Juvincourt-et-Damary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juvincourt-et-Damary
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The town hall and school of Juvincourt-et-Damary
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| Country | France |
| Arrondissement | Laon |
| Canton | Guignicourt |
| Intercommunality | Champagne Picarde |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code |
02190
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Juvincourt-et-Damary is a small town, also called a commune, located in northern France. It is part of the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region.
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Juvincourt Airfield: A Historic Site
Juvincourt-et-Damary is well-known for its old airfield. An airfield is a place where airplanes can take off and land. This airfield has a long and interesting history, especially during World War II.
Built Before the War
The airfield was first built before World War II began. It was used by the French Air Force, which is France's military air branch.
German Control During World War II
In June 1940, during the Battle of France, German forces took control of the airfield. They used it as a major base for their air force, known as the Luftwaffe.
Attacks and Liberation
During the war, the airfield was attacked many times by American planes. Large bombers from the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force dropped bombs on it. Later, medium bombers from the IX Bomber Command also attacked the airfield.
In early September 1944, Allied soldiers freed the airfield from German control.
Quick Repairs by American Engineers
After the airfield was captured, American military engineers quickly got to work. The 820th Engineer Aviation Regiment repaired the damaged runways. They made the airfield ready for planes to use again in just a few days, by September 7. The Americans called it "A-68".
Used by the Ninth Air Force
Many different units from the Ninth Air Force used the airfield for combat missions. They continued to use it until May 1945, when the war in Europe ended.
After the War
After the war, the airfield was used for transporting supplies and for plane maintenance. It was closed in July 1945 and given back to the French Air Force.
The French Air Force started building a new, modern airfield there. They planned new taxiways and places for planes to park. However, it seems the construction was never finished, and the airfield was left abandoned.
Today, you can still see parts of the old World War II runways at Juvincourt Airfield. There are also parts of the unfinished modern airfield in the empty area. It's a quiet reminder of its busy past.
