Saint Mihiel salient and Marimbois.

moritz55 · 16 July 2007, 02:40 AM

Hello,

I'm looking for informaions about german airfield around Saint-Mihiel and Vigneulles. There was especially a place called "Ferme de Marimbois"(Marimbois farm) that still exists and that was a big german airfield.
Do someone has any further information about it? When was it built? Why here when other little airfields existed around (Puxieux, Les Baraques...)?
I have a picture of an airfield called "Villa Friedrich" supposed to have been taken near Saint Mihiel. If someone can tell me more...
Thank you very much for any kind of information.

Sincerely greetings.
Thierry.

Volker_Nemsch · 16 July 2007, 04:21 AM

Bonjour Thierry,

I was sure that I heard about this place somewhere and now I now where exactly: there is an article in "DAS PROPELLERBLATT" and I have this issue at home (I'm at work now).

If you like I will provide you with some details of this article today evening.
.

Volker_Nemsch · 16 July 2007, 01:12 PM

Hello Thierry,

The aerodrome at "La Marimbois Ferme" (near the road between DAMPVITOUX and VIGNEULLES-LES-HATTONCHÂTEL) was already existing in September 1914. On an old photo you can clearly see 7 tents. It seems that this place was ideal and so this airfield was improved. On later photos you can see wooden hangars, barracks, AA-guns and other usual equipment of an WWI aerodrome. At this early stage of the war the Bavarian FFA 3 was stationed there. Later this unit was reorganised into the Bavarian FA 46 Lb, specialised in photo reconnaissance. During the second half of 1918 another unit, FA 31, was stationed there for a short time.

Early in the war they were equipped with L.V.G. biplanes of the B-class (unarmed 2-seater biplanes). Later the unit was equipped with Albatros C.VII.

The aerodrome was given up in September 1918 (according to an Allied report) due to the changed frontline in the St. Mihiel sector.

I'll send you more informations later ...

.