U.S. A-43 Airfield Memorial
Details:
On the east side of the junction.
Marker
A tall thin black and white vertical sign with a text commemorating the Allied airfield and units that were operational here in WWII.
Located just outside Saint-Marceau, the United States Army Air Force established a temporary airfield on 20 August 1944, shortly after the Allied landings in France. The airfield was constructed by the IX Engineering Command, 819th Engineer Aviation Battalion.
Known as Advanced Landing Ground "A-43", the airfield consisted of a single 5000' (1500m) Prefabricated Hessian Surfacing runway aligned 08/26. In addition, tents were used for billeting and also for support facilities; an access road was built to the existing road infrastructure; a dump for supplies, ammunition, and gasoline drums, along with drinkable water and minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting.
The 474th Fighter Group based Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters at Saint Marceau from 2 to 12 September 1944. The 474th was replaced by the 442d Troop Carrier Group, which flew Douglas C-47 Skytrains from the airfield from 5 October until 7 November 1944
The fighter planes flew support missions during the Allied invasion of Normandy, patrolling roads in front of the beachhead; strafing German military vehicles, and dropping bombs on gun emplacements, anti-aircraft artillery, and concentrations of German troops in Normandy and Brittany when spotted.
After the Americans moved east into Central France with the advancing Allied Armies, the airfield was closed on 20 November 1944. Today the long dismantled airfield is indistinguishable from the agricultural fields in the area.
Source of information: en.wikipedia.org
Source of photos: Jacky EMERY / 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 « Saint-Marceau » A 43 (commune de Saint-Jean d'Assé)
Deux groupes aériens américains y stationnent du 29 août 1944 au 4 novembre 1944 pour y effectuer notamment des opérations à Brest et dans la région de la Rhur en Allemagne.
GB Air field « Saint Marceau » A43 (Village of Saint-Jean d'Assé)
Two US Air Force groups settled there from 29th August to 4th November 1944 in order to achieve operations in Brest and the region of Rhur in Germany.
DE Flugplatz « Saint Marceau » A43 (Gemeinde von Saint-Jean d'Assé)
Zwei amerikanischen Luftgruppen haben sich hier vom 29. August bis zum 4. November niederlassen, um Kampfhandlungen unter anderem in Brest (Bretagne) und in der deutschen Rhur durchzufuehren.
ES La pista de aterrizaje del pueblo « Saint-Marceau » A43 en el sector comunal de Saint-Jean d'Assé
Dos grupos aereos americanos se estacionaron aqui desde el 29 de agosto hasta el 4 de noviembre de 1944 para efectuar operaciones militares en la ciudad de Brest Bretaña) y en la reglan de la Rhur en Alemaña.
