Saint-Inglevert Airfield
Encyclopedia
Saint-Inglevert Airfield is a general aviation airfield at Saint-Inglevert
, Pas-de-Calais, France
. In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint-Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps
, later passing to the Royal Air Force
on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert. In 1920, a civil airfield was established on a different site which was a designated Customs airfield. During the Second World War, Saint-Inglevert was occupied by the Royal Air Force and the Armée de l'Air
. The airfield was captured by the Germans towards the end of the Battle of France
and occupied by the Luftwaffe
. It was abandoned in 1941, but in 1943 field artillery units were based around the airfield as part of the Atlantic Wall
. Although civil flying returned to Saint-Inglevert post-war, the airfield was abandoned in 1957 and returned to agriculture. It was reopened by l'aéroclub du Boulonnais
(Boulogne Aero Club) in 1986.
, and east of Hervelinghen
. It lies 13 kilometres (8 mi) south west of Calais
.
airfield at Saint-Inglevert during the First World War, but not on the site of the existing airfield. In April 1918, No. 21 Squadron RAF
were based at Saint-Inglevert, flying the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
. From 29 June to 23 October, No. 214 Squadron RAF
were based here flying the Handley Page O/400
. In November, they were replaced by No. 115 Squadron RAF
, also flying the Handley Page O/400. From 17 November, No. 97 Squadron RAF
and No. 100 Squadron RAF
squadron were also based as Saint-Inglevert. Also in 1918, two squadrons of the United States Navy
were based at Saint-Inglevert, flying the Sopwith Camel
. All Royal air Force squadrons departed from Saint-Inglevert on 4 March 1919.
was issued stating that Saint-Inglevert was open and fuel, oil and water were available, but no hangars or repair facilities were available. In April 1920, Saint-Inglevert was proposed to be designated as a customs airfield in order to relieve Le Bourget of some of its workload. Facilities then in existence included hangars, repair facilities and a radio station. Later that month, it was notified that an aerial lighthouse
had been installed at Saint-Inglevert, flashing the Morse
letter A (· — ). On 20 May, Saint-Inglevert was designated as a Customs airport. By July, the provision of ground signals at Saint-Inglevert had begun. A 10 metres (32.8 ft) long arrow was displayed indicating the wind direction. In August, it was reported that Saint-Inglevert was sending weather report by radio seven times a day to Le Bourget. By October, aids available included a windsock
and a landing T. Requirements for aircraft to perform clockwise or anticlockwise circuits when landing were indicated by the flying of a red or white flag respectively. The aerial lighthouse was reported to be out of action in November 1920.
In January 1921, it was notified that the road forming the eastern boundary of the airfield was to be marked by a series of posts 1 metre high, surmounted by vertical white discs 50 centimetres (19.7 in) in diameter. In February, a Notice to Airmen issued in the United Kingdom stated that radio communication with Saint-Inglevert was to be in French
. On May 1, a Farman F.60 Goliath
flew a 4500 kilometres (2,796.2 mi) test flight carrying 2250 kilograms (4,960.4 lb) of cargo. Three laps of a circuit Paris - Orléans
- Rouen
- Saint-Inglevert - Metz
- Dijon - Paris were flown. Saint-Inglevert was one of the designated landing places for the 1921 Coupe Michelin, an aerial Tour de France
with a ₣20,000
prize. M
. Poirée completed the tour in September flying a Caudron C.60
. He completed the 3,000 km (1,864 mi) course in 37 hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds, including time spent on the ground and an overnight stop at Pau
, near the Pyrénées
mountains. This was the first running of the Coupe Michelin since 1914, when it was won by Eugene Gilbert
. In November, a Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
aircraft called Saint-Inglevert to collect a cargo of six 18-pounder
and three 4.5
in live shells
for onward transmission to South London
Croydon
airport. In a paper read to the Royal Aeronautical Society
on 17 November, Colonel Frank Searle criticized the organization of Saint-Inglevert and Le Bourget.
In or about March 1922, the wireless
station at Saint-Inglevert was destroyed in a fire. At a meeting of airlines and the British Air Ministry
at Croydon Airport
in April following the first mid-air collision of airliners
on 7 April at Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine
, Oise
resulted in a number of resolutions being passed with the intention of improving the safety of aviation. One of those resolutions was that the wireless station at Saint-Inglevert should be replaced. The aerial lighthouse at Saint-Inglevert was in operation again by 11 April, when a test flight was flown at night on the British part of the London - Paris air route. The aircraft flew as far as Saint-Inglevert before turning back and landing at Lympne
, Kent
. In December, a Notice to Airmen stated that a portable searchlight was in operation at Saint-Inglevert by prior arrangement for aircraft landing at night. The "T" was illuminated at night.
In April 1923, a ₣25,000 (then worth £360
) prize was offered by Le Matin
for the first French aviator to fly from Saint-Inglevert to Lympne and back in one day in an aircraft of French design and construction, with an engine capacity of less than 1,100cc. Georges Barbot won the prize on 6 May when he flew a Dewoitine
aircraft fitted with a Clerget engine.
In 1924, Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
aircraft were operating cross-channel services for Imperial Airways
. The first stop in France was Saint-Inglevert. When an aircraft departed Lympne for St Inglevert, the destination airfield was advised, and if arrival was not notified within two hours, the British Coastguard
was informed. Communication was by Carmichael Microway
UHF transmitters at each airfield. In August, a new system was introduced for non-radio aircraft crossing the English Channel
. Aircraft crossing from Lympne had to make a circuit of the airfield at an altitude of 1000 feet (304.8 m) if departing for Ostend, Belgium
or two circuits if departing for Saint-Inglevert. The destination was then informed by radio of the departure of the aircraft. On arrival a circuit was flown, and the arrival was then reported back to Lympne by radio. If the aircraft had not arrived within an hour of departure, it would be considered as missing. A similar arrangement applied for aircraft flying to the United Kingdom
. In September, Saint-Inglevert was one of the landing points in an aerial "Tour de France". A specified route had to be flown on the 2120 kilometres (1,317.3 mi) course. Sixteen aircraft competed in four classes.
On 18 September 1928, Juan de la Cierva
made the first cross-Channel flight in an autogyro
. flying a Cierva C.8, he departed from Lympne and landed at Saint-Inglevert. On 19 June 1931, Lissant Beardmore completed the first cross-Channel flight in a glider
. He took off from Lympne and was towed by an aircraft to an altitude of 14000 feet (4,267.2 m). Beardmore landed at Saint-Inglevert after a flight of one and a half hours to the surprise of the manager at Saint-Inglevert. On 20 June, Austrian
Robert Kronfeld
made the first double crossing of the Channel in his glider Wien. Taking off from Saint-Inglevert by means of an aero-tow to an altitude of 5000 feet (1,524 m), he landed at the former RAF Swingfield
near Dover
, Kent. From Swingfield, another aero-tow to an altitude of 10000 feet (3,048 m) enabled him to return to Saint-Inglevert. Kronfeld received a £1,000 prize from the Daily Mail
for his flights, which were verified by the British Gliding Association
. On 10 September 1929, Charles Fauvel
departed from Saint-Inglevert in a Mauboussin aircraft fitted with an ABC Scorpion
engine. The 848 kilometres (526.9 mi) flight to Pau set a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
world record for single seat aircraft weighing less than 200 kilograms (440.9 lb).
In November 1932, it was reported that new radio equipment was to be installed at Lympne and St Inglevert operating on the 15-cm waveband at 2,000 Megahertz. The new radios were to be used for the announcement of the departure of non-radio aircraft across the Channel. Messages sent by radio were also printed out by a teleprinter
, providing a record of the communication. The new equipment was scheduled to come into operation in Spring 1933. The British Air Ministry and the French Ministère de l'Air co-operated in the arrangements for setting up the system. On 7 March 1933, the system for non-radio aircraft proved effective when a de Havilland DH.60 Moth
of British Air Transport
failed to arrive at Lympne. The aircraft had ditched in the Channel and both occupants were rescued by a steamship bound for Amsterdam
, the Netherlands
. The new short-wave radio system came into operation on 16 January 1934. The equipment at Saint-Inglevert was manufactured by Le Matériel Téléphonique
, Paris
.
On 4 February 1935, the Prince of Wales
flew from Fort Belvedere, Surrey
to Saint-Inglevert on the first part of a journey to take a holiday at Kitzbühel
, Austria
. On 13 August, Henri Mignet
flew from Sain-Inglevert to Lympne in his Flying Flea
aircraft, then the world's smallest. On 26 July 1936, King Edward VIII
flew from Saint-Inglevert to RAF Hendon on his return from the ceremony to unveil the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
at Vimy
. On 8 August, Edward VIII flew from the Great West Aerodrome
, Harmondsworth
, Middlesex
, United Kingdom to Saint Inglevert in order to catch the Orient Express
at Calais. The King was heading to Šibenik
, Yugoslavia
to take a holiday on board the yacht .
and five Breguet 27 aircraft. GAO 516 carried out air reconnaissance over the Nord-Pas de Calais
region. "B" Flight, No. 615 Squadron RAF
was stationed at Saint-Inglevert in the early months of 1940, equipped with Gloster Gladiator II
aircraft. A Morane-Saulnier MS.138 was discovered dismantled in one of the hangars. A wager was made between the British and French as to whether or not the aircraft could be returned to the air. With the aid of materials supplied by the French, the aircraft was made flyable. When 615 Squadron received orders to relocate to Vitry-en-Artois
, an attempt was made to fly the aircraft there but a forced landing had to be made in a field. On 10 May 1940, Saint-Inglevert was attacked by the Luftwaffe
, with over 110 bombs being dropped. A Breguet was destroyed, with another Breguet and a Potez being severely damaged. The radio facilities were put out of action, although they were soon repaired and back in action.
During April 1940, No. 607 Squadron RAF
was based at Saint-Inglevert, flying the Gloster Gladiator Mk II HR
. On 21 May, Saint-Inglevert was visited by General Maxime Weygand
. He ordered 516 GAO to prepare to evacuate as the Germans were at Rue
and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
, in the neighbouring Somme
département. The following day, the order came to evacuate to Boos airfield
, Rouen
, Seine-Maritime
. Only four of the ten aircraft that departed from Saint-Inglevert arrived safely at Boos. All aircraft carried as many passengers as could be accommodated. Two Potez 63-11's and a Bloch MB.152 were abandoned at Saint-Inglevert. They were destroyed to prevent their use by the enemy, as were supplies of fuel. Personnel from 516 GAO were evacuated
from Dunquerque on the . Nineteen of them were killed when the ship struck a mine
and sank.
Saint-Inglevert was captured by the Luftwaffe
towards the end of the Battle of France
. 1 Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 2
moved in on 20 June, equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109
, having previously been at Cailly-sur-Eure
, Eure
. They departed for Jever
, Lower Saxony
, Germany
, on 12 July, and were replaced by 1 Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51
, also equipped with Bf 109s. From August until November Stab JG 51 were in occupation. Also during this period, Aufklärungsgruppe 32(H) aircraft were based at Saint-Inglevert, with the unit operating the Henschel Hs 126
parasol monoplane. On 30 July 1940, Saint-Inglevert was bombed by the Royal Air Force. It was claimed that hangars and aircraft were damaged. A raid on 19 August resulted in a fire, the smoke could be seen from Kent.
From 24 September to 5 November, 2 Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 27
were based here. Facilities at the airfield were improved, with new hangars erected and a new 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) long, 50 metres (164 ft) wide concrete runway was constructed. On 27 December 1940, Saint-Inglevert was again bombed by the Royal Air Force. The airfield was largely abandoned by 1941, with occasional use by Junkers 52s as a refuelling station.
In 1943, the airfield was designated as Stützpunkt 134 Paderborn, housing defence units as part of the Atlantic Wall
. The units were equipped with 10.5 cm leFH 18
howitzers. During the winter of 1943-44, 10.5 cm leFH 324(f)
howitzers replaced the leFH 18s. A number of concrete bunkers were constructed to house the guns. As of October 2007, they still exist around the airfield. Following Operation Overlord
the Germans committed various acts of sabotage
on departure from Saint-Inglevert.
, at Marck
, 6 kilometres (4 mi) east of Calais
. Saint-Inglevert was returned to agriculture.
. The runway had been used as a dump for old tyres and scrap vehicles. It took three years to restore the airfield, which reopened on 30 July 1989. On the night of 5-6 April 2010, a fire in a hangar at Saint-Inglevert destroyed the hangar and three aircraft inside. Five aircraft parked outside the hangar were also destroyed. Fire appliances from Boulogne, Calais and Marquise
attended. The destroyed aircraft were replaced by Robin DR300, Robin DR400
, CP3005
and a Jodel
D195. A Piper PA-28 was also acquired which needed restoration to airworthiness. The replacement aircraft were housed in a 10 metres (32.8 ft) by 10 metres (32.8 ft) tent hangar erected on the airfield, or temporarily outstationed at Calais
or Le Touquet. It was planned to replace the destroyed hangar with a new one of 30 metres (98.4 ft) by 20 metres (65.6 ft). Following the fire, a NOTAM
was issued temporarily restricting the use of Saint-Inglevert until 15 November 2010 to aircraft based there. On 26 August 2010, Saint-Inglevert was given the ICAO identifier LFIS, allowing it to be classed as a public airfield instead of a private one. This had taken ten years to achieve.
Saint-Inglevert
Saint-Inglevert is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Saint-inglevert is situated some north of Boulogne, at the junction of the D244 road with the A16 autoroute.-Population:...
, Pas-de-Calais, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint-Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, later passing to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert. In 1920, a civil airfield was established on a different site which was a designated Customs airfield. During the Second World War, Saint-Inglevert was occupied by the Royal Air Force and the Armée de l'Air
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
. The airfield was captured by the Germans towards the end of the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
and occupied by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. It was abandoned in 1941, but in 1943 field artillery units were based around the airfield as part of the Atlantic Wall
Atlantic Wall
The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
. Although civil flying returned to Saint-Inglevert post-war, the airfield was abandoned in 1957 and returned to agriculture. It was reopened by l'aéroclub du Boulonnais
Boulonnais (land area)
The Boulonnais is a coastal area of northern France, around Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. It has a curved belt of chalk downs which run into the sea at both ends, and geologically is the east end of the Weald-Artois Anticline.- Administration :...
(Boulogne Aero Club) in 1986.
Location
Saint-Inglevert airfield is located on a 130 metres (426.5 ft) high hill to the north west of the village of Saint-InglevertSaint-Inglevert
Saint-Inglevert is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Saint-inglevert is situated some north of Boulogne, at the junction of the D244 road with the A16 autoroute.-Population:...
, and east of Hervelinghen
Hervelinghen
Hervelinghen is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming village situated near to Wissant, some north of Boulogne, on the D244 road.-History:...
. It lies 13 kilometres (8 mi) south west of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
.
First World War
There was a Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
airfield at Saint-Inglevert during the First World War, but not on the site of the existing airfield. In April 1918, No. 21 Squadron RAF
No. 21 Squadron RAF
No. 21 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1915 and was disbanded for the last time in 1979.The squadron is famous for Operation Jericho: on 18 February 1944, the crews of de Havilland Mosquitoes breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France, allowing members of the French...
were based at Saint-Inglevert, flying the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War designed by John Kenworthy. Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable B.E.2, the R.E.8 was more difficult to fly, and was regarded with great suspicion at first in the Royal...
. From 29 June to 23 October, No. 214 Squadron RAF
No. 214 Squadron RAF
-History:No 214 Squadron was formed from No. 14 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service , itself formerly No. 7A Squadron RNAS only taking on the new number in 9 December 1917. With the creation of the RAF from the Royal Flying Corps and the RNAS on 1 April 1918 it received the number 214. It was later...
were based here flying the Handley Page O/400
Handley Page Type O
The Handley Page Type O was an early biplane bomber used by Britain during the First World War. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world...
. In November, they were replaced by No. 115 Squadron RAF
No. 115 Squadron RAF
No. 115 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron during World War I. It was then equipped with Handley Page O/400 heavy bombers. During World War II the squadron served as a bomber squadron and after the war it flew in a similar role till 1958, when it was engaged as a radio calibration unit...
, also flying the Handley Page O/400. From 17 November, No. 97 Squadron RAF
No. 97 Squadron RAF
No. 97 Squadron, was a Royal Air Force squadron formed on December 1, 1917 at Waddington, Lincolnshire, first as a training unit, until moving to Netheravon in March 1918, and re-equipping with the Handley Page O/400 heavy bomber. The squadron served in France for the remainder of the war...
and No. 100 Squadron RAF
No. 100 Squadron RAF
No. 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK, and operates the Hawker-Siddeley Hawk.-World War I:No. 100 was established on 23 February 1917 at Hingham in Norfolk as the Royal Flying Corps' first squadron formed specifically as a night bombing unit and...
squadron were also based as Saint-Inglevert. Also in 1918, two squadrons of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
were based at Saint-Inglevert, flying the Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
. All Royal air Force squadrons departed from Saint-Inglevert on 4 March 1919.
Between the wars
In 1920, an airfield was established at Saint-Inglevert on a different site to the former military airfield. Facilities developed over the years to include two hangars, customs facilities and ultra short wave radio. In March 1920, a Notice to AirmenNOTAM
NOTAM or NoTAM is the quasi-acronym for a "Notice To Airmen". NOTAMs are created and transmitted by government agencies and airport operators under guidelines specified by Annex 15: Aeronautical Information Services of the Convention on International Civil Aviation...
was issued stating that Saint-Inglevert was open and fuel, oil and water were available, but no hangars or repair facilities were available. In April 1920, Saint-Inglevert was proposed to be designated as a customs airfield in order to relieve Le Bourget of some of its workload. Facilities then in existence included hangars, repair facilities and a radio station. Later that month, it was notified that an aerial lighthouse
Aerial lighthouse
An aerial lighthouse is a lighthouse used to guide aircraft with lighted beacons at night. A network of aerial lighthouses was established in the United Kingdom and Europe during the 1920's and 1930's. Use of the lighthouses has declined with the advent of Radio Navigation aids such as NDB , VOR ...
had been installed at Saint-Inglevert, flashing the Morse
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
letter A (· — ). On 20 May, Saint-Inglevert was designated as a Customs airport. By July, the provision of ground signals at Saint-Inglevert had begun. A 10 metres (32.8 ft) long arrow was displayed indicating the wind direction. In August, it was reported that Saint-Inglevert was sending weather report by radio seven times a day to Le Bourget. By October, aids available included a windsock
Windsock
A windsock is a conical textile tube designed to indicate wind direction and relative wind speed. Windsocks typically are used at airports and at chemical plants where there is risk of gaseous leakage...
and a landing T. Requirements for aircraft to perform clockwise or anticlockwise circuits when landing were indicated by the flying of a red or white flag respectively. The aerial lighthouse was reported to be out of action in November 1920.
In January 1921, it was notified that the road forming the eastern boundary of the airfield was to be marked by a series of posts 1 metre high, surmounted by vertical white discs 50 centimetres (19.7 in) in diameter. In February, a Notice to Airmen issued in the United Kingdom stated that radio communication with Saint-Inglevert was to be in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. On May 1, a Farman F.60 Goliath
Farman F.60 Goliath
The Farman F.60 Goliath was an airliner produced by the Farman Aviation Works from 1919. It was instrumental in the creation of early airlines and commercial routes in Europe after World War I.-Design and development:...
flew a 4500 kilometres (2,796.2 mi) test flight carrying 2250 kilograms (4,960.4 lb) of cargo. Three laps of a circuit Paris - Orléans
Orléans - Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel Airport
The Orléans - Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel Airport is a French airport located in the Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel commune, Loiret département, Centre region.-Geography:...
- Rouen
Rouen Airport
Rouen Airport or Aéroport de Rouen - Vallée de Seine is an airport located in Boos and 10 km southeast of Rouen, both communes of the Seine-Maritime département in the Haute-Normandie région of France.- Airlines and destinations :...
- Saint-Inglevert - Metz
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport or Aéroport de Metz-Nancy-Lorraine is an airport serving the Lorraine région of France. It is located in Goin, 16.5 km southeast of Metz, and north of Nancy .It opened to the public on October 28, 1991 and replaced Nancy-Essey and Metz-Frescaty airports...
- Dijon - Paris were flown. Saint-Inglevert was one of the designated landing places for the 1921 Coupe Michelin, an aerial Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
with a ₣20,000
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
prize. M
Monsieur
' is an honorific title that used to refer to or address the eldest living brother of the king in the French royal court. It is also a customary French title of respect and term of address for a French-speaking man, corresponding to such English titles as Mr...
. Poirée completed the tour in September flying a Caudron C.60
Caudron C.60
Caudron C.60 was a French, two-seat biplane with a single engine and a canvas-covered fuselage of the 1920s and 1930s. The French aircraft manufacturer Caudron developed this aircraft from the Caudron C.59...
. He completed the 3,000 km (1,864 mi) course in 37 hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds, including time spent on the ground and an overnight stop at Pau
Pau Pyrénées Airport
-Military usage:Apart from the civilian terminal, there are military installations on the south side of the airfield. These host the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment, the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment and the French Army's paratrooper's training....
, near the Pyrénées
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
mountains. This was the first running of the Coupe Michelin since 1914, when it was won by Eugene Gilbert
Eugene Gilbert
Sous Lieutenant Eugene Gilbert was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He had also been a famous pioneer Pre-war racing pilot flying to many countries throughout Europe....
. In November, a Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes was a pioneering French airline which was in operation form 1919 - 23, when it was merged with Grands Express Aériens to form Air Union.-History:...
aircraft called Saint-Inglevert to collect a cargo of six 18-pounder
Ordnance QF 18 pounder
The Ordnance QF 18 pounder, or simply 18-pounder Gun, was the standard British Army field gun of the World War I era. It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. It was also used by British and Commonwealth Forces in all the main theatres,...
and three 4.5
QF 4.5 inch Howitzer
The Ordnance QF 4.5 inch Howitzer was the standard British Empire field howitzer of the First World War era. It replaced the BL 5 inch Howitzer and equipped some 25% of the field artillery. It entered service in 1910 and remained in service through the interwar period and was last used in...
in live shells
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
for onward transmission to South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
Croydon
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
airport. In a paper read to the Royal Aeronautical Society
Royal Aeronautical Society
The Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
on 17 November, Colonel Frank Searle criticized the organization of Saint-Inglevert and Le Bourget.
In or about March 1922, the wireless
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station at Saint-Inglevert was destroyed in a fire. At a meeting of airlines and the British Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
at Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
in April following the first mid-air collision of airliners
First mid-air collision of airliners
The first mid-air collision of airliners took place on 7 April 1922 over Picardie, France, involving British and French passenger-carrying biplanes....
on 7 April at Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine
Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine
Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
, Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
resulted in a number of resolutions being passed with the intention of improving the safety of aviation. One of those resolutions was that the wireless station at Saint-Inglevert should be replaced. The aerial lighthouse at Saint-Inglevert was in operation again by 11 April, when a test flight was flown at night on the British part of the London - Paris air route. The aircraft flew as far as Saint-Inglevert before turning back and landing at Lympne
Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport , , was a military and later civil airfield at Lympne, Kent, United Kingdom, which operated from 1916 to 1984. RFC Lympne was originally an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returning from, France during the First World War...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In December, a Notice to Airmen stated that a portable searchlight was in operation at Saint-Inglevert by prior arrangement for aircraft landing at night. The "T" was illuminated at night.
In April 1923, a ₣25,000 (then worth £360
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
) prize was offered by Le Matin
Le Matin (France)
Le Matin was a French daily newspaper created in 1883 and discontinued in 1944.Le Matin was launched on the initiative of Chamberlain & Co, a group of American financiers, in 1883, on the model of the British daily The Morning News. The direction of the project was entrusted to the French...
for the first French aviator to fly from Saint-Inglevert to Lympne and back in one day in an aircraft of French design and construction, with an engine capacity of less than 1,100cc. Georges Barbot won the prize on 6 May when he flew a Dewoitine
Dewoitine
Constructions Aéronautiques Émile Dewoitine was a French aircraft manufacturer established by Émile Dewoitine at Toulouse in October 1920. The company's initial products were a range of metal parasol-wing fighters which were largely ignored by the French Air Force but purchased in large quantities...
aircraft fitted with a Clerget engine.
In 1924, Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
-Video:*-References:NotesBibliography*Mondey, David, ed., The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Aircraft: Military and Civil Aviation From the Beginnings to the Present Day. Secaucus, New Jersey: Chartwell Books Inc., 1978, ISBN 0-89009-771-2....
aircraft were operating cross-channel services for Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East...
. The first stop in France was Saint-Inglevert. When an aircraft departed Lympne for St Inglevert, the destination airfield was advised, and if arrival was not notified within two hours, the British Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
was informed. Communication was by Carmichael Microway
Marconi Company
The Marconi Company Ltd. was founded by Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 as The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company...
UHF transmitters at each airfield. In August, a new system was introduced for non-radio aircraft crossing the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. Aircraft crossing from Lympne had to make a circuit of the airfield at an altitude of 1000 feet (304.8 m) if departing for Ostend, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
or two circuits if departing for Saint-Inglevert. The destination was then informed by radio of the departure of the aircraft. On arrival a circuit was flown, and the arrival was then reported back to Lympne by radio. If the aircraft had not arrived within an hour of departure, it would be considered as missing. A similar arrangement applied for aircraft flying to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In September, Saint-Inglevert was one of the landing points in an aerial "Tour de France". A specified route had to be flown on the 2120 kilometres (1,317.3 mi) course. Sixteen aircraft competed in four classes.
On 18 September 1928, Juan de la Cierva
Juan de la Cierva
Juan de la Cierva y Codorníu, 1st Count of De La Cierva was a Spanish civil engineer, pilot and aeronuatical engineer. His most famous accomplishment was the invention in 1920 of the Autogiro, a single-rotor type of aircraft that came to be called autogyro in the English language...
made the first cross-Channel flight in an autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
. flying a Cierva C.8, he departed from Lympne and landed at Saint-Inglevert. On 19 June 1931, Lissant Beardmore completed the first cross-Channel flight in a glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
. He took off from Lympne and was towed by an aircraft to an altitude of 14000 feet (4,267.2 m). Beardmore landed at Saint-Inglevert after a flight of one and a half hours to the surprise of the manager at Saint-Inglevert. On 20 June, Austrian
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
Robert Kronfeld
Robert Kronfeld
Squadron Leader Robert Kronfeld, AFC, was an Austrian-born gliding champion and sailplane designer of the 1920s and 30s. He became a British subject and an RAF test pilot...
made the first double crossing of the Channel in his glider Wien. Taking off from Saint-Inglevert by means of an aero-tow to an altitude of 5000 feet (1,524 m), he landed at the former RAF Swingfield
RAF Swingfield
RAF Swingfield is a former RAF airfield in Kent. It was used from February 1917 to 28 April 1945....
near Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, Kent. From Swingfield, another aero-tow to an altitude of 10000 feet (3,048 m) enabled him to return to Saint-Inglevert. Kronfeld received a £1,000 prize from the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
for his flights, which were verified by the British Gliding Association
British Gliding Association
The British Gliding Association is the governing body for gliding in the United Kingdom. Gliding in the United Kingdom operates through 85 gliding clubs which have 2,310 gliders and 9,462 full flying members , though a further 17,000 people have gliding air-experience flights each year.-History:A...
. On 10 September 1929, Charles Fauvel
Charles Fauvel
Charles Fauvel was a French aircraft designer noted for his flying wing designs, and in particular, his flying wing sailplanes...
departed from Saint-Inglevert in a Mauboussin aircraft fitted with an ABC Scorpion
ABC Scorpion
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9* Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling, 1969....
engine. The 848 kilometres (526.9 mi) flight to Pau set a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
world record for single seat aircraft weighing less than 200 kilograms (440.9 lb).
In November 1932, it was reported that new radio equipment was to be installed at Lympne and St Inglevert operating on the 15-cm waveband at 2,000 Megahertz. The new radios were to be used for the announcement of the departure of non-radio aircraft across the Channel. Messages sent by radio were also printed out by a teleprinter
Teleprinter
A teleprinter is a electromechanical typewriter that can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point and point to multipoint over a variety of communication channels that range from a simple electrical connection, such as a pair of wires, to the use of radio and microwave as the...
, providing a record of the communication. The new equipment was scheduled to come into operation in Spring 1933. The British Air Ministry and the French Ministère de l'Air co-operated in the arrangements for setting up the system. On 7 March 1933, the system for non-radio aircraft proved effective when a de Havilland DH.60 Moth
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
of British Air Transport
British Air Transport
British Air Transport Ltd was a British independent airline from 1932 until 1951.-Prewar operations:BAT was formed during 1932 to perform public charter flights. BAT based its aircraft fleet at Croydon Airport south of London. It was one of the first UK airlines to operate the four-passenger de...
failed to arrive at Lympne. The aircraft had ditched in the Channel and both occupants were rescued by a steamship bound for Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The new short-wave radio system came into operation on 16 January 1934. The equipment at Saint-Inglevert was manufactured by Le Matériel Téléphonique
ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
On 4 February 1935, the Prince of Wales
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
flew from Fort Belvedere, Surrey
Fort Belvedere, Surrey
Fort Belvedere is a country house on Shrubs Hill in Windsor Great Park, England, very near Sunningdale, Berkshire, but actually over the border in the borough of Runnymede in Surrey. It is a former royal residence - from 1750 to 1976 - and is most famous for being the home of King Edward VIII. It...
to Saint-Inglevert on the first part of a journey to take a holiday at Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel
-Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. On 13 August, Henri Mignet
Henri Mignet
Henri Mignet, Henri Mignet, Henri Mignet, (October 19, 1893 in Charente-Maritime – August 31, 1965 in Pessac in Gironde, was a French radio engineer who became well-known as an aircraft designer and builder...
flew from Sain-Inglevert to Lympne in his Flying Flea
Flying Flea
The Flying Flea is a large family of light homebuilt aircraft first flown in 1933.-Development:The Flying Flea family of aircraft was designed by Frenchman Henri Mignet....
aircraft, then the world's smallest. On 26 July 1936, King Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
flew from Saint-Inglevert to RAF Hendon on his return from the ceremony to unveil the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
at Vimy
Vimy
Vimy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography and history:Vimy is a farming town, situated some north of Arras, at the junction of the D51 and the N17 roads....
. On 8 August, Edward VIII flew from the Great West Aerodrome
Great West Aerodrome
The Great West Aerodrome, also known as Harmondsworth Aerodrome, was a grass airfield, operational 1930–1944. It was situated adjacent to the hamlet of Heathrow, within the parish of Harmondsworth...
, Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, close to London Heathrow Airport. The village is situated south of West Drayton.The nearest places are: Hayes, Harlington, Heathrow Airport, Longford, London, Sipson, West Drayton and Yiewsley....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, United Kingdom to Saint Inglevert in order to catch the Orient Express
Orient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
at Calais. The King was heading to Šibenik
Šibenik
Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, with population of 51,553 . It is located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
to take a holiday on board the yacht .
Second World War
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Saint-Inglevert was taken over by the Armée de l'Air in December 1939. Groupe Aérien d'Observation 516 (GAO 516) of the 16ème Corps d'Armée were based here, operating five Potez 63-11Potez 630
The Potez 630 and its derivatives were a family of twin-engined aircraft developed for the Armée de l'Air in the late 1930s. The design was a contemporary of the British Bristol Blenheim and the German Messerschmitt Bf 110.-Design and development :...
and five Breguet 27 aircraft. GAO 516 carried out air reconnaissance over the Nord-Pas de Calais
Nord-Pas de Calais
Nord-Pas de Calais , Nord for short, is one of the 27 regions of France. It consists of the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, in the north and has a border with Belgium. Most of the region was once part of the Southern Netherlands, within the Low Countries, and gradually became part of France...
region. "B" Flight, No. 615 Squadron RAF
No. 615 Squadron RAF
No. 615 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1937 and 1957.-Formation and early years:...
was stationed at Saint-Inglevert in the early months of 1940, equipped with Gloster Gladiator II
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
aircraft. A Morane-Saulnier MS.138 was discovered dismantled in one of the hangars. A wager was made between the British and French as to whether or not the aircraft could be returned to the air. With the aid of materials supplied by the French, the aircraft was made flyable. When 615 Squadron received orders to relocate to Vitry-en-Artois
Vitry-en-Artois
Vitry-en-Artois is a commune and in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Vitry-en-Artois is situated some northeast of Arras, at the junction of the N50, D39 and the D42 roads. The river Scarpe flows through the town, which is also served by the SNCF...
, an attempt was made to fly the aircraft there but a forced landing had to be made in a field. On 10 May 1940, Saint-Inglevert was attacked by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, with over 110 bombs being dropped. A Breguet was destroyed, with another Breguet and a Potez being severely damaged. The radio facilities were put out of action, although they were soon repaired and back in action.
During April 1940, No. 607 Squadron RAF
No. 607 Squadron RAF
No. 607 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1930 as a bomber unit in the Auxiliary Air Force and changed in 1936 to the fighter role. It fought in that role during World War II on the European front and in Asia...
was based at Saint-Inglevert, flying the Gloster Gladiator Mk II HR
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
. On 21 May, Saint-Inglevert was visited by General Maxime Weygand
Maxime Weygand
Maxime Weygand was a French military commander in World War I and World War II.Weygand initially fought against the Germans during the invasion of France in 1940, but then surrendered to and collaborated with the Germans as part of the Vichy France regime.-Early years:Weygand was born in Brussels...
. He ordered 516 GAO to prepare to evacuate as the Germans were at Rue
Rue, Somme
Rue is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Rue is situated some north of Abbeville, on the junction of the D938, D4 and D85 roads.-Population:-History:...
and Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
, in the neighbouring Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
département. The following day, the order came to evacuate to Boos airfield
Rouen Airport
Rouen Airport or Aéroport de Rouen - Vallée de Seine is an airport located in Boos and 10 km southeast of Rouen, both communes of the Seine-Maritime département in the Haute-Normandie région of France.- Airlines and destinations :...
, Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime is a French department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It is situated on the northern coast of France, at the mouth of the Seine, and includes the cities of Rouen and Le Havre...
. Only four of the ten aircraft that departed from Saint-Inglevert arrived safely at Boos. All aircraft carried as many passengers as could be accommodated. Two Potez 63-11's and a Bloch MB.152 were abandoned at Saint-Inglevert. They were destroyed to prevent their use by the enemy, as were supplies of fuel. Personnel from 516 GAO were evacuated
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
from Dunquerque on the . Nineteen of them were killed when the ship struck a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
and sank.
Saint-Inglevert was captured by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
towards the end of the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. 1 Gruppe, Lehrgeschwader 2
Lehrgeschwader 2
Lehrgeschwader 2 was a Luftwaffe unit during World War II, operating three fighter, night fighter, reconnaissance and ground support Gruppen ....
moved in on 20 June, equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
, having previously been at Cailly-sur-Eure
Cailly-sur-Eure
Cailly-sur-Eure is a commune in the Eure department and Haute-Normandie region of France.-Population:-References:*...
, Eure
Eure
Eure is a department in the north of France named after the river Eure.- History :Eure is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
. They departed for Jever
Jever
Jever is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer which is produced here, the city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted city status in 1536. Unofficially Jever is sometimes referred to as...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, on 12 July, and were replaced by 1 Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then...
, also equipped with Bf 109s. From August until November Stab JG 51 were in occupation. Also during this period, Aufklärungsgruppe 32(H) aircraft were based at Saint-Inglevert, with the unit operating the Henschel Hs 126
Henschel Hs 126
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970 . ISBN 0-356-02382-6....
parasol monoplane. On 30 July 1940, Saint-Inglevert was bombed by the Royal Air Force. It was claimed that hangars and aircraft were damaged. A raid on 19 August resulted in a fire, the smoke could be seen from Kent.
From 24 September to 5 November, 2 Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 27 Afrika was a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader. It was most famous for service in the North African Campaign, supporting the Deutsches Afrikakorps.- Formation:...
were based here. Facilities at the airfield were improved, with new hangars erected and a new 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) long, 50 metres (164 ft) wide concrete runway was constructed. On 27 December 1940, Saint-Inglevert was again bombed by the Royal Air Force. The airfield was largely abandoned by 1941, with occasional use by Junkers 52s as a refuelling station.
In 1943, the airfield was designated as Stützpunkt 134 Paderborn, housing defence units as part of the Atlantic Wall
Atlantic Wall
The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
. The units were equipped with 10.5 cm leFH 18
10.5 cm leFH 18
-History:The 10.5 cm leFH 18 was the standard divisional field howitzer used by the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was designed and developed by Rheinmetall in 1929-30 and entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1935. Generally it did not equip independent artillery battalions until...
howitzers. During the winter of 1943-44, 10.5 cm leFH 324(f)
Canon de 105 court mle 1934 Schneider
The Canon de 105 court modèle 1934 Schneider was a French howitzer used in World War II. Captured weapons were used by the German Heer as the 10.5 cm leFH 324. It was a conservative design by Schneider Electric|Schneider et Cie intended to replace their World War I-era Canon de 105 mle 1913...
howitzers replaced the leFH 18s. A number of concrete bunkers were constructed to house the guns. As of October 2007, they still exist around the airfield. Following Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
the Germans committed various acts of sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
on departure from Saint-Inglevert.
Post-war and closure
On 10 April 1957, a report was published which resulted in the abandonment of Saint-Inglevert in favour of Calais – Dunkerque AirportCalais – Dunkerque Airport
Calais - Dunkerque Airport is an airport located in Marck, east-northeast of Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The airport also serves Dunkerque, a commune in the Nord department.-Facilities:...
, at Marck
Marck, Pas-de-Calais
Marck is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Marck is a farming and light industrial town located 6 km east of Calais, at the junction of the D940 and D248 roads. The A26 ‘autoroute des Anglaises’ passes through the commune and the...
, 6 kilometres (4 mi) east of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
. Saint-Inglevert was returned to agriculture.
Since 1986
In 1986, l'aéroclub du Boulonnais took over Saint-Inglevert following closure in June of their previous base at AmbleteuseAmbleteuse
Ambleteuse is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-History:Ambleteuse began as a hamlet of a few huts in the middle of the dunes, from which the derisory name of “carcahuttes" was once given to its inhabitants by their neighbors at Audresselles...
. The runway had been used as a dump for old tyres and scrap vehicles. It took three years to restore the airfield, which reopened on 30 July 1989. On the night of 5-6 April 2010, a fire in a hangar at Saint-Inglevert destroyed the hangar and three aircraft inside. Five aircraft parked outside the hangar were also destroyed. Fire appliances from Boulogne, Calais and Marquise
Marquise
A marquise is a French noblewoman ranking above a countess and below a duchess, and is usually the wife of a marquis. The British equivalent is a marchioness and the Spanish equivalent is a marquesa....
attended. The destroyed aircraft were replaced by Robin DR300, Robin DR400
Robin DR400
|- References :*Exavia Ltd - article "A DR400 Buyers' Guide"* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2799...
, CP3005
Piel Emeraude
-See also:-References:* A.J. Jackson, British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2, 1974, Putnam, London, ISBN 0 370 10010 7, page 308 and 513-External links:*...
and a Jodel
Jodel
Société Avions Jodel is a French aircraft company started in 1946 by Édouard Joly and his son-in-law Jean Délémontez. Jodel designed a range of light aeroplanes shortly after the Second World War. The popular myth is that the two, with no formal aerodynamics training, set about designing a...
D195. A Piper PA-28 was also acquired which needed restoration to airworthiness. The replacement aircraft were housed in a 10 metres (32.8 ft) by 10 metres (32.8 ft) tent hangar erected on the airfield, or temporarily outstationed at Calais
Calais – Dunkerque Airport
Calais - Dunkerque Airport is an airport located in Marck, east-northeast of Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The airport also serves Dunkerque, a commune in the Nord department.-Facilities:...
or Le Touquet. It was planned to replace the destroyed hangar with a new one of 30 metres (98.4 ft) by 20 metres (65.6 ft). Following the fire, a NOTAM
NOTAM
NOTAM or NoTAM is the quasi-acronym for a "Notice To Airmen". NOTAMs are created and transmitted by government agencies and airport operators under guidelines specified by Annex 15: Aeronautical Information Services of the Convention on International Civil Aviation...
was issued temporarily restricting the use of Saint-Inglevert until 15 November 2010 to aircraft based there. On 26 August 2010, Saint-Inglevert was given the ICAO identifier LFIS, allowing it to be classed as a public airfield instead of a private one. This had taken ten years to achieve.
Accidents and incidents
- On 8 October 1921, A Farman F.60 GoliathFarman F.60 GoliathThe Farman F.60 Goliath was an airliner produced by the Farman Aviation Works from 1919. It was instrumental in the creation of early airlines and commercial routes in Europe after World War I.-Design and development:...
of Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens made an emergency landing at Saint-Inglevert due to problems with a propeller shortly after the aircraft had crossed the French coast. The aircraft was operating an international scheduled passenger flight from Le Bourget Airport, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Croydon AirportCroydon AirportCroydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
, SurreySurreySurrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Another aircraft was despatched from Paris to take the six passengers on to Croydon. - On 1 September 1922, A Farman F.60 Goliath on a flight from Croydon Airport to Paris, suffered a severely damaged propeller after flying through torrential rain whilst crossing the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. The engine was shut down and a precautionary landing was made at Saint-Inglevert where the propeller was changed in 15 minutes. The aircraft then departed for Le Bourget, where arrival was only 12 minutes later than scheduled. - In February 1923, an aircraft belonging to Instone Air LineInstone Air LineInstone Air Line was an early British airline from 1919 to 1924. Along with other private airlines of the time, it was absorbed into Imperial Airways.-History:...
was damaged in an accident at Saint-Inglevert. - On 4 July 1928, Captain Alfred LowensteinAlfred LowensteinAlfred Lowenstein , CB, was a Belgian soldier, aviator, sportsman, and one of the most powerful businessmen during the early decades of the 20th century.-Early life and business career:...
fell out of his private aircraft, a Fokker F.VIIFokker F.VIIThe Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor, was an airliner produced in the 1920s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker, Fokker's American subsidiary Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, and other companies under licence....
, whilst the aircraft was crossing the English Channel. The aircraft was operating a flight from Croydon to Haren Airport, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Lowenstein was thought to have opened the cabin door instead of the toilet door. Following discovery of Lowenstein's disappearance, the aircraft landed at Saint-Inglevert. Lowenstein's body was found off BoulogneBoulogne-sur-Mer-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
several days later.