Abeele Aerodrome

50°49'00"N 002°39'20"E

Runway n/a

Airfield Abeele (Dutch: vliegveld Abeele) was a British airfield near Ypres and Poperinge in West-Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen) in Belgium.
The airfield should not be confused with Flugplatz Abele, which was located some 35 kilometers to its northeast.
During World War I the airfield was home to 4, 5, 6, 8, 29, 32 and 41Sqn RAF. Many famous pilots flew from Abeele, the most well-known names would be Major Lanoe Hawker (6 Squadron; VC and DSO) and Major James McCudden (29 Squadron; VC, DSO&Bar, MC&Bar and MM), but also famous Belgian pilot Jan Olieslaagers.
The airfield consisted of a converted farm complex with hangars and living quarters on the north side. Some of the officers had their quarters at the farm. The southernmost barn and yard was used for maintenance, testing engines, vehicle parking, etc. The road that bisected the airfield was used for the parking of vehicles along the full length.
In the early days of the war, both sides on the southern half of the airfield were used for take off and landing. However, from March 1916, only the western half was used as a runway. A base log entry made on 18 August 1917 states "Bombed by a couple of Huns (Germans) at 10:30pm".


The airfield laid out on a present day aerial photo, kindly provided by Mr. Steve Johnson of forgodenglandethel.com


Abeele in 1916 and almost 100 years later (forgodenglandethel.com).

The geography of the land where Abeele aerodrome once stood has not changed much since the time of World War I. Most of the field boundaries are the same and even the two ponds are still there, albeit smaller. The present day Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetry occupies the land where where at some point the officers tents and huts were located.
The only significant difference is the road on the southern border of the aerodrome, which has been diverted away from the dividing laneway. On the property of the farm remains a single bunker/shelter, in reasonably good shape (source in dutch).

"Thank you!" to Mr. Steve Johnson for providing additional information about this airfield!