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The two tactical Allied air forces (the USAAF and the RAF) depended upon fighters, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and night fighters being over the battlefield most of their mission time. To do so required that the bases they operated from were as close to the "bomb line" as possible. Quickly prepared bases close to the front were called "Advanced Landing Grounds" (ALGs). In 1943 and early 1944, many ALGs were built throughout southern England and, as soon as the Normandy beachhead was opened up, over thirty were built in France. The location of USAAF ALGs (denoted by the letter "A" and a number) and RAF ALGs (denoted by the letter "B" and a number) are shown in the diagram below:
American ALGs
An emergency landing strip was constructed of compacted earth at Poupeville 7 June.
A.1 — St. Pierre du Mont — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh 20 June. (366th FG(389,390,391))
A.2 — Criqueville — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 30 June. (354th FG(353,355,356) and 367th FG(392,393,394))
A.3 —Cardonville — 5000 feet (1500 metres) constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 19 June, extended 24 July. {368th FG(395,396,397) and 370th FG401,402,485))
A.4 — Deux Jumeaux — 3600 feet (1100 metres) constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 30 June. (48th FG492,493,494))
A.5 — Chappelle — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 6 July. (404th FG(506,507,508))
A.6 — Beuzeville — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 22 July. (371st FG(404,405,406) and 367th FG(392,393,394))
A.7 — Azeville — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 29 June. (365th FG(386,387,388) and 363rd FG(380,381,382))
A.8 — Picauville — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 1 July. (405th FG and 142 Wing(604))
A.9 —Le Molay — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 2 July. (61st TRG(14,15,33,59))
A.10 — Carentan — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 29 June. (50th FG(10,81,313))
A.11 — St. Lambert — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 6 August. (474th FG(428,429,430))
A.12 — Lignerolles — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 2 July. (362nd FG(377,378,379), 365th FG(386,387,388) and 34 Wing(16))
A.13 — Tour en Bessin — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 31 July. (373rd FG(410,411,412) and 406th FG(512,513,514))
A.14 — Cretteville — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 16 July. (358th FG(365,366,367) and 406th FG(512,513,514))
A.15 — Maupertus — concrete runways repaired and augmented by Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 5 July. (363rd FG(380,381,382) and 142 Wing (604))
A.16 — Bruchville — constructed of Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, completed 17 July. (36th FG(22,23,53))
A.22 — Colleville-sur-Mer — constructed of tar paper surface for transport aircraft, completed 15 July.
British ALGs
B.1 — Asnelles — emergency landing strip (600 metres) constructed of compacted earth 10 June.
B.2 — Bazenville — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 10 June. Runway 246. (127 Wing (403,416,421,443))
B.3 — St. Croix-sur-Mer — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 10 June. Runway 230. (144 Wing(441,442,443), 35 Recce Wing(2,268), 136 Wing(263) and 146 Wing(193,197,257,266))
B.4 — Beny-sur-Mer — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 15 June. Runway 183. (126 Wing(401,411,412,442), 35 Recce Wing(2, 4, 268))
B.5 —le Fresne-Camilly — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 15 June. (129 Wing(184), 121 Wing(174,175,245) and 222 Squadron)
B.6 — Coulombs — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh, dispersal for 57 completed 15 June. Runway 255. (124 Wing(181,182,247), 137 Squadron, 142 Wing(264))
B.7 — Rucqueville — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh. (122 Wing(19,65,122), 123 Wing(198,609), 136 Wing(164,183) and 160 Squadron)
B.8 —Sommervieu — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 22 June. Runway 279. (39 Recce Wing(400,168), 74 Squadron, 145 Wing(329,340,341))
B.9 — Lantheuil — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 22 June. Runway 247. (143 Wing(438,439,440))
B.10 — Plumetot — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 10 June. Runway 246. (35 Recce Wing(2,4,268), 129 Wing(184),134 Wing(310,312,313) and 131 Wing(302,308,317))
B.11 — Longues-sur-Mer — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, compacted earth completed 21 June. Runway 131. (125 Wing(132,602,453,441))
B.12 — Ellon — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 18 July. Runway 227. (122 Wing(19,65,122))
B.14 — Amblie — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, compacted earth completed 7 July. Runway 263. (re-arm aaand re-supply strip)
B.15 — Ryes — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, compacted earth completed 5 July. (re-arm and re-supply strip)
B.16 — Villons-les-Buissons — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh plus steel plates completed 7 August. Runway 306. (132 Wing(127,66,331,332))
B.17 — Carpiquet — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, steel plates completed 8 August. Runway 237. Plus cement 1800 metre runway 130. (135 Wing(349,485) and 148 Wing(29,91,409))
B.18 — Cristot — 1200 metres long, 40 metres wide, compacted earth completed 25 July. Runway 110.
B.19 — Lingevres — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, compacted earth completed 6 August. Runway 260. (125 Wing(132,602,453))
B.21 — Ste-Honorine-de-Ducy — 1700 metres long, 40 metres wide, Sommerfeldt wire-mesh completed 8 August. Runway 230. (39 Recce Wing(400,414,430,168))
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