Buc Airfield - 445BG

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Buc Airfield

Mission Summaries > June 1944 > Airfields in Jun 44
Paris-Buc (FR)
(a.k.a. Buc, Toussus-Buc, Toussus-le-Buc)
(48 45 55 N – 02 07 22 E)

General:
airfield in N France 19 km SW of Paris, 1.5 km NE of the village of Toussus-le-Noble and 1 km S of the village of Buc. The airfields of Buc, Toussus-le-Noble and Guyancourt were close together.

History: Buc was used by the Potez firm to test aircraft prior to the fall of France in June 1940. It then became the main base for long-range reconnaissance units serving Luftflotte 3.

Dimensions: approx. 1,000 x 660 meters.

Runway: grass surface with extensive drainage work carried out by the Lw. and taxiways connecting the dispersal areas.

Infrastructure: full servicing and support facilities with 4 large and small hangars on the N and E sides of the field, workshops, and sheds. Personnel billeted in the Château Haut Buc and a nearby villa just N of the field with others in Buc village.

Dispersal: there were 24 small, covered aircraft shelters in June 1943.

Defenses: there were at least 5 light Flak positions in Jun 43, mostly emplaced in towers and on rooftops. Much of the airfield perimeter was surrounded by barbed wire.

Satellites and Decoys:

Magny-les-Hameaux-Mérantais
(48 44 N – 02 03 E)
suspected satellite or dispersal field just off the W end of the Paris-Buc landing area. Listed by the Luftwaffe as operational in Jun 44.

Remarks:
  • 20 Apr 41: airfield employed 1,537 non-German workers.
  • 27 Oct 43: photo reconnaissance showed that the large rectangular hangar on the E boundary had been removed as well as 2 small, covered shelters from the West dispersal area.
  • 15 Jun 44: bombed by 21 B-24 Liberators.
  • 22 Jun 44: bombed by 36 B-24s.
  • 25 Jun 44: bombed by 11 B-24s.
  • 12 Aug 44: bombed by 67 B-17 Fortresses.
  • 16 Aug 44: evacuation and demolition of airfield ordered by Luftflotte 3.

Operational Units: Wekusta 51 (Jul 40 – Sep 42); JG 51 (Jun 40); Stab/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (Jul 40 – Aug 44); 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (Jul 40 – Jun 43); 3.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123 (Jul 40 – 1940/41); 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 33 (Jun-Sep 42); 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 121 (Jun 43 – Aug 44).

Station Commands: Flugplatzkdo. Paris-Buc of Fl.H.Kdtr. E 30/XII Toussus- le-Noble (Apr 41); Flugplatzkdo. Paris-Buc of Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 203/XII Paris- Villacoublay/Süd (Apr-Aug 44).

Station Units (on various dates – not complete): Res.Festungs-Flak-Abt. 323 (Mar 41).
Buc Airdrome as seen today
Image courtesy of Google Earth Pro™
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