What is this building and where is it? Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier. France, Germany, Belgium, or Netherlands?

What is this building and where is it? Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier. France, Germany, Belgium, or Netherlands? - Man Holding Bible

What is this building and where is it?

Taken in Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier 9th Air Force, 397th Bombardier Group, 599th Bomb Squadron.

Could be in France north of Paris, Germany near Drucken or Monchen-Gladbach, Brussels Belgium, or Venlo Netherlands.

I have two additional photos with a man standing on the stairs in a helmet and uniform, but I couldn't figure out how to add those to this post. In those two photos more detail of the doors and building is visible.

He was stationed at St. Quentin, France and at the end of the war in Venlo, Netherlands.

I have searched all the towns he mentioned in his diary and have not found anything that looks like this building. I think it is a church, but it could be something else.

Note: If anyone can tell me how to add more photos, that would be great.

Domed building with features that look like a church in the countryside



Best Answer

That's the Chapelle royale de Dreux, also known as St-Louis de Dreux. Dreux is a town about 70 km west of Paris. This chapel is historically important, since the last King of France, Louis-Philippe (reign: 1830-1848), is buried there; the Chapel is the traditional burial place of members of the House of Orléans.

As @Andrew already mentioned in his valuable comment (thanks a lot!), the former Dreux/Vernouillet airfield (now Vernouillet Airport) is located just some kilometers southwest of Dreux. The 397th Bombardment Group including the 599th Bombardment Squadron was stationed there in September / October 1944.

See also the American Air Museum in Britain on Dreux Airfield and the Historical Report of the 397th Bombardment Group from B26.com.

Some modern pics of the Chapelle royale de Dreux:

Chapelle royale, Dreux. Pic by Nicolas Vigier / CC BY; Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Source: Wikimedia Commos, pic by Nicolas Vigier / CC BY

See also this pic from Google Maps:

Chapelle royale, Dreux. Source: Google Maps.

Google Maps with both locations (Airport and Chapelle Royale - thx at @BobJarvis-ReinstateMonica for the idea!):

Google Maps Airport -> Chapelle Royale




Pictures about "What is this building and where is it? Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier. France, Germany, Belgium, or Netherlands?"

What is this building and where is it? Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier. France, Germany, Belgium, or Netherlands? - Back view anonymous male military pilots wearing khaki uniform in cockpit and helmets flying armed helicopter
What is this building and where is it? Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier. France, Germany, Belgium, or Netherlands? - Soldiers charging guns near French national flag in nature
What is this building and where is it? Europe in 1944-45 by a U.S. Army Air Force soldier. France, Germany, Belgium, or Netherlands? - Group of Veterans



Where did US troops first land in the European theater in 1942?

The first U.S. troops arrived in the British Isles in January 1942, but nearly a year passed before they went into action against the Axis.

Where were US troops stationed during ww2?

Although many campaigns were fought in Asia and the Pacific, the major focus of the U.S. Army was always on the European Theater, where most its strength was ultimately deployed. U.S. forces saw action in the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, and the subsequent Tunisia Campaign in 1943.

Where did the soldiers land in ww2?

The operation, given the codename OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches were given the code names UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO and SWORD. The invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries.

What was going on in Europe in 1944?

Contents. During World War II (1939-1945), the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany's control.




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