22 Aug 44 P-47 near Tours sur Marne (nr Athis)

[Larry deZeng]

Yes, Chris, those coordinates for Plivot were taken directly from the 1944 Directorate of Air Intelligence/Air Ministry airfield sheet without correction or alteration. The coordinates given in these airfield sheets was always for the dead center of the landing area.

Here is another one for you:

Vraux (FR) (a.k.a. Condé-sur-Marne) (49 02 37 N – 04 14 49 E)
General: landing ground in NE France 29-30 km SE of Reims, 13 km NW of Châlons-sur-Marne, 5.2 km E of Condé-sur-Marne and 1.6 km NNE of the village of Vraux. The landing ground was situated in a conspicuous triangle whose sides were - NE: the Reims- Châlons road; SW: the Canal Lateral de la Marne and the Marne River; NW: Canal de la Marne a L’Aisne.
History: Vraux/Condé-sur-Marne was a pre-war French Air Force field airstrip that was used by the RAF during 1939-40. It was obstructed by the Luftwaffe and ignored until spring 1944. Surface and Dimensions: open field measuring approx. 1150 x 960 meters (1250 x 1050 yards) and irregular in shape. Fuel and Ammunition: unknown. Infrastructure: no hangars or workshops, but there were 2 small buildings in the S corner that were being used as accommodations in Apr 44. The nearest rail connection was on a narrow-guage line at Vraux, and the nearest main line connection was at Châlons-sur-Marne. Dispersal: no organized dispersal facilities.
Remarks:
Jun 42: landing area reportedly obstructed.
19 Apr 44: landing area no longer obstructed. Original landing area now serviceable and leveling work has begun to extend the S boundary to provide a NE/SW landing take-off run of approx. 1510 x 320 meters (1650 x 350 yards).
Operational Units: I., II./JG 53 (15-22 Jun 40).
Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 12/XIII (24 Jun 40).
Station Units (on various dates – not complete): none identified.
[Sources: AFHRA A5259 p.1543 and A5260 pp.1909-10 (2 Jul 43 updated to 19 Apr 44); chronologies; BA-MA; NARA; PRO/NA; web site ww2.dk]

Larry