Parois Airdrome

Parois Airdrome, was a temporary World War I airfield in France, used in 1918 by the Air Service, United States Army. It was located approximately 16 miles (26 km) west of the city of Verdun in the Lorraine region in northeastern France.

Parois Airdrome
Part of American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
Located near: Aubréville, France
Pilots of the 99th Aero Squadron in front of a squadron Salmson 2A2 reconnaissance aircraft
Parois Airdrome
Coordinates	49°08′18″N 005°07′02″E Approximate Location
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	V Corps Observation Group United States First Army Air Service

Overview

The airfield was built during the early fall of 1918 as a forward operations base, and was used during the last days of the war by the United States First Army Air Service V Corps Observation Group during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Two squadrons of aircraft operated from the field, primarily taking aerial photography, performing battlefield adjustments and making artillery adjustments. It likely consisted of a few tents and perhaps some canvas and steel-tubing hangars. After the 11 November Armistice, the Group was reassigned to the Rhineland as part of the Third Army of Occupation and Parois Airdrome was turned over to the French Government. Almost at the same time, two French "escadrilles", BR 214 and SPA 215, were stationed at Parois, flying missions for US First Army (they were actually French Second Army Air Service, which Army was fighting under American command). They moved away on 25 November 1918.

Subsequently, the airfield was returned to agricultural use. Its exact location in the Parois area is undetermined.

Known units assigned

• 50th Aero Squadron (Observation with I Corps Obs. Group) 28 November - 6 December 1918^[1]
• Headquarters, V Corps Observation Group, 4–11 November 1918
• 99th Aero Squadron (Observation) 4–31 November 1918
• 104th Aero Squadron (Observation) 4–30 November 1918

See also

• List of Air Service American Expeditionary Force aerodromes in France

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

1. some sources say "Clermont en Argonne", the largest town near Parois, about which no other airfield used by the US Air Service is known

• Series "D", Volume 2, Squadron histories,. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

External links