HISTORY  OF  OF THE CONDE-VRAUX AIRFIELD

by Denis RIGOLLET and Gérard FAUX

                  Isolated among the fields to the north east of the town of Vraux on the Grandes-Loges road stands the « Red House » . It is all that remains of an airfield , officially named Conde/ Vraux, located in Champagne between Reims and Châlons / Marne .

                  While there may be few tangible memories of the former base around , there are plenty to be found in the minds of the locals , and visitors from further away who feel very much a part of the neighbourhood .Ronald BRIGHT was one such visitor from afar , he served with 114 Squadron as a mechanic at Vraux in 1939-1940 ,advanced Air Striking Force ( A.A.S.F ) . His memories , along with many others , have helped local historians Denis RIGOLLET and Gérard FAUX piece together the airfield’s hectic past .                       Conde / Marne was the intented location for the airfield , but local conditions did not permit it . The airfield was planned to help the circuit trafic at Reims . Vraux was one of fourteen sites surveyed by a team of engineers from Metz  in october 1935 . Construction started in october 1936 and was completed by the end of 1937 . By compromise with the originally intented site it was called Conde / Vraux .   

                   Building work was overseen by Captain JHEAN  as part of the Armée de l’Air’s ( French Air Force ) expansion plans . The « Red House » was built to house a photo- reconnaissance processing unit originally .

                     A prefectoral decree of february 10, 1939 placed the airfield under the full control of Armée de l’Air with full powers , renewable after five years-war was a decided possibility . On august 30 Air company 145/111 , with Lt WANTZ in command , arrived from Mourmelon le Grand where they had been formed only three days earlier , to set up the overwise Dormans airfield for operational flying . This company was charged with readying Vraux  in every way for receipt of an element of the A.A.S.F. Their brief was to maintain a food and technical supply , mount guard and maintain the flying ground untill september 20, 145/111 left Vraux on october 6 for Berrieux in the Aisne valley .

                    First contacts between the French and British governments regarding planning for a potential war with Hitler’s openly-expansionist Germany were made in 1936 . Agreement hammered out in 1938 settled upon , among other ideas , the A.A.S.F and how it would deploy into north eastern France .

                    XV Squadron , Royal Air Force , equipped with Fairey Battles was to etablish itself at airfield code-name « Mase » as soon after Z-1 day as possible .« Mase »was Vraux. Alert state Z-1 was declared on september 2 ,1939 and XV’s Battles left Abingdon for Betheniville« en route » to « Mase » .

                    All sixteen machines were declared operational at Betheniville the following day , the day war was declared . W/C JL. WINGATE was in command of XV , with F/L HY LAWRENCE in charge of « A » flight and F/L PG. CHAPMAN « B » flight .

                    On september 12 the unit settled down at Mase , XV’s long-established deployment base . Instructions came from the area headquarters at Polignac castle in Reims.

                    First real aerial sortie came three days later when both « A » and « B » flight took-off to make a familiarisation flight of Metz and its environs . They built up a regular routine of training flights , bombing exercices, photo-reconnaissance of the Siegfried line and co-operation work with elements of Armée de l’Air .

                    Commanding 71 Wing was G/C WALMSLEY and he made a visit to « his » airfield on september 21 . This was to be followed by the Commander-in-chief A.A.S.F , Air Vice Marchal PLAYFAIR on september 26 . 

                   While making a training and demonstration flight on october 2 an Armée de l ‘Air Potez 631 (N°2) from 408 flight based at Marignane made a belly-landing at Vraux . The pilot had forgotten to lower his undercarriage . Air company 145/111 effected repairs and it reflew three days later . On the 18^th the Royal Corps of Signals arrived to look after the airfield .

                    November 2 saw XV Squadron drop its firts bombs since arriving in France . 250 pounders were dropped on the ranges at Mourmelon . On the 6^th , a Battle from 150 Squadron landed to show-off the under fuselage machine gun position , to protect the vulnerable lower rear aspect of the type . F/L WEBSTER and Sgt HOPKINS conducted the demonstration flights . Lack of real activity was beginning to take effect on the unit . Helping to pass the time was P/O WH GEORGE who organised no less then seven concerts for the unit and other elements of 1 Group , British Expeditionary Force .

                    It was soon confirmed that XV were earmarked for conversion to the Bristol Blenheim IV and would leaving . Vraux would receive 114 Squadron , also equipped with Blenheim Ivs . Between september 9 and 12 , XV vacated in five flights , the first to Tangmere , the second to Bicester , the third and fourth to Ford and the fifth to Wyton (where XV were to reform on Blenheims .

                    Acting as serial transport for the swop-over were the aircraft of National Air Communications and Vraux took on the appearance of an airport with several famous types from the fleet of Imperial Airways . During this period Armstrong Whitworth Ensigns G-ADSX and G-ADTC ; DH 86 Expresses G-ACVY , G-ADUF and G-AEWR ; Handley Page HP42S G-AAUD and G-AAXC ; and Short Scyllas G-ACJJ and G-ACJK . As earch aircraft landed it was hastily camouflaged with branches .

                    Flying in four flights of four aircraft each , the Blenheims of 114 Squadron landed at Vraux from Wyton at 1.10 pm on December 9 , just one hour after the last XV Squadron Battle has started up and departed . In command of 114 was W/C JH POWLE , with S/L OUTRAM looking after « A » flight and S/L KITLEY « B » flight .

                    As with XV Squadron , the greater part of the unit’s personnel were billeted with the locals , often in barns and granaries . At first things were unconfortable , but quickly buildings were adapted and through the kindnesses of the people of Vraux , life improved .

                    On December 13 the unit was turned out in full force . On the 20^th , 114 took part in A.A.S.F Tactical Exercise n° 3 with bombing practise taking place between Arras and Douai. A visit by AVM PLAYFAIR on the 21^st brought to an end major activity on the airfield . The winter of 1939-1940 was severe and sorties from Vraux could not be restarted until January 10 , when the Squadron participed in A.A.S.F exercise n°5 .

                    Two days later a taste of the war came to Vraux . Blenheim L8859 piloted by P/O TURNER with Sgt PAUL and AC PEPLAR was attacked by four Bf 109 S . Seriously damaged , the Blenheim landed at Metz on one engine . By this time 114 Squadron was placed on intensive bombing and night flying training , this was to last until May

                     First fatality on the unit was P/O HODGSON on February 27 . P/O FARROW and AC SANDERS died during an exercise on March 2 and Sgt WILLIAMS was killed on March 6 in an accident . A deployment to Perpignan was undertaken in early May to use the bombing ranges at Moronvilliers .  On May 10 , 114 was urgently recalled to Vraux as Germany has invaded Belgium , Luxembourg and the Netherlands . The Phoney War had come to an abrupt halt .

                     By 5.30 am the following morning all of 114’s Blenheims had their engines running , ready for the « go » . Suddenly , mechanic Ronald BRIGHT saw at very low altitude nine Dornier DO 17 Z  . As the Luftwaffe raid progress across the field , Ronald  and his colleagues ran to the trenches . Taking off from GroBostheim at 5.30 am (German time) , the Dorniers were from 4/KG2 of Luftflotte II , commanded by Lt REIMERS . They flew over the Maginot line at low level and reached Vraux after one hour’s flying time . They hit Vraux with 50 kg bombs and raked the airfield with machine gun fire . All sixteen Blenheims were destroyed or seriously damaged and the raid managed to take out the refuelling point .

                     On board DO 17 Z « Gustav Marie » piloted by Lt BORSCHEIM was observer Werner BORNER , who filmed the whole attack with a 8 mm cine camera . As the raid was returning home Reimer’s aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft defences and his observer  KRUGER , brought the Dornier safely home , Borner’s film was shown at Hitler’s headquarter by Luftflotte II’s commander LOERZER , as a sample of the effectveness of low level blitz-krieg .

                      At Vraux , the impact  was being assessed . Mercifully , nobody had been killed . Several unexploded bombs were found on the field , doubtless released at too low altitude . Headquarters of 71 Wing at Fagnieres Swere informed at 11.40 am and they were told that three Blenheims from 4 repair and salvage unit (RSU) and another from 6 RSU would be despatched to replace those written off . The first two arrived at 3.40 pm .

                       A chance to hit back came on the 14^th when P/O TASKER , Sgt SUMMERS and AC LEVACK undertook a reconnaissance over the Sedan-Bouillon-Givonne  area . Spotting a line of German vehicles on the Bosseval road , they managed to unleash 980 lbs of bombs , suffering slight flak damage in return .

                       Still short of aircraft , on the 14^th 114were asked to despatch six Blenheims crews to Epernay-Plivot where 139 Squadron operated . At 5 pm under operational order WB 13 the crews were told to bomb a concentration of troops in the Givonne-Bouillon sector .

Three sections of Blenheims were formed up for the raid . The first section was attacked at 5.500 ft to the south west of Sedan by twelve Messerscmitt Bf 109s . F/O RH  DE MONTMORENCY’s Blenheim was downed and he , Sgt WALLIS and LAC BARROW   were posted as missing . A second was hit , with pilot Sgt BRADY and Sgt WILLSMER bailing out sadly gunner MADDOX went down with the aircraft .

                       At the same moment , the second section was also under attack . One Blenheim force landed near Sedan , pilot NEWBERRY and observer KENDRICK escaping , but gunner BAKER died in the ensuing fire . P/O B POWER , Sgt Stuart MARRIS and AC PARKER were all posted as missing when their aircraft failed to return .

                      Of the third section , only two aircraft got away first time . The third machine blew a tyre on take-off and made a single mission after repairs . The two that succeeded in departing on the mission (P/O JM HOGSTON , Sgt ROBERTS , Sgt Mc KIM , AC LYLE ) bombed German troops and vehicles without meeting opposition .

                      Back at Vraux , two Blenheims were scrambled for the same mission , taking off at 3.20 pm . As they reached Sedan they were attacked by Bf 109 s . Sgt POTTER , Sgt MULFORD and AC LONGHORN quickly dropped their bombs and escaped , but P/O CB JOURDAN , Sgt SOUTHWOOD and AC BROWN were reported missing and were certainly shot down.

                      On May 15 came the order to prepare to evacuate the airfield . The unit was to move to Crecy , near Abbeville, and the advance party commanded by S/L OUTRAM left for the new base at 6 am .

                      Wing operation orders WB 20 and WB 21 arrived on the 16^th . At 5.30 am a Blenheim piloted by F/L SNL MAUDE and crewed by Sgt HAWKINS and Cpl APPLEBEE took off on a reconnaissance sortie of the Montcornet-Bumigny-Aubigny sector . Over Montcornet they found three Heinkel HS 126 s and immediately attacked . One was shot down and another was credited as a « probable » .

                      Later two Blenheims were sent to bomb a big concentration of enemy troops around Montherme . Sgts Mc PHERSON , MANDERS and AC SNEDDON released four 250 pounders to the north of the town while Sgts SEALE , ELLWOOD and AC GRAY could not locate the target because of mist and encountered up five enemy aircraft , but was only slightly damaged .

                      Also on the16th Hawker Hurricanes from 1 Squadron flew in from Berry au Bac under the command of S/L HALATTAN . After a night’s rest , at 9 am a five aircraft patrol commanded by F/L WALKER met up with a group of Heinkel HE 111 S and BF 110 S , escorted

by BF 109 S . Eight enemy were destroyed for the loss of Pussy Palmer’s Hurricane , he bailed-out of the stricken aircraft after he had downed a 110 . 

                    During that afternoon , 1 Squadron received orders to move to Anglure . On the 18^th twelve Hurricanes left Vraux  at 6 am  . SOPER’s Hurricane was too damaged to fly out and was pushed into a bomb crater and burnt .

                      After take-off from Vraux , P/O STAVART discovered a DO 17 and shot  it down . Flying happily to rejoin his unit , he turned finals and noted a HE 111 approaching , he made victory n°2 . Short of fuel and disorientated , he landed in a field . He made his way back to Vraux just as the groundcrew were leaving !

                      May 18^th also saw the departure of 114 Squadron . Ordered to reach Nantes, they left at 3.30 pm when five aircraft took off , headed by P/O HOGSTON . They flew to Meharicourt and Poix and joined 18 Squadron at Recy  the following day .

                      That same day , about the same time as 114 Squadron were vacating Vraux , the third and fourth flights of the French Groupe de Chasse II/4 took off from Orconte  near St Dizier . They were to protect the Rethel sector .

                      Flying eleven Curtiss H 75 A , they discovered thirty HE 11 S , escorted by BF 109 S . During the attack Captain Regis GUIEU’s aircraft was seriously damaged , he managed to fly to Vraux. 114 managed to effect repairs and he departed for Orconte as the last straggling Blenheim left . GUIEU was shot down finally on June 7 which time his tally was seven confirmed kills and five probables .

                     Vraux’s last Blenheim was flown by P/O HADNETT with P/O HARTLAND , Sgt WATSON and AC COYLE on board . It flew to Nantes via Le Bourget on the 19^th . That day both the village and the airfield were bombed by Junkers JU 87 S .

                     After this , Vraux airfield became an aviation backwater . Luftwaffe units used it occasionally and visiting types noted included JU 52 S , JU 87 S , BF 109 S and Fieseler FI 156 S . It continued in use as an emergency landing ground and rifle range .

                     In 1943 the nature of the airfield changed again . The runway was lenthened towards the south and cuttings were made into the forest to allow for camouflaged dispersed parking of aircraft . Provision was made for illuminated night landing as well .

                     During 1943 some BF 109 GS were based for a short time . They almost certainly belonged to JG 26 and JG 54 which formed part of the 250 Luftwaffe fighters present in the north of France at that time . It seems that some BF 109 GS of JG 3 , based at Tours / Marne , also used Vraux , this time during June / July / August 1944 .

                     General PATTON’s 3^rd Army liberated Vraux  on August 23 . After setting it right , the USAAF tookit on and it was referred to as Y 45 . Until 1945 it was used for resupply and liaison flights by XIX Tactical Air Command , connected with the 9^th Air Force .

                     Besides the passage of Douglas C 47 S other aircraft that could be seen on a regular basis included an AT 6 Texan , an C 47 called « Sacred Cow » , three Piper l 4 S , a Stinson L 5 , a Cessna AT 17 and a Republic P47 . The later , called « Miss Lace » was flown by Lt James E HOGAN and was assigned to protect the airfield .

                     With the end of the war Vraux airfield had no reason for being . It returned to its former function -agriculture .

                     But there are still memories . Farmers ploughing the fields always refer to this area as the « airfield » . Pieces of aircraft occasionaly come to the surface . Mr QUITTA has a Fordson tractor that survived from the days when the airfield played its part in the defense of its country .