Buffnut453 Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Hi Folks, Once again my google-fu has failed me. I'm trying to find the location of Bethencourt Airfield but can find no online references to it. I found the village of Bethencourt, about 10km west along the D643 from Le Cateau but any pointers to the exact location of Bethencourt Airfield would be very much appreciated. Many thanks, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Hi does this help? http://www.49squadron.co.uk/airfields/af1_beauvois2 regards Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 25 May , 2020 Author Share Posted 25 May , 2020 18 minutes ago, jonbem said: Hi does this help? http://www.49squadron.co.uk/airfields/af1_beauvois2 regards Jon Hi Jon, I stumbled across that website during my unsuccessful googling. It mentions a bombing raid by 49 Sqn against bridges at Bethencourt but, alas, it makes no mention of the airfield itself. Thanks for the input, though...I do appreciate any and all thoughts on the topic. Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Next suggestion.... on http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Accf1930.htm I found 3.1.19 S.E.5A E5900, 56 Sqn, Bethencourt Wings collapsed coming out of dive during firing practice, France Lt Edward William Graham (20 killed) https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/571700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 and this seems to suggest it was also known as Beauvois www.theaerodrome.com/services/gbritain/rfc/56.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrmh Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 (edited) Several airfields marked on these maps. Any good? https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465116 and https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465122 Edited 25 May , 2020 by Jrmh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 there may be links in this previous thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Got it! https://www.anciens-aerodromes.com/?p=29998 Département Pas-de-Calais Nom BÉTHENCOURT Autre appellation - Commune(s) TINCQUES Coordonnées 50°22'14"N - 2°33'4"E OACI N/A Situation 5 km à l'Ouest d'Aubigny en Artois Utilisation Aérodrome français Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Hmmmm? When you map that I don't think it is correct co-ordinates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 8 minutes ago, jonbem said: Hmmmm? When you map that I don't think it is correct co-ordinates. Although? https://aeroartois.pagesperso-orange.fr/2.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Le terrain se situait au hameau de BETHENCOURT, entre la voie ferrée et la D939. La piste empiétait sur le territoire de Wandelicourt, hameau de Berles-Monchel translated The land was located in the hamlet of BETHENCOURT, between the railway and the D939. The track encroached on the territory of Wandelicourt, hamlet of Berles-Monchel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Some remarks: A lot of place names can be found multiple times in France, beware! The French aerodromes website is good, but there are errors as I have experienced myself comparing WWI aerial pictures with alleged locations of airfields. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 25 May , 2020 Author Share Posted 25 May , 2020 19 minutes ago, jonbem said: Le terrain se situait au hameau de BETHENCOURT, entre la voie ferrée et la D939. La piste empiétait sur le territoire de Wandelicourt, hameau de Berles-Monchel translated The land was located in the hamlet of BETHENCOURT, between the railway and the D939. The track encroached on the territory of Wandelicourt, hamlet of Berles-Monchel I'm not sure that's the right location. According to the French website, it's the location of Tincques Airfield which was only used by French forces. The place I'm looking for was used by the RAF in 1918. Also, Tincques Airfield was about 20km WNW of Arras which would put it almost 100km from Le Cateau (one of the flights from Bethencourt in early Oct 1918 was a reconnaissance of Le Cateau), which just doesn't feel right. 1 hour ago, jonbem said: and this seems to suggest it was also known as Beauvois www.theaerodrome.com/services/gbritain/rfc/56.php It's possible that Beauvois and Bethencourt were different names for the same place. Part of the problem is the sheer number of airfields in the vicinity of Cambrai: there were at least 18, all in quite close proximity. However, the lists I've seen don't typically have separate entries for Beauvois and Bethencourt which perhaps suggests they were the same place. 1 hour ago, Jrmh said: Several airfields marked on these maps. Any good? https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465116 and https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465122 Thanks for those. I've been looking at the NLS trench maps in case they offered any clues. There's one airfield NW of Caudry, near Jeune Bois, which I had associated with Beauvois. If Beauvois and Bethencourt are the same place, then I suspect that's the location I'm seeking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 25 May , 2020 Share Posted 25 May , 2020 Try this one - there is a WW1 airfield at the extreme right of the trench map and if you zoom out, Le Cateau is not too far: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 26 May , 2020 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2020 I suspect that's Inchy Airfield. According to Ian Philpott's "RAF Encyclopedia, 1918-1939" the following airfields were in the Cambrai area: Boussieres Carnieres Estourmel Inchy La Targette Quievy Bevilliers Selvigny Malincourt Caudry Bethencourt Bertry West Iris Farm Bertry East Maretz Reumont Busigny Escaufort The one problem with that particular page is the earlier reference to a Beauvois Airfield occupied by 57 Sqn which is shown (on the sketch map on the following page) west of Bethune. Now, that map isn't the best and there's no guarantee of its accuracy. As things stand, I still lean towards Bethencourt Airfield being slightly further west, between the villages of Bethencourt and Beauvois but I'm not 100% convinced yet...and any additional evidence would be very welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffnut453 Posted 24 March , 2021 Author Share Posted 24 March , 2021 Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!! The Cross & Cockade International RFC/RAF airfield gazetteer series finally included Bethencourt on the pull-out map. As I posited in my post on 25 May 2020, Bethencourt Aerodrome was located just northwest of Caudry near Jeune Bois, located on the north side of the modern D643. On the south of the road is a restaurant called "Le Jeune Bois" which makes the general area very easy to locate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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