Saint-Dizier

Airfield
A B-24 Liberator of the 392nd Bomb Group successfully bombs an airfield near St Dizier, France. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], '7 Jun 1944.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'NYP 21841 (KY). US PLANES BLAST GERMAN AIRFIELD IN FRANCE. A Liberator bomber of the Eighth US Army Air Force heads for its home base after helping to blast a German Airfield near St Dizier, in occupied France, where administrative building (upper right) burn fiercely and bombs explode on the dispersal area (

Object Number - FRE 1675 - A B-24 Liberator of the 392nd Bomb Group successfully bombs an airfield near St Dizier, France. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp],...

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Detailed History

During the Liberation of France, the airfield was sized by Allied Forces during September, 1944 and taken over by the United States Army Air Force. The IX Engineer Command repaired the war-damaged base and it was designated by the Americans as Saint-Dizier Airfield or Advanced Landing Ground A-64. It was turned over to the Ninth Air Force for operational use on 9 October for fighter and reconnaissance units, as well as for command and control. The following known USAAF units operated from the airfield:
HQ, 100th Fighter Wing, 19 September-29 December 1944.
27th Fighter Group, February–March 1945, A-36 Apache (12th AF)
367th Fighter Group, 1 February-14 May 1945, P-47 Thunderbolt
405th Fighter Group, 14 September 1944-9 February 1945, P-47 Thunderbolt
10th Reconnaissance Group, September–November 1944 (Various photo-reconnaissance aircraft)

With the end of the war in Europe in May, 1945 the Americans began to withdraw their aircraft and personnel. Right after the war, some captured Messerschmitt Me 262s landed at the base, on their way to channel ports to be shipped to the United States for evaluation (Operation Lusty). Control of the airfield was turned over to French authorities on 5 July.[7]

In 1950/51 when as a result of the Cold War threat of the Soviet Union, Saint Dizier-Robinson Air Base was proposed by the United States Air Force to become a NATO light bomber air base as part of a NATO commitment to establish a modern Air Force Base at the site. In the ongoing negotiations, the site was ultimately rejected.[8]

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 511th Fighter Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: photographer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 370th Fighter Group 405th Fighter Group 511th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 510th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 370th Fighter Group 405th Fighter Group 511th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Georgia Peach
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 510th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-61 Black Widow
  • Nicknames: The Willing Widow
  • Unit: 415th Night Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: The Bug
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 510th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Luger Luggin Lulu
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 509th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Daisy Mae IV
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 374th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date2 Jul 2015 02:22:54
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesCreated entry with name, number, known as, latitude, longitude, usaaf from date, usaaf to date, construction date, history and media associations
Sources

466th BG Historian

Saint-Dizier: Gallery (9 items)