Monument Advanced Landing Ground Cardonville - La Cambe

Just after the June 6, 1944 landings, the U.S. Air Force established a temporary airfield just outside Cardonville on June 10, 1944. It was one of the first airfields in the newly liberated zone and was constructed by the IX Engineering Command, 816th Engineer Aviation Battalion.
Advanced Landing Ground ALG - A-3 involved one landing strip of 1 524 m (5 000 feet) with a surface of square mesh.
Tents were constructed for lodging and support facilities. An access road was constructed to the already existing road infrastructure and a depot for supplies, ammunition and gasoline drums created, along with facilities for drinkable water and a minimal electrical grid for communications and lighting.

The aircraft stationed there carried out support missions for ground forces slowly advancing in Normandy. Attacking military columns, strafing vehicles, artillery and anti-aircraft positions and German troop movements, both in Normandy and Brittany.

The airfield housed two Fighter Groups :
368th Fighter Group from June 20 to August 23, 1944
370th Fighter Group from July 24 to August 15, 1944.

As Allied forces progressed in the liberation of Normandy, the airfield was dismantled in September 1944 and returned to local farmers. At present, it involves several plots of land with different crops.

A memorial was erected near the former airfield in honor and recognition of the people and units stationed there. Text on the plaque :
JUNE 18 1944
THE 368 TH FIGHTER GROUP WAS THE FIRST
OPERATIONAL AIR UNIT IN FRANCE AFTER D-DAY
ADVANCED LANDING GROUND A3 WAS BUILT BY
THE 816 TH BATTALION AAF ENGRS OF 9 TH AIR FORCE
IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR LIBERTY
CARDONVILLE
FOSSE - FONTENAY
1-10-1988

Advanced Landing Ground ALG - A-3 is best known to the public for the photo of the emergency landing/crash of Lt. Jacob C. Blazicek on June 18, 1944 with his P-47D-20-RE Thunderbolt after severe damage to his wing.

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Source

• Text: Rudi Triki
• Photos: Rudi Triki