Orly

Airfield
media-17003.jpeg UPL 17003 Orly Airfield - 6 June 1944
Taken after to 8th Air Force bombing raids

Object Number - UPL 17003 - Orly Airfield - 6 June 1944 Taken after to 8th Air Force bombing raids

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Detailed History

Villeneuve-Orly Airport was opened in 1932, as a secondary airport to Le Bourget, then Paris' principal airport.



In 1940 the Luftwaffe occupied the airport and used it as a combat airfield. Until 1944 the site was regularly attacked by Allied air forces, which destroyed most of its infrastructure.



Orly entered USAAF use following the Liberation of Paris. Elements of the IX Engineering Command 826th Engineer Aviation Battalion arrived at Orly on 27 August 1944 . The two concrete runways were patched and the airfield was made operational as Advanced Landing Ground A-47 for transport units to fly Resupply and Casualty evacuation flights by the next day.



The 50th Fighter Group undertook combat operations from Orly for a week in early September 1944. The base was then used as a command and control field by Liaison units until October 1945



While Orly remained in American hands after the war, plans were made to repair most of the wartime damage and return it to use as a civilian air port. On 7 November 1947, it was returned to the French Government, it is now the site of Orly International Airport.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 50th Fighter Group 10th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes

Orly: Gallery (1 items)