Rozay-en-Brie, France 14 Jul 1918 - 04 Aug 1918
77540 Rozay-en-Brie, France
Thanks to François Saumoneau we now have strong evidence that Rozay-en-Brie is the correct location for this airfield although there is still conflicting evidence about the spelling.
Some sources say our squadron served at Rozay but others, including the logbook of a 49Sqn airman shows the spelling Rozoy.
Out of four possible locations close to the battle area, two would have been behind German lines which leaves:
- Rozay-en-Brie
- Rozoy-Bellevalle
​François has original evidence that an aerodrome existed but the confusion continues with the spelling........see the document below dated 10th April 1918.
However, "en-Brie" would seem to confirm today's spelling of the town....Rozay-en-Brie.
Amazingly in July 1918 the aerodrome was occupied by a French fighter squadron.....
......L'escadrille SPA 49.
Interestingly, the spelling here is "Rozay-en-Brie".
Above image from a French military website.
François also discovered the auction of medals for Second Lieutenant W A Greig, a 49Sqn airman, where unfortunately the spelling is, once again, "Rozoy-en-Brie"!
Recent information informs us that after 1933, the spelling of the town was changed and the occasionally used regional descriptor (-en-Brie) makes it certain that this is the location.
Knowing the area, François speculates that there are only two possible sites for the aerodrome and has added these to a map......see below.
François describes:
These are the only two possible locations for an aerodrome in the area of Rozay-en-Brie.
The red area was built over post 1914 and the blue area is suitable aerodrome land.
The Association would like to that François Saumoneau for his invaluable assistance.
From earlier assistance we know that there was an airfield used by fighter squadrons in 1914 & 1918 in the nearby village of Touquin.
The Webmaster's wife (May Brooke) and Valérie stand at the site of the Touquin aerodrome.
The Association would like to thank Valérie and her family for their extensive help and generous hospitality.
Rozay-en-Brie
14 Jul 1918 - 04 Aug 1918
Casualties: 7 x DH9, 2 x killed, 2 x pow, 1 x wounded, 1 x injured The day after the squadron arrived at Rozay-en-Brie the Germans launch their fifth offensive in less than four months. Operation Friedensturm initially made good progress. Most of the Allied air attacks made are against fourteen makeshift German bridges crossing the River Marne. 37 Allied aircraft are lost on the 15th July alone as they attempted to destroy the bridges.
On the 18th July the Germans are taken completely by surprise as the Allies (with close air support) launched a counter attack.
After a week of very heavy fighting, Paris was no longer under threat and there was a general German retreat.
On August 3rd, in anticipation of an Allied counter offensive on the Somme, the squadron returned once more to Beauvois.