Lannion Airfield

For the civilian use of this facility, see Lannion-Côte de Granit Airport.
Lannion Airfield
Lannion, France
Lannion Airfield in the 1950s, showing craters and signs of no activity.
Coordinates48°45′20″N 3°28′40″W / 48.75556°N 3.47778°W / 48.75556; -3.47778
TypeMilitary airfield
Site information
OwnerLuftwaffe
Controlled byAirfield Command E 73/III (1940 - Jan 1943), Airfield Command A 27/XII (Jan 1943 - Jun 1944)
ConditionRe-developed into Lannion–Côte de Granit Airport
Site history
BuiltPre-1940
In useJune 1940 - April 1944
Demolished19, April, 1944
Battles/warsWorld War II
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
11/29 1370 meters concrete

Lannion Airfield is a defunct Luftwaffe airfield located in Lannion, France.

History

Established in 1937 for light and sports aviation, Lannion Airfield served as an unimportant small airfield with a 695 x 640 meter large landing field.[1]

In June 1940, the airfield was listed as operational, and units were stationed at the airfield. However, full-scale operations did not begin until construction work to pave the airfield was completed in April 1941. The runway was installed with permanent runway illumination, a beamed approach system, and a visual Lorenz system. On 20 April 1941, 1,149 Non-German workers assisted in the construction.[2]

Shortly afterwards, low-level attacks by the Royal Air Force were made which destroyed 3 Ju-88s of the Coastal Aviation Group 606. On 19 May 1941, a German pilot by the of name Eiermann Helmut, was killed with two other crew wounded after Anti-aircraft struck his Ju-88 aircraft, and shortly crash-landed on the airfield afterwards.[3] From May 26-28, 1941, German Bomber Wing Kampfgeschwader 54 moved to Lannion Airfield to support operations of the German battleship Bismarck, however, they were unable to intervene before she sank.[4]

Occasional staging use

After August 1942, Lannion Airfield was used for occasional staging missions, however, units were no longer based there. On 3 December 1943, a dispersal of 25 medium covered, and 6 medium open was opened. On 19 April 1944, the airfield was rendered unserviceable, as the landing area was plowed with trenches and craters from detonated mines.[2]

Post-war Re-development

After the war, the airfield was transferred to the French Air Force. In 1959, the National Center for Telecommunications studies (CNET) established a department near the airfield, and a research center was in inaugurated in October 28, 1963.[5] In 1974, the Rousseau Aviation Company opened a route at Lannion Airfield with its Hawker Siddley 7487s. Currently, the airport is known as Lannion–Côte de Granit Airport.[6]

Raids

The following raids carried out by the United States Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force.

On August 2, 1941, 3 Westland Whirlwinds of the No. 263 Squadron RAF took off at RAF Predannack towards Lannion Airfield. They were accompanied by 10 spitfires of the No. 66 Squadron RAF, and destroyed five Ju-88 aircraft camouflaged in black.[7]

On 20 June 1942, the airfield was bombed by 11 Douglas A-20 Boston light bombers.[2]

On October 19, 1942, Boston III Bombers with an escort of RAF spitfires attacked Lannion Airfield during the day-time.[8]

Satellite and decoy fields

Lannion Airfield was assigned to 4 decoy and satellite fields.

  • Lannion-Saint-Michel-en-Grève

Description: Satellite or dispersal field, approximately 11 km southwest of Lannion airfield. Coordinates: 48°41′0″N 3°33′0″W / 48.68333°N 3.55000°W / 48.68333; -3.55000

  • Lannion-Kerprigent

Description: Dummy airfield, 15 km east-northeast of Lannion airfield. Coordinates: 48°46′0″N 3°16′10″W / 48.76667°N 3.26944°W / 48.76667; -3.26944

  • Lannion – Île Grande

Description: Dummy airfield, 10 km northwest of Lannion airfield. Coordinates: 48°48′5″N 3°35′0″W / 48.80139°N 3.58333°W / 48.80139; -3.58333

  • Lannion-Trégastel

Description: Decoy, located 6.5 km north-northwest of Lannion airfield.[2]

Units and commands

Units and Commands that were stationed at Lannion Airfield.

Operational units

  • 2nd Group of Dive Bomber Wing 2 (Jun-Dec 1940): Operated from June to December 1940.
  • Bomber Group 606 (May-Oct 1941): Operated from May to October 1941.
  • Reconnaissance/Support Unit 123 (Aug 1941 – Jul/Aug 1942): Active from August 1941 to July/August 1942.
  • 2nd Group of Bomber Wing 1 (May 1941): Began operations in May 1941.
  • 2nd Group of Bomber Wing 54 (May 1941): Active from May 1941.
  • 1st Group of Bomber Wing 77 (May 1941): Started operations in May 1941.
  • 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron of Reconnaissance Group 123 (Aug 1941 – Jul/Aug 1942): Operated from August 1941 to July/August 1942.
  • Fernaufklärungsgruppe 123 (Long Range Reconnaissance), flew Ju-88s[9]

Reserve training and replacement units

These units focused on training and personnel replacement.

  • Replacement Chain of Bomber Group 606 (Oct 1941 – May 1942): Operated between October 1941 and May 1942.

Station commands

Units responsible for coordination within a specific airfield or station.

  • Airfield Command E 73/III (1940 – Jan 1943): Operational from 1940 to January 1943.
  • Airfield Command A 27/XII (Jan 1943 – Jun 1944): Operated from January 1943 to June 1944.

Station and nearby units

  • Reserve Airfield Operations Company 2/XII (Oct 1940 – ?): Started in October 1940.
  • 115th Airfield Operations Company (Feb 1944 – ?): Began in February 1944.
  • Reserve Fortress Anti-Aircraft Battalion 323 (Jul 1940): Began operations in July 1940.
  • Elements of Mixed Anti-Aircraft Battalion 292 (1941–1943): Active between 1941 and 1943.
  • Elements of Light Reserve Anti-Aircraft Battalion 741 (Jun 1942): Began operations in June 1942.
  • Light Reserve Anti-Aircraft Battalion 752 (Jan 1944): Started in January 1944.
  • 3rd Battalion Staff of Radio Measurement Unit, Signal Regiment 54 (Perros-Guirec, 1943 – Jul 1944): Stationed in Perros-Guirec from 1943 to July 1944.
  • 8th Special Radio Intelligence Platoon 10 (Perros-Guirec, 1943 – Jul 1944): Stationed in Perros-Guirec from 1943 to July 1944.
  • Special Radio Intelligence Platoon 14 (Perros-Guirec, 1943 – Jul 1944): Stationed in Perros-Guirec from 1943 to July 1944.
  • Special Radio Intelligence Platoon 62 (Perros-Guirec, 1943 – Jul 1944): Stationed in Perros-Guirec from 1943 to July 1944.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ Le journals des entreprises. "Aéroport de Lannion. 2010, ça passe ou ça casse". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Henry L. deZeng IV and Douglas G. Stankey. "Airfields in France" (PDF). The Luftwaffe, 1933-45. pp. 194–195. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Kracker Luftwaffe Archive Database - Lannion Airfield". Aircrew Remembered. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  4. ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 184.
  5. ^ "Pierre Marzin et la saga électronique en Bretagne". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Rousseau Aviation Timetable 1974". timetableimages.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Air 27/1551 - Operations Record Book, August 26, 1941" (PDF). 263 Squadron Archive. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Maitland Mercury, October 19, 1942". Maitland Mercury. 14 October 1942. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Participating Units". Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  10. ^ AFHRA A5259. Maxwell Air Force Base, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency. June 5, 1943. pp. 1669–73.
  11. ^ AFHRA A5260. Maxwell Air Force Base, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency. June 5, 1943. pp. 2065–71.
  12. ^ Archival Sources from NARA, PRO/NA, BA-MA. National Archives and Records Administration, Public Record Office/National Archives, and Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv.

Bibliography

de Zeng, H.L.; Stankey, D.G.; Creek, E.J. (2007). Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5.

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