Dreux Airfield

Mission Summaries > June 1944 > Airfields in Jun 44

Dreux (FR)

(a.k.a. Dreux-Vernouillet)

(48 42 20 N – 01 21 50 E)

General: airfield in N France 73 km W of Paris, 31.6 km NNW of Chartres, 3.6 km S of Dreux and 2 km S of Vernouillet.

History: a civil airfield dating from the 1920’s, by 1940 Dreux had two paved runways, a hangar, terminal and a control tower. It was used by the RAF prior to 22 June 1940 and the first Luftwaffe units began using Dreux in early Jul 40, a Gruppe of Heinkel 111 bombers being based at Dreux during the air offensive against England. After that, it served as a training school and ground for paratroopers until the beginning of 1944 when operational flying units returned.

Dimensions: approx. 1830 x 1100 meters (2,000 x 1,200 yards) with an irregular shape.

Surface and Runways: grass surface that was artificially drained at the N end. Had 2 concrete runways as noted above – (1) approx. 1325 meters (1450 yards) aligned NNE/SSW with an assembly hardstand at the S end, and (2) 1325 meters (1450 yards) aligned NW/SE with assembly hardstands at both ends. A taxiway ran along the W boundary that provided a connection from the ends of both runways to the dispersal areas. Equipped with permanent runway illumination, flare-path, a beam approach system and visual Lorenz systems for both runways.

Fuel and Ammunition: full servicing and support facilities with refueling loops in the South and West dispersals and buried bulk fuel storage at the NW corner of the airfield. The main ammunition dump was in the Bois de Marmousse woods 1.2 km to the SW of the field.

Infrastructure: there was 1 large double hangar off the N corner. The Luftwaffe added some workshop buildings, sheds and permanent night landing systems. The motor pool and garages were along the road 1 km NNE of the landing area. Station HQ, admin offices and accommodations were mostly in buildings along Route 154 near the NE corner. Additionally, a row of barrack buildings was located near the SE corner of the airfield and other personnel were billeted in homes on the S outskirts of Dreux and in nearby villages. The nearest rail connection was the Dreux-Chartres line 1.2 km SW of the airfield.

Dispersal: the West and South dispersals had a total of 30 covered aircraft shelters, 6 open shelters and 23 unsheltered sites at the end of 1943.

Defenses: approx. 2 heavy and 11 light Flak positions within 3 km. of the center of the airfield at the end of 1943. Wire fencing surrounded the entire landing area.

Satellites and Decoys:

Dreux/I
(48 41 00 N – 01 22 00 E),
satellite strip adjacent to the Dreux concrete runways.
History: under construction in mid-Jun 44 and still being worked on a month later.
Surface and Dimensions: measured approx. 1100 x 185 meters (1200 x 200 yards).
Infrastructure: none noted.

Remarks:

20 Apr 41: employed 1,000 non-German workers. After most of the Lw. departed France in May-Jun 41, Dreux was used infrequently until Jun 44. 17 Mar 44: low-level attack – 1 x Ca 148 from Fallschirmschule 1 destroyed on the ground.

28 Mar 44: low-level attack by VIII Fighter Command P-51s – claimed 1 x Bf 109, 1 x Ju 88 and 1 x unidentified aircraft damaged.

05 Apr 44: low-level attack – 1 x Ju 52 from Fallschirmschule 1 destroyed on the ground.

02 Jun 44: new bays under construction in the SE dispersal area along with additional taxiways.

10 Jun 44: bombed by 26 B-24s and strafed by VIII Fighter Command P-47s - claimed 1 x Fw 190 destroyed and another damaged on the SE dispersal field; airfield heavily damaged.

13 Jun 44: a prepared airstrip 275 meters wide has been built on the S side of the NW/SE runway. The Southeast (remote) dispersal area is under further development with 6 additional aircraft bays already cut into the woods.

21 Jun 44: bombed by 52 B-17s.

21 Aug 44: taken by U.S. forces and restored to service as Allied Airfield A- 41 Dreux.

Operational Units: I./KG 55 (Aug 40 – Jun 41); 2./KG 51 (Dec 43 – Mar 44); I./KG 51 (Apr-May 44); I./SKG 10 (Jun 44); IV./JG 3 (Jun 44); Stab/JG 3 (Jul-Aug 44).

School Units: Fallschirmschule 4 (1942-43); Fallschirmschule 1 (1943-44).

Station Commands: Fl.H.Kdtr. E 7/XVII (Sep 40 - Mar 44); Fl.H.Kdtr. E(v) 205/XII (Apr-Aug 44).

Station Units (on various dates – not complete): Werft-Abt.(v) 109/XII (May 44); Luftzeuggruppe 12 (Saint-Georges-Motel, Jun 40 - ?); Feldluftzeuggruppe Westfrankreich (Saint-Georges-Motel, c. 1940 – Dec 43); gem.Flak-Abt. 344 (May 44); gem.Flak-Abt. 555 (Jul 44); Flak-Abt. z.b.V.13100 (Jun-Jul 44); Feld-Flakinstandsetzungswerkstatt 3/XII (Jun 41); Flak- Instandsetzungswerkstatt 3/XII (1943-44); Flak-Geräteausgabestelle 3/XII (mot) (1941-43); Stab and elements/Ln.-Rgt. 11 (Jul-Oct 40); 4.(Flum.Mess)/Ln.-Rgt. 57 (spring 43 – Aug 44)?; elements of 3. (Fspr.u.Fschr.Betr.)/Feldluftgau-Nachr.Rgt. Westfrankreich (c.1942-44); Flughafenbereichs-Ln.-Kp. z.b.V. 2 (Jun-Aug 44); Lw.-Bauleitung II Dreux (c.1940-44); Lw.-Bau-Btl. 4/XII ( ? – Nov 42); Lw.-Bau-Gerätezug 6/XIII (Bohrzug) (Mar 42); Feld-Nachschubbezirk d.Lw. 1/WF (c.Mar 41 - ? ); Munitionsausgabestelle d.Lw. 3/XII (1941-43); Nachschub-Kp. d.Lw. 3/VII (May 41, Apr 42)?; Nachschub-Kp. d.Lw. 9/XVII (Jan 41); Trsp.Kol. d.Lw. 2/VII (Jan 41); Kw.Werkstattzug d.Lw. 112 (Sep 40).

Dreux Airdrome as seen today

Image courtesy of Google Earth Pro™