Juvincourt Airfield
Former military airfield in northern France / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Juvincourt Airfield is an abandoned military airfield, which is located near the commune of Juvincourt-et-Damary in the Aisne department of northern France.
Juvincourt Airfield Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-68 | |
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Picardy Region, France | |
Coordinates | 49°26′15″N 003°52′59″E |
Type | Military airfield |
Site information | |
Controlled by | Armée de l'Air Luftwaffe (National Socialist) United States Army Air Forces |
Condition | Abandoned |
Site history | |
Built | 1938 |
Built by | Established by French Air Force (1938) Greatly expanded by German Air Force (Primary construction) Repaired by IX Engineer Command (USAAF), 1944 |
In use | 1938–1945 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | German Air Force (1941–1944), Ninth Air Force, 1944–1945 |
Built originally as a grass airfield by the French Air Force before World War II, Juvincourt was expanded to become one of the main German Luftwaffe airfields in France during the German occupation (1940–1944), hosting a wide variety of both fighter and bomber aircraft, including German jet fighters and bombers. Seized by the Allies in September 1944 it became a major United States Army Air Forces base for fighter, bomber and transport units for the remainder of the European War (1944–1945). Juvincourt was a rallying point for Allied POWs who were repatriated to England in "Exodus" flights, often in Lancasters and other Heavy Bombers
Today, the airfield is a quiet place, hosting paintball fights and a Robert Bosch GmbH automobile testing centre and track. Extensive wartime relics can be found in the area as well as the former airfield.