Clastres

Airfield
media-7327.jpeg UPL 7327 Strike Photo - Clastres Airfield, France
8 August 1944
466th BG

The 466th BG hauled gas to this airfield on a "Truckin' Mission just over a month later on 19 September 1944 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 7327 - Strike Photo - Clastres Airfield, France 8 August 1944 466th BG The 466th BG hauled gas to this airfield on a "Truckin' Mission just over a...

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Detailed History

American Ninth Army units moved though the area in early September 1944, heading towards Saint-Quentin. The airfield was seized and turned over to the United States Army Air Force (USAAF). IX Engineer Commands 846th Engineer Aviation Battalion moved in around 7 September 1944 and started a quick rehabilitation of the base to allow use by American aircraft Designated Advanced Landing Ground "A-71 Clastres Airfield" it was declared operationally ready for combat units on 9 September, only a few days after having been captured from German forces. Although operationally usable with one runway, Athies was still a wrecked base from the Allied air attacks and what was blown up by the Germans as they withdrew. The Americans worked with what could be repaired and moved in what equipment was necessary to conduct combat operations, the rest was done with tents.

Under American control, Ninth Air Force used the base for several units. Known units assigned to the base were:

387th Bombardment Group (387BG), from 30 October 1944 until 29 April 1945, flying B-26 Marauders

367th Fighter Group (367FG), from 8 September 1944 until 28 October 1945, flying P-38 Lightnings

One of the early missions of Clastres was to provide much needed fuel for the ground troops fighting on the western front. On September 11, 1944, the 467th Bombardment Group (B-24 Liberators) began a period of ferrying operations to carry gasoline to France, called Operation TRUCKIN'. Men from the Group were assigned to France to perform the necessary duties in connection with TRUCKIN' operations. The first airfield used was Orleans/Bricy south of Paris, but this was soon changed to Clastres, and it was to here that most of the Group's planes flew. In addition to the 467th's own aircraft, a number of war weary aircraft from other groups were also used. Skeleton crews were used, and at first the gasoline was carried in five-gallon cans unloaded by the crew at the destination. Later bomb-bay tanks and P-47 belly tanks were installed in the planes and a pumping station was installed at Clastres.

When the combat units moved out, Clastres was turned over to Air Technical Service Command to become an Air Depot and later, during the summer of 1945, a storage depot for large numbers of surplus aircraft, whose units had returned to the United States by ship. Clastres airfield was closed on 30 November 1945 and turned over to the French Air Ministry.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 558th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 367th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron 393rd Fighter Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19094727 / O-740351
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 392nd Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31657) nicknamed "Mississippi Mudcat" of the 387th Bomb Group, at Chipping Ongar, 1944. Image via George Vasaumper.
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Mississippi Mudcat
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Miss Kam & Blond Rebel
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Big Jim
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 393rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Shack Rat
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Tacoman
  • Unit: 367th Fighter Group 393rd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

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466th BG Historian

Clastres: Gallery (4 items)