RAF Saint-Omer

RAF Saint-Omer was a Royal Air Force airfield located near the town of Saint-Omer in the Pas-de-Calais region of France. Primarily active during the closing stages of the First World War and the early phase of the Second World War, it served as a crucial base for Royal Flying Corps and RAF squadrons operating on the Western Front. The station's history is intertwined with the broader aerial campaigns over Flanders and the intense air battles of the Battle of France.

History

The airfield's origins trace to 1918 when the land was developed for use by the Royal Flying Corps, which had been absorbed into the newly formed Royal Air Force by the time of its opening. Its establishment was part of the rapid expansion of Allied air power in the final year of the First World War, supporting offensives like the Hundred Days Offensive. Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the station was quickly closed and the land returned to agricultural use. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the site was reactivated in September 1939 as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force, intended to support the British Expeditionary Force. It became a focal point during the Battle of France, enduring repeated attacks by the Luftwaffe before being overrun by advancing German forces in May 1940, after which it was used by the occupation authorities.

Operations

During the First World War, the station functioned as a front-line airfield for fighter and reconnaissance units engaged in the intense air combat over the Ypres Salient and surrounding areas. Pilots operated in the contested skies against squadrons of the Imperial German Army Air Service, conducting patrols, aerial reconnaissance, and escort missions. In the Second World War, its role shifted to supporting the Phoney War period and then the desperate defensive actions of 1940. Squadrons based here flew Hurricanes and Battles on missions ranging from air interdiction against advancing Wehrmacht columns to providing air cover during the Dunkirk evacuation. The base was a frequent target for Stuka dive-bombers and Bf 109 fighters during the Blitzkrieg.

Units stationed

Several notable RAF squadrons were posted to the airfield during its brief periods of operation. In 1918, these included units flying the Sopwith Camel and S.E.5a. Between 1939 and 1940, it hosted elements of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force, such as squadrons equipped with the Fairey Battle light bomber. Specific units known to have operated from here include No. 3 Squadron RAF, which flew Hurricanes, and No. 142 Squadron RAF, which operated the Fairey Battle. These units participated directly in the early air battles over France and Belgium, suffering significant losses against the experienced Luftwaffe.

Facilities

The airfield was initially a typical World War I grass field with rudimentary support structures, including canvas hangars, workshops, and ammunition stores. Upon its reactivation in 1939, efforts were made to improve its infrastructure with more permanent hangars, hardened dispersal areas, and enhanced communication facilities to serve as a sector station. Living accommodations for personnel were sparse, often consisting of Nissen huts or billets in local buildings. The station's layout and facilities were designed for rapid deployment and operations, but it lacked extensive anti-aircraft defenses, making it vulnerable to the intense aerial bombardment it faced in 1940.

Current use

Following its capture in 1940, the site was utilized by the Luftwaffe for various purposes before falling into disuse after the liberation. The land has long since been returned to civilian use, with no surviving structures from its military past readily apparent. The area is now predominantly agricultural, with fields and rural pathways covering the former runways and dispersal points. The history of the airfield is commemorated locally, and it remains a subject of interest for historians studying the air war and the RAF's early campaigns in continental Europe.

Category:Royal Air Force stations in France Category:Military history of Pas-de-Calais Category:World War II airfields in France