Forgotten airfields europe

Validation date: 28 11 2015
Updated on: Never
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49°23'35"N 001°03'20"E

Runway: grass flying field with two runways laid out

Rouen Le Rouvray airfield (french: aèrodrome Rouen-Le Rouvray, also known as Rouen-Le Madrillet) was an airfield 110 kilometer northwest of Paris.

In 1914, the field was known as a "aviation landing area" by the flying club of Rouen. After the war, in 1921, the airport appeared on the official list of French airfields.

In use as an emergency landing ground, it was reclassified as a national aerodrome following the Aviation Act of 30 June 1933. It was described as having a landing area of 600x400m, incorporating some land leased by the flying club in the city of Rouen. These dimensions were brought to 900x520m in 1937, occupying most of the 31hectares of the former army exercise area.

Chart extracted from the "Michelin Flying Guide" of 1935. The description says:
Flying area N/S: 900m x E/W: 600m. Type of terrain: firm, usable in all seasons. North side grass, south side partially sandy. Type of area: hummocky and woody area, not suitable for landings. Obstacles: W 4 km: High chimneys. The installation description mentions telegraph may be a telephone and the availability of a Force Aerienne Française (French Air Force) security post (map kindly provided by Joseph Bibert).

charts from the "Michelin Flying Guide" of 1935. The description says:
Way to access: RN840 from Rouen to Elbeuf on the eastern edge of the aerodrome.

Special instructions: During zero wind, approach from the NE towards the 900m runway parallel to the road from Elbeuf to Rouen.
The aerodrome opens in principle:
Summer: from 7 to 11 and from 15:30 until nightfall.
Winter: from 8:30 until 11:30 and from 14 until nightfall.
These hours are subject to change by the Chief Pilot 24 hours in advance (map kindly provided by Joseph Bibert).

This Avro C30 autogyro "F-AUDIO" -piloted by president of the flying club Antier Louis, who was killed- was destroyed in Rouen on 29 May 1938. The aircraft belonged to Mr. Durois (kindly provided by Joseph Bibert).

Rouen-Le Rouvray (or Rouen-Le Madrillet) seen from the air in 1939 (Courtesy Joseph Bibert).

Two runways were clearly visible in 1955 (Source: geoportail.fr)

After the war, the Ministry of Agriculture claimed that the army exercise ground, occupied by the "so-called airfield", had been part of the forest of Rouvray before being assigned in 1883 to the War Department. At the time, among other conditions, it was agreed that in case of withdrawal by military services of all or parts of the land in question, the abandoned areas were to be returned to the Forest Administration.

A compromise solution was found in 1954, which said:
- Maintain the aerodrome at the then current site,
- Allocate to the War Department a plot of 120 ha (hectares) of the forest of Rouvray, land situated on the other side of the RN 138,
- Incorporate into the forest an estate of 65 ha belonging to the War Department in the forest of Mormal and 38 ha constituting the grip of the aerodrome Arnay-le-Duc.

The advance of the city of Rouen to the airfield is easily recognised in this 1963 photo (Source: geoportail.fr)

Rouen-Le Rouvray in 1965 (Source: geoportail.fr)

Reduced possibilities for the expansion of the aerodrome led to the decision for its closure in December 1968 and the transfer of its business to Rouen-Boos airfield.

In 1970, only two years after the airfield was closed, just a little part of the runway was still recognizable (Source: geoportail.fr).

2011 - Nothing remains about the former airfield (Google Earth)

(Research by olivier)