Vavincourt Aerodrome

Vavincourt Aerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located 0.5 mi North of Vavincourt, in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.

Overview
The airfield was built during the summer of 1918 by the French with an approximate area of 498,000 square meters. It was completed on 30 October 1918 having a capacity for 45 officers and 300 enlisted men with 7 barracks. It was able to accommodate 63 aircraft in 9 hangars.

Vavincourt Aerodrome was used by the Air Service, United States Army as a main operating base. Beginning in September, 1918, it was the home of the 1st Army Observation Group during both the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives, with three squadrons of aircraft.

In support of the flying squadrons, the 3d Air Park had a flight of mechanics for repair of both aircraft and vehicles. Also, the airfield was the home of Photo Sections #2 and #10 for processing and analyzing aerial photography. The ground support station consisted of various aircraft hangars, support buildings and quarters for personnel.

After the armistice in November 1918, Vavincourt remained active with two observation squadrons being assigned to it, awaiting demobilization. THe order came down in May 1919 to inactivate the Air Service in France and and was turned over to the 1st Air Depot for de-construction. All hangars and other structures were dismantled and all useful supplies and equipment were removed and sent back to the Depot for storage. Upon completion, the land turned over to the French government.

Eventually the land was returned to agricultural use by the local farmers. Today, what was Vavincourt Aerodrome is a series of cultivated fields located south of Vavincourt. The airfield was located to the east of the Départmental 28 (D28), with no indications of its wartime use.

Known units assigned

 * Headquarters, 1st Army Observation Group, 22 September-11 November 1918


 * 24th Aero Squadron (Observation) 21 September 1918-7 May 1919
 * 91st Aero Squadron (Observation) 21 September 1918-7 May 1919
 * 9th Aero Squadron (Night Observation) 21 September-21 November 1918