Verdun Aerodrome
Verdun, in the Meuse department, is a small city on the river Meuse, which was heavily fortified before WWI. A military airfield was created in 1912 out of the eastern part of the city, in a place called "Faubourg Pavé" (Paved Suburb). Navigation charts did not show the airfield.
| Verdun Aerodrome | |
|---|---|
| Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) | |
| Located near: Verdun, France | |
  Verdun Aerodrome | |
| Coordinates | 49°09′33″N 005°24′47″E |
| Type | Combat Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  Air Service, United States Army |
| Condition | Agricultural area |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1918 |
| In use | 1918–1919 |
| Battles/wars |  World War I |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 1st Pursuit Group (Elements) United States First Army Air Service |
From the beginning of the war until the outbreak of the Battle of Verdun, in February 1916, the Faubourg Pavé airfield was widely used by the French Air Service. As the battle developed, many airfields were built further away from the front line and "Faubourg Pavé" had to be abandoned.
In 1918, many American Air Service squadrons flew from airfields around Verdun, as Julvécourt, Souilly, Lemmes or Béthelainville. Sources also mention temporary detachment of the 95th Aero Squadron to a "Verdun" airfield, without any further details.
Known units assigned
- Detachment of 27th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 25 September - 12 December 1918.
- Detachment of 95th Aero Squadron (Pursuit) 7–11 November 1918.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Series "D", Volume 2, Squadron histories,. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.