Vaucouleurs Aerodrome

Vaucouleurs Aerodrome
Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Located near: Vaucouleurs, France
Vaucouleurs Aerodrome - North
Vaucouleurs Aerodrome - South
Vaucouleurs Aerodrome
Coordinates	48°37′47″N 005°38′57″E / 48.62972°N 5.64917°E / 48.62972; 5.64917Coordinates: 48°37′47″N 005°38′57″E / 48.62972°N 5.64917°E / 48.62972; 5.64917 Vaucouleurs North Airfield 48°36′21″N 005°38′54″E / 48.60583°N 5.64833°E / 48.60583; 5.64833 Vaucouleurs South Airfield
Type	Combat Airfield
Site information
Controlled by	Air Service, United States Army
Condition	Agricultural area
Site history
Built	1918
In use	1918–1919
Battles/wars	World War I
Garrison information
Garrison	3d Pursuit Group United States First Army Air Service

Vaucouleurs Aerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) West-Northwest of Vaucouleurs, in the Meuse department of France, located approximately 300 km (190 mi) from Paris.

The airfield was built during the spring of 1918 as a main operating base for the First Army Air Service. Two airfields were built at Vaucouleurs, Vaucouleurs (North) being constructed to the northwest of the village, the support Aerodrome built in a forested area for camouflage west of the airfield in some agricultural fields used for flying. Vaucouleurs (South) was built just to the west of the village; it was to be occupied jointly by American and French squadrons during the St Mihiel Offensive and equipped with several batteries of French landing lights so it could be used for night operations.

The site of Vaucouleurs (North) was selected for Air Service use in January 1918. The general region was chosen as the center for the future American Sector and the site was one of those available after three years of use by the French. It was located 75 kilometers from the front line, considered safe for use by pursuit (fighter) aircraft. The terrain at Vaucouleurs (North) was the first airfield built by the Americans for pursuit aircraft to be used in combat.

The ground station for Vaucouleurs (North) was located in a forested area west of the airfield. It consisted of 42 barracks and several mess halls, two buildings for maintenance ships and six warehouses for parts and gasoline. Ten buildings for constructed for headquarters and various offices, along with a Nissen Hut for a hospital. A standard-gauge railroad was constructed to link with the French national railway system that connected at the village of Vaucouleurs. A series of gravel roads, along with an electrical and telephone network was constructed. The airfield had ten French Bessonnenux aircraft hangars erected both on the south of the airfield and also in a wooded area east of the main road to Vaucouleurs.

Vaucouleurs (South) was developed in the Summer of 1918, being leased in June. It was on top of a hill surrounded by thick woodland and had been used as pastureland. It was free of the usual narrow fields of cultivated land. The corner of the woods near the adjacent highway had been used as a park before 1914, and was laced with paths, giving an ideal shelter for personnel. The forest to the west also provided both camouflage for the hangars.