Forgotten airfields europe

Validation date: 04 07 2014
Updated on: Never
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46°09'42.03"N 3°24'46.38E

Runway: 02/20 - 820x40m - concrete

Vichy Rhue airfield (Aérodrome de Vichy Rhue) was an airfield 310 kilometers south of Paris.
It was built in 1929 by the local flying club with the help of Farmer Company and the municipality. At the time, the airfield was limited to a field 300m long and 150m wide.
In September 1939, the airfield was requisitioned by the military authorities. A French air force squadron equipped with Devoitines D520 operated from the airfield for a few days in June 1940.
An Advanced Flying School (EAP) was created fall 1939 and in charge of four Elementary Flying School (EEP) at Roanne, Saint Etienne, Brioude and Rodez. In June 1940, two French fighter groups passed through Rhue on their way to the South of France, but no unit was really stationned there.
After the Armistice, the Vichy Aero Club could repossess the airport under an act of requisition dated 6 December 1940. However, in the absence of any recovery of private aviation, life at the airport was essentially run by Air France, with the role of the flying club being reduced to maintaining and cleaning the facilities and monitoring services to the state.

As the French governement was installed in Vichy, Air France lines were created to and from Rhue.

Following the installation of the Vichy government in July 1940, the airfield received a weather station, located in the town of Creuzier-le-Vieux. It was projected to become an important center for forecasting and information. Following the occupation of the neutral French zone in October 1942, the French services were located off the airport, at a place called Beausoleil, in a room of a house, that served as an observation station.
In October 1944, the station returned to its former location on the airfield and continued to work as a station for information and comments.

The weather station at Vichy Rhue (History of Weather station in Vichy, via Jean-Pierre Sigaud).

Weather station Vichy Rhue (History of Weather station in Vichy, via Jean-Pierre Sigaud).

Weather station Vichy Rhue. (History of Weather station in Vichy, via Jean-Pierre Sigaud)

After the Liberation, the French state took possession of the airfield without any title and proceeded to expand it to allow the construction of a 820x40m runway. A decision by the Air Ministry dated 20 August 1945 made it all legal.

A Dewoitine 520 of GCB II/18 Saintonge photographed at Vichy Rhue after the war in 1945. (Photo via Jean-Paul Bonora)

Photo taken in 1945, showing the new concrete runway. (geoportail.fr)

With aircraft becoming larger and larger, the limited area of the Vichy Rhue airfield became an issue. In 1950 it was decided to build a new airport on the other side of the river.

Vichy-Rhue on the right side of the river "Allier" and the future airport in the left side in 1954 (geoportail.fr).

The old Vichy-Rhue airfield on the right side of the river "Allier" and the new Vichy Charmeil airport on the opposite side in 1960 (geoportail.fr)

However, the proximity of the two aerodromes posed problems, for air traffic control in particular. An agreement drawn up between the State and the city of Vichy for the development and operation of Vichy-Rhue aerodrome from Vichy-Charmeil on 24 November 1960 defined an additional equipment program. Its installation on the new airfield would allow the flying club to remain at Rhue.
It did not come unexpected however, that the lands of the Rhue airfield were urgently required for the creation of an industrial zone and a wastewater treatment plant. A NOTAM published 10 May 1965 proclaimed the Rhue airfield unusable. At the same time formalities were undertaken which lead to final closure of the airfield.

In 1965, only a little part of the north of the runway is still visible. (geoportail.fr)

In 2012, nothing remain about the former airfield of Vichy-Rhue. Only Vichy Charmeil across the river remains active.

(Researched by Olivier. Thank you Jean-Pierre Sigaud and Jean-Paul Bonora for permission to publish their content on the site)