Creil Airfield - 445BG

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Creil Airfield

Mission Summaries > June 1944 > Airfields in Jun 44
Creil (FR)
(49 15 25 N – 02 30 50 E)

General: airfield in N France 48.5 km NNE of Paris and 2.8 km ESE of Creil.

History: French Air Force base since World War I. Evacuation by the French began on 9 June 1940. In Aug 40, work began on the construction of a 1,620 x 50 meter concrete runway and another concrete runway of 1,710 x 50 meters. Over the next several years, 47 aircraft blast bays were constructed by the Luftwaffe and navigation radio beacons installed along with a Freya radar in 1944. Three batteries of Flak were usually deployed at Creil. Used mainly by bombers through 1943 and then by fighters.

Dimensions: approx. 2105 x 1830 meters (2300 x 2000 yards) and “L” shaped.

Surface and Runways: grass surface with 2 concrete runways as described above. A perimeter road encircled the airfield. Equipped with runway and obstruction lighting, a flare-path and visual Lorenz systems for both runways.

Fuel and Ammunition: refueling points provided at ladder-type servicing hardstands on the N boundary, E boundary, S corner and near the W corner. Ammunition dumps were located in woods off the SE and SW sides of the landing area and in a rock quarry 7.5 km to the WSW.

Infrastructure: had 1 large and 1 small hangar at the S corner and 1 medium hangar in the North dispersal area. A few workshop buildings were believed to be just W of the medium hangar in the North dispersal area. Air crew personnel were billeted in Creil, Chantilly and in nearby châteaux while other personnel were accommodated in hutment camps erected in several of the surrounding villages.

Dispersal: there were 3 dispersals in Jul 43 – North, Southeast and South – with a total of 47 large covered aircraft shelters and 22 medium covered and open shelters.

Defenses: had 3 heavy and 12 light Flak positions in Nov 43, all within 1.6 km of the airfield. Only 2 of the light Flak positions were in towers. Ground defenses were secured by 7 reinforced strongpoints and many of the Flak positions were surrounded by barbed wire.

Satellites and Decoys:
Baron (FR)
(49 09 30 N – 02 42 40 E)
General: landing ground in N France 42 km NE of Paris, 19.5 km SE of Creil airfield, 10 km SE of Senlis and 2.5 km SW of the village of Baron.
History: believed to be a satellite or dispersal field for Creil built in 1944. In use on 6 Jul 44.
Surface and Dimensions: fully serviceable grass surface measuring approx. 915 x 275 meters (1000 x 300 yards) and irregular in shape.
Infrastructure: none noted.
Dispersal: concealed parking bays had been cut into the Bois de Montlognon woods on the S boundary of the landing area.

Remarks:
  • 22 Sep 40: assigned airfield code number 513.
  • 26 Jul 42: assigned new airfield code number 263. 25 Nov 43: runways and taxiways re-camouflaged.
  • 15 May 44: airfield bombed at least 8 times between 15 May 44 and 11 Aug 44 by USAAF 8th and 9th Air Forces.
  • 02 Jun 44: bombed by 47 B-24 Liberators as a target of opportunity. 14 Jun 44: bombed by 91 B-17s.
  • 22 Jun 44: attacked by 9th AAF fighter-bombers – direct hits on the runway.
  • 23 Jul 44: bombed by 78 B-17s.
  • 31 Jul 44: bombed by 36 B-24s.
  • 05 Sep 44: taken over by the USAAF.

Operational Units:   III./KG 28 (Jun-Jul 40); II./KG 76 (Jun-Oct 40, Apr-Jun 41); Stab/KG 76 (Mar-Jun 41); I./KG 4 (Jun-Jul 41); 3.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 122 (Jul 41 - Oct 42); Stab, II./KG 77 (May 42); I./KG 77 (Jul-Aug 42); I./KG 6 (Sep-Nov 42); Stab/KG 6 (Oct-Nov 42, Mar-Jun 43); III./KG 6 (Dec 42 - Jan 43, Mar-Jun 43); Stab, II./JG 2 (May-Aug 44); I./JG 2 (Jun-Jul 44); III./JG 2 (Jun-Aug 44); Einsatzkdo. Schenck (Aug 44); I./KG 51 (Aug 44).

Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 4/I (1940 – Mar 44); Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 222/XI (Apr-Aug 44).

Station Units (on various dates – not complete): 4. Flugh.Betr.Kp./KG 76 (Jul 40 – Jun 41); 1. Flugh.Betr.Kp./KG 6 (Sep-Nov 42); Luftminen-Zug 3 ( ? – Feb 43); Luftminen-Zug 6 (Aug 41); Luftminen-Zug 10 (Jun-Aug 44); elements of gem.Flak-Abt. 295 (Apr 42); le.Flak-Abt. 880 (Jun-Jul 44); le.Flak-Abt. z.b.V. 11300 (Jun 44); Feld-Luftmunitionslager z.b.V. 10/XI (Chantilly – 1943-44); Flieger-Geräteausgabe- und Sammelstelle 2/WF (Aug 44); Flieger-Geräteausgabe- und Sammelstelle 4/WF (Jun-Aug 44); Munitionsausgabestelle d.Lw. 2/XI (St-Leu d’Esserent – 1941-42).
Creil Airdrome as seen today
Image courtesy of Google Earth Pro™
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