Villeneuve-les-Vertus Aerodrome
| Villeneuve les Vertus Aerodrome | |
|---|---|
| Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) | |
| Located near: Vertus, France | |
 Nieuport 28 pursuit aircraft of the 95th Aero Squadron | |
  Villeneuve les Vertus Aerodrome | |
| Coordinates | 48°56′14″N 004°03′30″E / 48.93722°N 4.05833°E |
| Type | Combat Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | .svg){kind=small} Air Service, United States Army |
| Condition | Agricultural area |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1918 |
| In use | 1918–1919 |
| Battles/wars |  World War I |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 1st Pursuit Group (Elements) United States First Army Air Service |
Villeneuve les Vertus Aerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located 3.4 miles (5.5 km) Northeast of Vertus, in the Marne department in north-eastern France.
Overview
The airfield was used by the 94th and 95th Aero Squadrons, Air Service, United States Army in early 1918. It is particularly notable, as it was the first airfield in France used by the Americans for air combat operations on the Western Front.[1]
A French airfield, the 94th arrived on 20 February 1918 without any aircraft, and it wasn't until two weeks later, on 8 March that seven Nieuport planes arrived from Air Service Acceptance Park No. 1 at Orly Field, near Paris. However, the panes were unarmed. Despite this, the first combat flights of the Air Service were flown the next day, although due to the lack of armament, the pilots were not allowed to cross over the lines to enemy-controlled airspace. On 5 March, the 95th Aero Squadron arrived at the airfield, and the two squadrons accompanied by patrols of French Escadrilles, they made trips to the front to get acquainted with the area.[1]
By 1 April, both squadrons moved to Gengault Aerodrome in the American Sector, near Toul to form the 1st Pursuit Group and control Villeneuve les Vertus Aerodrome was turned over to the French Air Service (Aéronautique Militaire) and its subsequent history of use by the French is undetermined.[1]
Eventually the land was returned to agricultural use by the local farmers. Today, what was Villeneuve les Vertus Airdrome is a series of cultivated fields located north of Villeneuve-Renneville-Chevigny east of the Départmental 12 (D12), with no indications of its wartime use.
Known units assigned
- 94th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 5 March-1 April 1918
- 95th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 18 February-1 April 1918
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency