U.S. A-44 Airfield Memorial
Details:
On the roadside.
Marker
A tall thin black and white vertical sign with a text commemorating the Allied airfield and units that were operational here in WWII.
Saint-Aignan airfield (Advanced Landing Ground A-44, also known as aérodrome de Peray or Courcival) was built on 20 August 1944 by the 846th Engineer Aviation Battalion and finished by the 819th E.A.B. It opened on 2 September 1944 until 20 November 1944.
Air units that were present at Saint-Aignan in 1944:
367th Fighter Group with three squadrons, equipped with P-38 Lightning fighter bombers
392nd Fighter Squadron - 7 September to 13 September
393rd Fighter Squadron - 4 September to 12 September
394th Fighter Squadron - 5 September to 11 September
After the 367th FG moved out, the airfield did not have units assigned until the 442nd Troop Carrier Group moved in with 4 squadrons, all equipped with C-47 Skytrains for transport duties
303rd Troop Carrier Squadron - 5 October to 5 November
304th Troop Carrier Squadron - 5 October to 9 November
305th Troop Carrier Squadron - 6 October to 11 November
306th Troop Carrier Squadron - 4 October to 6 November
Control of the airfield returned to the French authorities before the end of the year.
Source of information: www.forgottenairfields.com
Source of photos: David Crooks / www.aerosteles.net
Monument Text:
Terrains d'aviation
US en Sarthe
1944
Sitôt la Libération de la Sarthe effectuée (7-12 août 1944) par la XVth US Army Corps dont la 2ème DB, le déplacement du front vers la région parisienne et l'est de la France oblige les américains à avancer le stationnement de leurs bases aériennes au plus près des zones de combat et en terrain libéré et sécurisé. Sept terrains d'aviation temporaires sont construits au sein d'une grande moitié nord du département à partir du 12 août 1944 autour d'une organisation commune (1 524 m de long, 36,60 m de large, à l'exception du terrain de Beillé). Ils seront opérationnels jusqu'à la fin de l'année 1944. Ils sont implantés sur les communes du Mans (actuel aerodrome Le Mans/Arnage), de Louplande, de la Chapelle-Saint-Rémy, de Neuville-sur-Sarthe, de Saint-Jean-d'Assé, de Saint-Aignan/Courcival et de Beillé.
English translation:
As soon as the XVth US Army Corps, including the 2nd DB 2nd Armored Division) had liberated the Sarthe (August 7-12, 1944), the shift of the front to the Paris region and eastern France forced the Americans to move their airbases closer to the combat zones, on liberated and secure ground. From August 12, 1944, seven temporary airfields were built across a large northern half of the department, based on a common layout (1,524 m long, 36.60 m wide, with the exception of the Beillé airfield). They were operational until the end of 1944. They were located in the communes of Le Mans (now the Le Mans/Arnage airfield), Louplande, La Chapelle-Saint-Rémy, Neuville-sur-Sarthe, Saint-Jean-d'Assé, Saint-Aignan/Courcival and Beillé.
GB Following Sarthe liberation (from 7th to 12th August 1944), 7 American air fields were built north of Le Mans to be used as back base for liberation operations of the Paris region and the east of France.
DE Nach der Befreiung des Department La Sarthe (vom 7. bis zum 12. August 1944) wurden 7 amerikanische Flugplaetze noerdlich von Le Mans errichtet, die ais Stuetzpunkte fuer Kampfhandlungen zur Befreiung der Pariser Umgebung und Osten Frankreichs dienten.
ES Despues de la liberaciòn durante la segunda querra mundial del departamento de la Sarthe (desde el 7 hasta el 12 de agosto de 1944), 7 pistas de aviaciòn americanas fueron construidas al Norte de la ciudad de Le Mans para servir de retaguardia para las operaciones militares de liberaciòn de la region parisina y del este de Francia.
★ Le terrain d'aviation de « Peray ou Courclval » A 44 (commune de Saint-Aignan)
ll a été construit par le 846th Engineer Aviation Battalion et terminé par le 819th E.A.B. Les travaux débutent le 20 août 1944, le terrain est opérationnel du 2 septembre jusqu'au 20 novembre 1944 .
GB Air field « Peray ou Courcival » A 44 (Village of Saint Aignan)
This airfield was built by the 846th Engineer Aviation Battalion and finished by the 819th E.A.B. The construction of this site began on 20th August, this airfield was operational on 2nd September and it was in service until 20th November.
Commemorates:
Units:
303rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group
304th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group
305th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group
306th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group
367th Fighter Group
392nd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group
393rd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group
394th Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group
442nd Troop Carrier Group
819th Air Engineer Battalion
846th Air Engineer Battalion
8th Air Force
9th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII