Trying to ID this French airfield, circa

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to ID the airfield where this photo was taken. It could be Villacoublay, France, or Mönchengladbach or Döbertiz Germany. However, the caption suggests La Capelle, France. Can anyone ID this place? This would be in the June-August, 1940 period.

Thanx for your help.

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-8Dp...-8DpN3Ps-L.jpg

[Von Alles]

There is a small village named La Capelle in the vicinity of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Could be this one ?

[Larry Hickey]

Von Alles,

Thanx for responding. I'm not sure; photo just had the caption "Capelle," so that could be it, but the photo indicates a substantial airbase, which I'm not sure this Capelle would have been. Did it have an airfield there? The other places were where the unit was based during the possible time when this photo might have been taken.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Someone has went me a photo showing Versailles AF, that looks like a good match to this photo. Can anyone confirm that this is Versailles?

[Larry Hickey]

Update,

My source for an excellent photo of Versailles, that seems to match the background of this photo quite closely, further indicates that this is probably "Toussus-le-Noble Airfield, Versailles, France."

Would like a French airfield expert to confirm this location from the posted photo.

[Bertrand H]

Hi Larry,

If it is Versailles the closest a/f must me St-Cyr rather than Toussus. Early 1940 there is the school of Armée de l'Air (Ecole de Pilotage n°101). This A/F used by the officers of Ecole de l'Air.

Bertrand

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

We've now got confirmation from Bertrand H that this photo was taken at Villacoublay AF, which is about 5 km SE of Versailles. The a/c in the photo is planned as an important color profile in the EoE project.

Thanx to all who posted and sent me private emails on this subject.

Regards,

[canonne]

Larry,

I send a photo of the thirties showing Villacoublay near Paris (I do hope so ... according of hand writing words in its back).
I think that collectors/reserachers of pre-war photos or old post cards can be of help too.
Have good researches !
Phil.