Picauville (French pronunciation: [pikovil]) is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, the former communes of Amfreville, Cretteville, Gourbesville, Houtteville and Vindefontaine were merged into Picauville.[3] On 1 January 2017, the former commune of Les Moitiers-en-Bauptois was merged into Picauville.[4] The inhabitants are called Picauvillais. Picauville also has a 17th century castle, classified as a historical landmark by the French government, called the Isle-Marie Castle. Parts of the structure date to the 11th century.

Picauville
The church of Saint-Candide
The church of Saint-Candide
Coat of arms of Picauville
Location of Picauville
Map
Picauville is located in France
Picauville
Picauville
Picauville is located in Normandy
Picauville
Picauville
Coordinates: 49°22′46″N 1°24′01″W / 49.3794°N 1.4002°W / 49.3794; -1.4002
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
DepartmentManche
ArrondissementCherbourg
CantonCarentan-les-Marais
IntercommunalityBaie du Cotentin
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Marie-Hélène Perrotte[1]
Area
1
64.89 km2 (25.05 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
3,237
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
50400 /50360
Elevation2–30 m (6.6–98.4 ft)
(avg. 26 m or 85 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 4,250—    
1975 4,190−0.20%
1982 3,949−0.84%
1990 3,523−1.42%
1999 3,294−0.74%
2007 3,399+0.39%
2012 3,412+0.08%
2017 3,278−0.80%
Source: INSEE[5]

Heraldry

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Arms of Picauville
The arms of Picauville are blazoned :
Or, a crown of thorns sable between 3 mallets vert, and on a chief gules a leopard Or.



World War II

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Picauville was one of the first towns liberated by Allied forces following the Normandy landings in early June 1944; German General Wilhelm Falley was killed there by an American paratrooper shortly after the invasion began. Engineers of the Ninth Air Force IX Engineering Command began construction of a combat Advanced Landing Ground to the northwest of the town. Declared operational on 26 June, the airfield was designated as "A-8", it was used by the 405th Fighter Group which flew P-47 Thunderbolts until mid-September when the unit moved to St. Dizier, near Nancy.[6] Afterward, the airfield was closed.[7][8] A cairn marking the location of the airfield is on the east side of the D69, 2.3 km outside of Picauville on the way to Gourbesville (49°23'34.19"N, 1°25'07.69"E).[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Arrêté préfectoral 23 December 2015 (in French)
  4. ^ Arrêté préfectoral 4 July 2016 (in French)
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ Nolte, Reginald G. Thunder Monsters Over Europe: A History of the 405th Fighter Group in World War II, Sunflower University Press, 1986, ISBN 0-89745-075-2.
  7. ^ Johnson, David C. U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1988.
  8. ^ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  9. ^ http://www.normandie44lamemoire.com/versionanglaise/fichesvillesus/picauvilleus2.html Archived 2010-11-28 at the Wayback Machine retrieved January 18, 2010, and Google Earth.
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