Assessment : British Aerodrome of Coulombs (B-6)

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by RISKA, Dec 3, 2020.

  1. RISKA

    RISKA Member

    The most important British airfield of the Battle of Normandy, which played a major role.
    But so often forgotten ....

    Here is the result of my research on the airfield B6 of Coulombs (Normandy):

    Chronology :

    June 7, 1944 : The 13th ACGRE moved to Gosport near Portsmouth and boarded the US Navy LST 73.
    The ship goes to anchor in the Solent.

    On June 8 : The LST weighs anchor and sails off the coast of Normandy.

    On June 9 : The unit is transferred to Rhinos Ferries, a kind of barge which then goes to the Solent.
    disembark men and equipment on the beach of Hamel, Asnelles, at 2:30 pm.
    The 13 ACGRE moves to Crépon, sorting center and passing by Saint Gabriel, settles in
    Coulombs around 7pm.

    June 10, 1944 (5:00 a.m.) : The 653rd road construction company begins to level the trail.

    June 12, 1944 :
    Fences, stakes and staples arrive by ducks and trucks.
    And Lieutenant-Colonel Rankin meets with the mayor of Creully to determine the right-of-way of the land to be built on Lantheuil and Creully (B9).

    June 13, 1944 : Work began in Lantheuil while the Coulombs trail was only 400 meters long.
    A "Spitfire" crash landed, without any problem for the pilot and his plane (Event that will be revealed on the BBC (based at Creully castle) a few days later).

    June 14, 1944 : 3 "Spitfires" landed under the same circumstances as the previous one, while construction work was 80% complete.

    June 16, 1944 : The work is 80% complete : The two 1700-meter runways were completed at Coulombs. Lieutenant Colonel Rankin was ordered to develop a program to water the runways to avoid dust.

    June 17, 1944 : 3 squadrons of "Typhoon" arrived at Coulombs.

    June 20, 1944 : 16 Dakotas landed at Coulombs with 450 tons of various equipment for B9.

    June 22, 1944 : The airfield will receive 80 shells which will not make any damage.

    July 1st, 1944 : By its importance the aerodrome will receive many visitors including General Inglis.

    July 2, 1944 : Lord Reading was welcomed at Coulombs.

    July 7, 1944 : Frank Gillard, the famous BBC reporter will also be received Coulombs. He will report on the admirable work of the Sappers and the pioneers on the BBC antennes in Creully.

    NOTE :

    In 11 days, the 13th A.C.G., with 500 men (since two companies were assigned to other work) managed to build two of the largest British field airfields in Normandy.

    On top of that, two new quarries had to be opened, one at Vaux sur Seulles, the other at Cullly. There was no quarry closer, in Orival, in Creully, the traffic was such that it was impossible to get there.


    The airfield was built by the 13th Airfield Construction Group composed of the 614th and the
    653th road construction company. With the 222th Pioneer Company.



    [IMG]
    Municipal sprinkler from a London suburb called in to fight dust at Coulombs on airfield B6 in 1944. *(note the 13th ACG logo on the sprinkler)



    I managed to locate their headquarters which is exactly in this house

    Google Maps

    This house was occupied by :

    • - Lieutenant Colonel Rankin (Commander)
    • - Major Dick Reatchlons (Sub-Commander)
    • - Major Jack Wilson (Dispositions)
    • - Capt John Drinkwater (Administration)
    • - Capt John Harley (Information)
    • - Capt John Arthur (R.A.F. Liaison)
    • - Lieutenant Jack London (Reconnaissance)





    The airfield was the permanent base of 124 Wing.

    Composition of 124 Wing :

    - 137 Squadron (Typhoon)

    • Sqn/Ldr E. T. Brough, DFC

    - 181 Squadron (Typhoon)

    • [413188] Warrant Officer Ronald Desmond "Gilbo" Gilbert
    • Officer Boucher Lewis Philip
    • Flight Lieutenant Roy Crane
    • John Friedlander, CFL
    • Ken (Chad) Hanna, CFL
    • Robert Francis Galbraith J11978
    • Tim Israel Pervin
    • James H. F. Kenny
    • James Kenneth Allison
    - 182 Squadron (Typhoon)

    • Officer C E Benn RCAF
    • Flight Lieutenant P H Strong
    • Officer Pattison Harry Glendining

    - 245 Squadron

    • Jack Collins Sq. leader

    - 247 Squadron (Typhoon)

    - 264 Squadron (Mosquito)

    - N° 4 Royal Air Force Film Production Unit
    • Wallad J (rear guard sergeant)
    • Clark N S (Fg Off)
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2022
    Pat Atkins likes this.
  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

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  3. RISKA

    RISKA Member

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