1 Air Division

2001 - The Bunker System at 1 Air Division - John Wainwright


John Wainwright made a visit to the property that housed 1 Air Division Headquarters in May 2001. After taking a number of photos of the Chateau de Mercy and other remaining buildings such as the Chapel and the barracks, John then proceeded to check out the remains of the bunkers which were used by the RCAF during the 1950s and the 1960s. He did bring back a number of photos - most of which are not identified as to content or to location. We have included these photos - along with John's notes - in an attempt to provide current detail on this area which was located adjacent to the 1 Air Division Headquarters property.

There are some additional points which should be mentioned. The property has "No Trespassing" signs in many locations - as it is categorized as "Military Property". This was Johns first trip to this area - and it isn't as if there were signs providing directions such as "This way to L'Ouvrage d'Ars", or "L'Ouvrage de Jury - 100 meters". By visiting in May, foilage and shrubs were in growth and made vision of the remains that much more difficult to deal with. Put all of this together and it is safe to say that John was "fighting a lost cause".

None the less - he provided a "hand-drawn" map of the area (see below) and marked the location of where some of the photos were taken. We are very thankful to John for taking his time to travel to this area on our behalf - and for providing photos which depict the local area - as of May, 2001.


[Map of Local Area]

Print this map and compare locations with the photos below.



Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. Highway D155 to Jury to the left. The right access (where the car is parked) leads to the ME Section, L'Ouvrage de Jury and the French farmers buildings - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  2. We suspect this is a part of L'Ouvrage d'Ars complex - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  3. What appears to be the top part of L'Ouvrage d'Ars at the end of the left fork in the road - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  4. What appears to be the top part of L'Ouvrage d'Ars at the end of the left fork in the road - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  5. Unidentified trail in the woods - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  6. Unidentified trail in the woods - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  7. Unidentified location in the woods - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  8. Unidentified location in the woods - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  9. Unidentified location in the woods - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  10. Suspected access road to L'Ouvrage d'Ars area - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  11. Old wrought iron gate almost invisible due to foilage growth - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  12. Another view of a wrought iron gate - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  13. Access road to the L'Ovrage d'Ars complex area - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  14. Access road to L'Ouvrage de Jury complex area - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  15. Looking back towards the entrance to L'Ouvrage de Jurt area. My car was parked behind the brush - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  16. The path to L'Ouvrage de Jury - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  17. The path to L'Ouvrage de Jury - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  18. Concrete power post on right. Opening at the end of the road is the highway intersection in photo #1 - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  19. Near the bend in the road at location D on the map. The light spot on the road on the right, half way up, is Location H - the Intersection to L'Ouvrage d'Ars and the road at Location G - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  20. Looking back to the intersection at Location G - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  21. Rear of bunker at Location E - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  22. Rear of bunker at Location E - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  23. Front of bunker at Location E - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  24. Path leading to bunker at Location E - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright

  25. View as seen from Location F - May 2001.
    Courtesy John Wainwright



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Updated: July 9, 2001