Les Groues

47°55'02"N 001°53'10"E 

 

Runway: grass flying field

 

Air field Les Groues was an airfield in Orleans, 110 kilometers south of Paris.

The airfield was established around 1910 on the military exercise area "Les Groues". It consisted of a flying field, and served as a flying school during World War I. The airfield remained in place until airfield Saran, a few kilometers to the north, was officially inaugurated. The exercise area remained in use until 1948, after which it was abandoned.

No photos of the airfield while in use have been located

 

Surprisingly the land was never reused after its military use, and nature took over the property. Recent plans to redevelop it have met stiff opposition though, as many residents and politicians would like to see the little patch of nature within the city to remain as it is. The nature of the short runway-like infrastructure in the middle of the domain is unclear, but at only 330 meters in lengthe it is unlikely to have an aviation background.

 

Les Groues in 2006 (Google Earth)