Bazenville Air Base

Military decommissioning. Bazenville was constructed as a temporary Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) with the sole purpose of supporting the Allied invasion of Normandy. As the front lines advanced eastward out of the Normandy region following the success of Operation Cobra in late July/August 1944, the need for forward airfields in the immediate vicinity of the landing beaches diminished. The airfield was no longer strategically required, and the land was subsequently dismantled and returned to its original agricultural use.

The site of the former Bazenville Air Base has been completely returned to agricultural land. There are no remaining runways, taxiways, or buildings from its time as an airfield. The layout of the former runway and dispersal areas can sometimes be faintly discerned from the air through crop marks or variations in soil color, especially during dry conditions. A memorial stone (stèle) has been erected on the D112 road between Crépon and Bazenville, near the location of the former airfield's main entrance. This memorial commemorates ALG B-2 and honors the Canadian and British airmen who served there during the summer of 1944.

Bazenville Air Base, designated ALG B-2, holds significant historical importance as one of the very first Allied airfields built in France after the D-Day landings. Construction was started by the British Royal Engineers around June 10, 1944, just four days after the invasion began. Its rapid construction on French soil was a critical step in establishing air superiority and providing immediate, close air support for the ground troops engaged in the intense Battle of Normandy. The airfield was operated by the Royal Air Force's Second Tactical Air Force. It is most famously associated with No. 127 Wing, which was composed of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadrons (Nos. 403, 416, 421, and later 443). These squadrons flew Supermarine Spitfire IX fighters from Bazenville, conducting fighter sweeps, bomber escorts, and armed reconnaissance missions over the battlefield. The ability to operate directly from the beachhead, rather than from bases in England, drastically reduced flight times, increased sortie rates, and allowed for a much quicker response to requests for air support from the army. The airfield was officially declared operational on June 15, 1944, and remained a hub of intense fighter activity throughout the Normandy campaign.

None. The airfield was a temporary wartime installation built on requisitioned private land and was completely dismantled in 1944. The site is now productive, privately owned farmland. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, nor are there any plans, discussions, or prospects for its reopening as an aviation facility.