Armee de l Air On 13 June 1990 the base was named Lieutenant Beau remembering Lieutenant Marcel Beau a pilot at Air Base 134 Versailles in 1935 Today the remains of World War II bomb craters are very evident in the grass areas of the airfield as well as the abandoned 05 23 secondary runway in which the wartime patching with asphalt is still visible On 2 July 2014 the installation was closed as an Air Force Base 9 In 2014 the base was linked to Air Force base Orleans Bricy Element Air Reattache 279 EAR 279 retained the mission of aircraft storage as well as aerial activity the field being open two days a week The unit also operates an aircraft deconstruction center On 26 January 2015 the 2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash occurred One of the nine French victims came from EAR 279 10 See also Edit World War II portalAdvanced Landing GroundReferences Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency a b History of Chateaudun Air Base Archived 2011 07 20 at the Wayback Machine in French The Luftwaffe 1933 45 Identification codes of units of the Luftwaffe 1939 1945 If it has been initially considered to operate from Chateaudun with Me 262 3rd wing 1ste Grupe KG51 to target UK from July 20 the troubles on the Normandy front and poor preparation of German crews led the Luftwaffe to deploy the M262 finally in Juvincourt between August 22 and August 28 On the other hand a camouflaged convoy carrying technicians spare parts and engines went to Chateaudun then Etampes Creil and Juvincourt Source Die Chronik des Kampfgeschwaders 51 der deutschen Luftwaffe von 1 1 1944 bis Kriegsende Autor Jan Horn 2010 Derived from information in USAAF Film Target For Today available at https www youtube com watch v kkGL7vuC2A4 USAFHRA document 00221368 IX Engineering Command ETO Airfields General Construction Information Maurer Maurer Air Force Combat Units of World War II Maxwell AFB Alabama Office of Air Force History 1983 ISBN 0 89201 092 4 Dissolution de la BA 279 http www defense gouv fr air actus air la base aerienne 279 devient un ear and Diminuer les couts car les ressources diminuent http www opex360 com 2014 07 04 la base aerienne 279 de chateaudun transformee en element air rattache Accident aerien a Albacete in memoriam Armee de l air in French 31 January 2015 Retrieved 1 February 2015 French Senate Document LIST AIR BASES AND THEIR MAIN ACTIVITIESExternal links EditAirport information for LFOC at Great Circle Mapper External links EditAssociation Memoire et Histoire Military History of Chateaudun 1870 71 1939 1945 Airfield A 39 Chateaudun Air Base Website In French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chateaudun Air Base amp oldid 1052884704, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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