Location of Jasta 11's airfield at La Brayelle

[jturner]

I am visiting the Douai area in a few weeks' time and would like to go to the site of La Brayelle airfield to the west of the village of Cuincy near Douai where Jasta 11 was based in early April 1917. I have been pondering over the directions to this airfield contained in the thread on this topic posted by rammjaeger on 27 October 2007 and particularly the reply by Dan San Abbott of 29 October 2007 giving some directions.

I have also been looking at the google map of the Cuincy area which is on Map of Cuincy attractions - France - A France Attraction. Comparing this map with Dan San's instructions I take it that the airfield was located in the area bounded on the north by Rue Charles Behague and Rue Francois Anicot, on the east by Chemin des Postes, on the south by Rue du Faubourg d'Esquechin (or a bit north of that road) and on the west by Rocade Miniere (the N421). Have I got this right? It would also be useful if someone could point out with reference to one of these street names on the google map where the tall chimney of the blancherie (laundry) is (or at least used to be in 1972 if it is no longer there) as referred to in Dan San's post of 29 October 2007.

I appreciate that there is another school of thought that puts the site of this airfield to the west of the N421 in the area where the Renault factory is now located but I find the reasoning in Dan San's post compelling as this relates the site to the position of the laundry chimney seen in the background of the well known photo of the Jasta 11 Albatross line up.

All directions will be much appreciated!

Kind regards

JT

[Dan_San_Abbott]

jturner:
La Brayelle Airfield is located north of the road above the Parc d'Activés La Brayelle east of N421, Rue du Faubourgd'Esquerchin, west of the road, Rue de Egalité that runs southeast of the n in Cuincy and south of Rue Charles Béhague an Rue Francois Anicot that runs west from below the C in Cuincy. The tent hangars were just south of this road and east of the Hiway N421.
The Laundry and smoke stack were a north of and midway between north and south roads and along side, and east of N421. There was a road from Rue Charles Béhague, where N421 is now and ran to the laundry. The diagonal pathway was there but not the housing developement was not there 1972. The developement south of Cuincy was a corn field
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[jturner]

Thank you Dan San for your very useful directions. I presume that when the photo at page 22 of Ferko's book on Richthofen was taken the Albatros line up started (from closest to the photographer) near the western end of the short unnamed road on the google map which runs off to the west of the Chemin des Postes at the point where Chemin des Postes turns diagonally towards the southwest. The Albatros line up would then have run in a more or less east to west direction across the field towards the laundry building and smokestack which were located just east of the present N421 about halfway down the field between the present Rue Charles Behague and Rue du Faubourg d'Esquerchin, so the noses of the aircraft were more or less facing towards the south to southwest in the photo?

Kind regards

JT

[Dan_San_Abbott]

JTurner:
I just looked at the photo, in my mind I had them facing East, The Albatros line-up is facing south. Enjoy the trip talk a walk in the area of the tents and planes, try to hear the sounds and voices of young men at very dangerous work, keep an eye to the west, you might see an S.E.5a or Camel about to do some mischief. Listen for the Mercedes warming up!!
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[jturner]

Thanks Dan San for pointing out the correct direction of the Albatros line up. For the sake of the record I think I should correct the directions. I think the photographer in the photo at page 22 of the Ferko book on Richthofen must have been standing near the present Rue Charles Behague a little to the east of the N421 on the google map and facing towards the south and the aircraft line up then ran south from that point towards the laundry building and chimney, so that the aircraft were facing towards the east in the direction of the village of Cuincy.

Kind regards

JT

[Froggy]

Hello

I think that the airfield La Brayelle,when used by Breguet'factories, before war , was at West of the Rocade miniere

Here is a ancient drawing of Labrayelle airfield, at the emplacement of the actuel Renault factory East of Rocade miniere can be seen a cheminey



and here is the actual google view which fits perfectly with the drawing



cordialement
Bruno

[jturner]

Froggy,

Thanks for that. I looked at the WWI trench map for the La Brayelle area (copy attached) but the word "Aerodrome" on the map unfortunately straddles the old road which is now the N421 so that was not much help. However the fact that the sketch map in your post shows the chimney to the east of the road which is now the N421 and this is no doubt the chimney in the background of the photo at page 22 of Ferko's "Richthofen", suggests to me that at least the aircraft in the photo were lined up on the east of the N421. I suppose it is possible that the field extended to the west across the road, which in those days may just have been a track?

Regards

JT

[GMU]

Originally Posted by jturner

I presume that when the photo at page 22 of Ferko's book on Richthofen was taken the Albatros line up started (from closest to the photographer)
JT

I believe this photo is not from La Brayelle but from Roucourt.

Regards

[Froggy]

Hello GMU

No the photo was taked at La brayelle-The legend which said that it was at Roucourt is a mistakethat can be seen on several publications
The photo of Roucourt is page 22 at the bottom

Here is a satellite view of Roucourt-The castle were MVR was lodged is clearly visible



Cordialement
Bruno

[GMU]

In my opinion, all these photos were taken at Roucourt