Saints/Mauperthuis airfield

[ONEALM]

Gents -

I am trying to precisely locate the airfield at Saints/Mauperthuis used first by SOP/SAL 280 until 7 July 1918 and then by the US 1st PG from 9 July to 1 September.

I just returned from France, walked the area it was probably in, spoke to the owner of the field, the local historians, took into consideration the local prevailing wind, location of known roads, and asked anyone else who might provide a clue, without complete success.

I have a fair guess of it's orientation/location, but would like a definitive view - a recon photo or a shot which includes nearby buildings which were there in 1918 and are still there today. Fortunately, the farm buildings currently close to the field have not much changed since 1918, so they are the best hope for a definitive orientation.

There are several photos in Charlie Wooley's book on the 95th Aero Squadron which are inconclusive as to the precise location/orientation.

So, I am hoping some eagle eyed forumite might have an as yet unseen shot of the field from a 1st PG pilots album or from the time SAL 280 was there.

Once the 1st PG departed in September, the field went back to being a farm and has remained so since 1918 - nearly unchanged.

Anyway, any help at all in locating the field borders and hangar locations will be a great help. There is a project in th works - more specifics later on this - to erect a monument on the field and we'd like to be certain of the orientation of the field.

Thanks in advance,
Mike