Wn221a (Stp221) Defence ouest du terrain de Querqueville

StP221 Querqueville covers the area of the old fort and parts of the original French aerodrome (Aéronavale). By 1940 it was used by the French Airforce and on June the 17th 1940 a bombing Squadron took off to oppose Rommel's swift advances.

Reference map ALG A23C one of the many American air landing grounds established after D-Day when the area was captured. This plan gives an idea of the layout in the 1944 plan before the Americans laid out their long runway. Dimensions: approx. 960 x 825 meters and irregular in shape. Surface and Runways: firm, levelled turf with artificial drainage. No paved runway. A permanent road encircled most of the landing area and a taxiway connected the landing area to the South dispersal. Fuel and Ammunition: refuelling was in the hangar area and ammunition was stored in the old fort adjacent to the airfield. Infrastructure: there were 2 large and 1 small hangar at the NE end of the airfield. HQ, offices and accommodations were in a barracks compound (Caserne Dixmude) immediately SSE of the airfield. Dispersal: had 2 dispersal areas. North and South, with a total of 20 small covered aircraft shelters with 4 more shelters under construction in May 43. Both dispersals had concrete taxi tracks.

This is a plan of the defences of StP221 completely surrounding the airfield itself. Wn221a is situated in the north and had a SK Sonderkonstruktionen (special construction) bunker of some kind and a Tobruk.

Vf58c Tobruk.

Vf58c Tobruk. The Tobruk had a 360° field of fire and also could be used as an anti-aircraft weapon if the gunner ducked down.

Vf58c Tobruk.

Vf58c Tobruk.