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 ( media-380473.jpg 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], '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 (lower centre). The airfield, located near the Marne River, is used by the Germans as a defensive fighter plane base. During March, 1944, American war planes flew 29,016 sorties over Germany and German-held Europe and hurled 30,176 tons of bombs on military and industrial targets.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '392BG successfully bombing German afield near St Dizier, France.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

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],...

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

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 511th Fighter Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 511th Fighter Squadron
  • 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: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-886288
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/squadron commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 405th Fighter Group 509th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-700243
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Saint-Dizier: Gallery (9 items)