Type Combat Airfield Built 1918 Battles/wars World War I | Condition Agricultural area In use 1918–1919 | |
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Controlled by Air Service, United States Army | ||
Saints Aerodrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France. It was located 0.7 miles (1.1 km) North of Saints, in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.
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Overview
The airfield was built during the spring of 1918, and initially was used by the United States First Army Air Service, I Corps Observation Group at the end of June. Saints was a main operating base for First Army and its mission was primarily battlefield (tactical) intelligence to support the ground operations of I Corps in the Aisne-Marne Sector. However, I Corps moved to the Champagne-Marne sector during the German offensive in early July and the group moved to Francheville Aerodrome on 6 July.
The 1st Pursuit Group moved into Saints shortly afterwards with four pursuit (fighter) squadrons and began flying offensive combat patrols over the Aisne-Marne Sector. From Saints, the group engaged in combat during the German offensives in the Champagne-Marne and also the Aisne-Marne during the summer of 1918, and fought in the St. Mihiel Offensive. By early September the front had moved and the 1st Pursuit Group moved up to Rembercourt Aerodrome to be closer to the front lines.
With the 1st Pursuit Group moving out, Saints Aerodrome was abandoned and was unused for the remainder of the war. It was turned over to the French and after the armistice it was returned to agricultural use. Today it is a series of cultivated fields located north of Saints. The airfield was located to the north of the Départmental 15 (D15), with no indications of its wartime use.