Laon-Couvron Air Base

Laon-Couvron Air Base is a former French and United States Air Force base in France. It is located in the Aisne département of France, less than one mile southeast of the village of Couvron and 6 miles northwest of Laon; on the southwest side of the Autoroute des Anglais (A26 autoroute)1 Mile (1.6 km) east of the village of Couvron-et-Aumencourt.

Since 1967, the facility has been a French Army Armée de Terre station, renaming the base Quartier Mangin sur l'ancienne base de Couvron. Since 1980 it has been the home of the 1er Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (1er RAMa) self propelled Marine Artillery Regiment.

History

The location was used for the first time for aviation purposes at the end of World War I, when the Germans build an airstrip here for defending the Paris Gun. as a French Air Force grass airdrome named "Laon-Chambry". It was headquarters of Groupement de Chasse 23 (Hunting Group 23) with G.C. II/2 being the operational squadron. There were about 26 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters assigned, along with 2 Curtiss Hawk 75s in May 1940, just prior to the Battle of France.

German use during World War II

The airfield was seized by the Germans in late May...
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