45°09'19"N 005°43'40"E
Runway: 15/33 - 960m - concrete
Runway: 03/21 - 960m - concrete
Grenoble-Mermoz airfield (french: Aérodrome de Grenoble Mermoz, also known as Grenoble-Eybens or "Jean Mermoz aérodrome") was an airfield 480 kilometer southeast of Paris.
Although aviation had taken place south of Grenoble before World War I, it took until the early 30s before the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce agreed with the General Council of Isère and the Air Ministry to create a Grenoble airport. The reasons were both for commercial reasons and for tourism. Although socialist councilors disagreed with this project, some suspecting that the Department had other (military) motives with their position, the project was adopted.
The town bought a plot of 110 hectares south of Grenoble and rented it for a symbolic sum in francs (the French currency at the time) to the Chamber of Commerce. They were responsible for building the infrastructure (reception halls, hangars and aviation grounds). The airfield was named "Jean Mermoz" and opened to air traffic on 14 October 1936, less than two months before the famous aviator disappeared while flying over the South Atlantic.
All business objectives failed one after the other, sometimes blocked by the Ministry of Transport which did not wish to compete with the train. Apart from some fans and official travel, the airport did not delivere much. Each year, the city of Grenoble and the Chamber of Commerce had to fill the deficit.
Around 1912, south of Grenoble before the airport was built, you could see crazy men on equally crazy flying machines (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo)
1936 Potez 58 (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo)
Undated photo during the WWII (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo)
During the occupation of Grenoble (between November 1942 and August 1944), the Italians and the Germans used the airfield and added some infrastructure. When the occupiers had been removed, it was the turn of the Allies to use the airfield.
1945, aerial view of Grenoble. The true north is in the upper right corner (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo)
1948, aerial view of Grenoble, with the north on the right (Source: geoportail.fr)
Undated photo of the main access to the airport. (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo)
Undated photo taken in Grenoble (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo).
1947 Aerial vue from the south (Courtesy Grenoble Cularo)
By 1951, the airport had been expanded to 71 hectares. It was well-equipped, but was mainly used by flying club enthousiasts. Howevere, a safety area of 1,000 Ha blocked urbanization south of Grenoble and hindered the municipality and commercial parties. By the late 50s, the relocation of the airport was envisioned. In 1965 the final decision was taken to transfer the activities of flying clubs to Versoud, northeast of Grenoble, and to transfer the business activities to Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, 40 km northwest of Grenoble.
1960. This aerial image shows the progress of demography to the airport. (Source: geoportail.fr)
In 1967 the airport was closed and made room for the new Olympic village, the exhibition center called "Alpexpo" and the temporary stands of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics Games by Le General de Gaulle.
In 1970 the airport had been closed 3 years. The runways had disappeared under the new contructions but were still visible. (Source: geoportail.fr)
1970. Another view of the construction site. The runways are still recognizable (Source: geoportail.fr)
Today, there remains no visible trace of this airport.
(Research by olivier)
Grenoble Mermoz 
Grenoble Mermoz