LeBourget layout

[Ric Gillespie]

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. 

[Karen Hoy]

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

[Ric Gillespie]

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!

[Harbert William Davenport]

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?

[Ric Gillespie]

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

[Kurt Kummer]

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/

[Kurt Kummer]

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

[Ric Gillespie]

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

[Dan Swift]

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

[Ric Gillespie]

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.  TIGHAR will be getting a big attaboy in the acknowledgements of his book about Lindbergh to be published next year.