Main WW1 airbases

Being that I'm still very much the novice when it comes to researching the air war..could someone be so kind as to tell me what the major airfields/airbases were for the English, French, Germans and Americans and where they were located roughly? Thanks I know it's alot to ask but I would greatly appreciate hearing from the "experts"

[Vigilant]

Carl,

The only 'air bases' as such in WWI were the aircraft supply parks, which were located about 30 miles behind the front. I can only speak for the RNAS/RFC/RAF, and then only with certainty about their northern sector, but this might give you an idea of the sheer number of aerodromes that were dotted around:

Dunkirk-Nieuport Area

Petite Synthe, St Pol, Coudekerke, Bergnes, Téteghem, Leffrinckhoucke, Bray Dunes, Furnes

Ypres Sector

Proven, La Lovie, Poperinghe, Droglandt, Abeele, Sainte-Marie-Cappel, Clairmarias, St Omer (Aircraft Park and RFC HQ), Boisdinghem, Bailleul, La Gorgue

Bethune Sector

Liettres, Choques, Auchel, Bruay, Hesdigneul

Arras-Vimy Sector

Camblain-l'Abbé, Mont St Eloi, Acq, Savy, Le Hameau, Boiry St Martin, la Bellevue, Ablainzevelle, Lealvillers

So that's 32 airfields in the 70 or so miles down from the coast! (And I may have missed a couple). Some aerodromes like Bailleul, Liettres and Sainte-Marie-Cappel could accommodate up to 4 squadrons at a time, but their compliment at any one time depended on how active the front was. You can find all the above on the modern day Michelin map for the area, though the spelling of some of the Belgian place names is Frenchified.

Hope this helps a little,

Vigilant

thanks for the info. I had assumed it was somehting like that, but I had no idea of the amount of sites involved.

thanks for the info. I had assumed it was something like that, but I had no idea of the amount of sites involved.

[Rod_Filan]

Carl,
Recently I added a site to my website links page, but as I check now, it has become unavailable!
'The Great War in the Air — Chronical of Events' at http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~jwhalley/airwar/...ircrafthome.htm contained a section called 'Major Airfields on the Western Front' complete with maps and narrative. I hope it comes back online in the future; it was a very good source of reference.

Regretfully,
Rod

Carl,

Mark Hutchinson matched a bunch of aerodromesames over the locations in RB2. They arent accurately placed but will give you an idea of the number of major aerodromes that were used operationally. There were many more minor fields, plus late war fields and forward fields as well.

Have a look at the section marked, "Maps Showing Aerodromes and Rivers";

http://members.nbci.com/artattack/FF...nformation.htm

If you are a young bloke and like games, buy the PC Game Red Baron II and do some flying over the maps, you will get some idea of the breadth of the air war in WWI, as well as some of the problems the pilots faced. It is a game and as a sim isnt complete, but is more complete than any other WWI Flight Sim.



cam
AFC - http://members.nbci.com/pointcook/

thank you rod and cam! Rod I Just started to look at your archive of photos and it is indeed wonderful. Cam I do remember Red baron My brother and I played it often . How is the red Baron 3d?

Sir,
I have edited a book with the situation of all german airfields in flanders. Going from the red Barion field at Markebeke to the seaplane base at Zeebruges.
VBR
Bernard

Thank you sir. If you could please give me the title, I will endeavor to acquire it.