During the Battle of France, 53 Squadron was based here, engaged in reconnaissance duties to track the advancing German Army. One aircraft of the squadron was a Blenheim MK IV PZ¤C. The crew were Flying Officer Alastair Panton, Sergeant John Christie, and AC2 Ronald « Benny » Bence. They were attacked and crashed behind enemy lines on 11th May 1940. They all survived, but it is an incredible story.
Sgt John Christie was later promoted and was an observer in the Mosquito that crashed in the Fôret du Brou in July 1944. His body lies in the cemetery at Létra.
The airfield at Croixault, just north of Poix-de-Picardie, was taken over by the Germans, who built a concrete runway and hangars.
I write in more detail about this period of Christie’s life in ÉCRIVÉLO.