Saint-Inglevert Airfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint-Inglevert
Aerial view of Saint-Inglevert Airfield.
IATA: none ICAO: LFIS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Aéroclub du Boulonnais
Location	Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais, France
Elevation AMSL	130 m / 430 ft
Coordinates	50°52′57″N 1°44′40″E / 50.88250°N 1.74444°E / 50.88250; 1.74444
Map
Saint-Inglevert Location in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Runway
Runway Length Surface m ft 03/21 630 2,070 Concrete

Saint-Inglevert Airfield is a public airfield in Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais, France. It's used for general aviation, which means it's for private planes and small flights, not big passenger jets.

This airfield has a long and interesting history. It started as a military airfield during the First World War. Later, it became a civil airport, helping planes travel between countries. During the Second World War, it was used by different air forces. After the war, it was closed for a while and even used for farming! But in 1986, a local flying club reopened it, and it's been active ever since.

Where is Saint-Inglevert Airfield?

Saint-Inglevert Airfield is on a hill about 130 meters (430 feet) high. It's located north-west of the village of Saint-Inglevert. You can find it east of Hervelinghen and about 13 kilometers (8 miles) south-west of Calais.

A Look Back: The Airfield's History

First World War: Military Airfield

During the First World War, the Royal Flying Corps (a British air force) had an airfield near Saint-Inglevert. This was not exactly where the current airfield is. In April 1918, No. 21 Squadron RAF used it with their Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 planes. Later, other squadrons like No. 214 Squadron RAF and No. 115 Squadron RAF flew large Handley Page O/400 bombers from here. Even two squadrons from the United States Navy were based there in 1918, flying Sopwith Camel fighter planes. All British squadrons left in March 1919.

Between the Wars: A Busy Civil Airport

In 1920, a new civil airfield was built at Saint-Inglevert, on a different spot. It grew to have hangars, customs services, and radio equipment. It was even made a "customs airfield" to help reduce traffic at Paris - Le Bourget Airport.

Early on, the airfield had an aerial lighthouse that flashed the Morse code letter A to guide planes. They also used ground signals, like a large arrow to show wind direction and a windsock. In 1922, the airfield's radio station was destroyed in a fire, but it was quickly replaced to keep flights safe.

Amazing Flights and Records

Saint-Inglevert was part of many exciting aviation events:

• In 1923, a pilot named Georges Barbot won a prize for flying from Saint-Inglevert to Lympne (in England) and back in one day!
• In 1928, Juan de la Cierva made the first cross-Channel flight in an autogyro (a type of aircraft that uses a rotor like a helicopter, but also has wings like a plane). He landed at Saint-Inglevert after flying from England.
• In 1931, Lissant Beardmore made the first cross-Channel flight in a glider. He was towed by another plane from England, then glided all the way to Saint-Inglevert.
• The very next day, Robert Kronfeld made the first double crossing of the Channel in a glider! He flew from Saint-Inglevert to England and back.
• In 1929, Charles Fauvel set a world record for distance flown by a small, single-seat aircraft, starting his flight from Saint-Inglevert.

Royal Visitors and New Technology

In the mid-1930s, important people used the airfield. Edward VIII, when he was the Prince of Wales and later King, visited Saint-Inglevert three times. He used it as a stop on his journeys to other countries.

New radio technology was installed in 1932, allowing messages to be printed out by a teleprinter. This helped keep track of flights and improved safety, especially for planes without their own radios.

Second World War: Conflict and Occupation

When the Second World War began, the Armée de l'Air took over Saint-Inglevert in December 1939. They used planes like the Potez 63-11 for scouting missions. The British No. 615 Squadron RAF was also stationed there briefly.

In May 1940, the airfield was attacked by the Luftwaffe (German air force), with many bombs dropped. French aircraft were destroyed or damaged. As German forces advanced, the French air force evacuated, destroying their remaining planes and fuel to prevent the enemy from using them.

German Control and Fortifications

The Luftwaffe captured Saint-Inglevert towards the end of the Battle of France. German fighter squadrons, like Jagdgeschwader 51, used the airfield with their Messerschmitt Bf 109 planes. The Royal Air Force bombed the airfield several times during this period.

The Germans improved the airfield by building new hangars and a concrete runway. However, by 1941, the airfield was mostly abandoned. In 1943, it became part of the Atlantic Wall, a line of coastal defenses. Artillery units with howitzers were based around the airfield, and concrete bunkers were built to protect the guns.

Post-War: Abandonment and Rebirth

After the war, the airfield was repaired and civil flights returned. But in 1957, it was decided to close Saint-Inglevert in favor of a new airport near Calais. The land was then used for farming.

However, in 1986, l'Aéroclub du Boulonnais (a local flying club) took over the old airfield. It took three years to clear the runway, which had been used as a dump for old tires and scrap cars. The airfield officially reopened on July 30, 1989.

Challenges and Modernization

In 2010, a fire destroyed a hangar and eight aircraft at Saint-Inglevert. But the club worked hard to replace the planes and build a new, larger hangar, which opened in 2012.

In August 2010, Saint-Inglevert received its official ICAO identifier, LFIS. This allowed it to be recognized as a public airfield, which was a big step for the club.

Accidents and Incidents

• On September 1, 1922, a Farman F.60 Goliath plane flying from England to Paris had a damaged propeller due to heavy rain. It made a quick stop at Saint-Inglevert, where the propeller was changed in just 15 minutes! The plane then continued its journey, arriving only 12 minutes late.
• In February 1923, a plane from Instone Air Line was damaged in an accident at Saint-Inglevert.

Images for kids

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  A Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane, like those used by the Germans at Saint-Inglevert during World War II.