TIGHAR

Project Midnight Ghost => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ric Gillespie on April 24, 2016, 05:44:28 PM

Title: LeBourget layout
Post by: Ric Gillespie on April 24, 2016, 05:44:28 PM

A friend who is writing a book about Lindbergh, to be released next year - the 90th anniversary of his transatlantic flight - by a major publisher, is having a hard time finding a schematic of what the airfield at LeBourget looked like in 1927.  I told him, if anyone can find that information, you guys can.   My neck is stuck out a mile. 

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Karen Hoy on April 24, 2016, 07:35:24 PM

This French site contains a 1927 aerial view, with no detail visible at all:

http://www.franceinfo.fr/partenariats/spectacle/100-ans-du-bourget

I assume this means Le Bourget doesn't have archival maps or schematics. Maybe none ever existed?

LTM,
Karen Hoy 2610CER

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Ric Gillespie on April 25, 2016, 08:04:48 AM

As always, The Amazing Karen come through.  There's plenty of detail in the photo.  Like almost all airfields in 1927, leBourget was basically just a big open field with no runways, or rather, an infinite number of runways.  In the photo we can see administration buildings, a row of large maintenance hangars, and a row behind of smaller storage hangars.  It's not a schematic but it would be easy to create a schematic from it.  Good work!

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Harbert William Davenport on April 25, 2016, 08:05:00 PM

http://www.franceinfo.fr/emission/chroniques-du-ciel/2013-2014/l-aeroport-du-bourget-fete-ses-100-ans-07-06-2014-07-45 (http://www.franceinfo.fr/emission/chroniques-du-ciel/2013-2014/l-aeroport-du-bourget-fete-ses-100-ans-07-06-2014-07-45)

Does this show the same photo, but less cropped?

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Ric Gillespie on April 25, 2016, 08:11:22 PM

It's not the same photo and it's not clear exactly when it was taken but it does show more of the airfield..

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Kurt Kummer on April 26, 2016, 10:57:04 PM

A 1916 photo, taken from a little higher altitude.  Hope I've attached this correctly.

https://www.rafalesolodisplay.com/centenaire-de-laeroport-du-bourget/vue_aerienne_le_bourget_1916/

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Kurt Kummer on April 27, 2016, 12:26:33 AM

And some more 1915 - 1916 photos of Le Bourget.  Not exactly as it was when Lindbergh landed in 1927, but maybe of interest to your friend and his knowledge of how the airport evolved..

http://albindenis.free.fr/Site_escadrille/RGA.htm

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Ric Gillespie on April 27, 2016, 09:38:42 AM

Great photos.  Thanks Kurt.  LeBourget was sure hoppin' during the Great War. 

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Dan Swift on April 28, 2016, 10:44:48 AM

The people on this forum are amazing! 
Ric, I would say you "neck" is going to be OK.

Title: Re: LeBourget layout
Post by: Ric Gillespie on April 28, 2016, 01:07:55 PM

Quote from: Dan Swift on April 28, 2016, 10:44:48 AM

The people on this forum are amazing! 
Ric, I would say your "neck" is going to be OK.

You guys made me a hero.  My friend is author Dan Hampton (http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Hampton/e/B008DI423W/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1461870356&sr=1-2-ent).  TIGHAR will be getting a big attaboy in the acknowledgements of his book about Lindbergh to be published next year.