Construction of base automne 1943 - printemps 1944 (≈ 1944)
Construction period by the Luftwaffe.
début juin 1944
Virtually operational base
Virtually operational base début juin 1944 (≈ 1944)
No V1 still carried before Disembarkation.
juin 1944
Bombings and partial destruction
Bombings and partial destruction juin 1944 (≈ 1944)
Combat that damaged infrastructure.
22 octobre 2024
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 22 octobre 2024 (≈ 2024)
Protection of remains and land bases.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The works of the launching base of V1, remains of the Second World War, in full, and the land plates where they are preserved, including the archaeological remains buried or in known or to be discovered, located at La Sorcellerie and the Sale of the Park on plots No. 288, 289, 290, 296, 300, 315, 795, 796, appearing in the cadastre section A 03, as represented on the annexed plan: inscription by order of 22 October 2024
Key figures
Luftwaffe - German Air Force
Builder and operator of base.
Royal Air Force - British Air Force
Bombed the site in 1944.
155. Rgt Flak - Air Defence Regiment
Base Management Unit (IV Group).
Origin and history
The launch base of the Mesnil-au-Val V1, called the Sorellerie, is one of eight heavy installations built by the Luftwaffe between autumn 1943 and spring 1944 around Cherbourg. These bases, designed to bomb the west coast of England with V1 missiles, were spotted and targeted by the Royal Air Force, delaying their commissioning. Although operational at the beginning of June 1944, no weapons had yet been delivered at the time of Disembarkation.
The site, attached to the 155th Flak Regiment (Group IV, Battery No. 17), included a network of concrete tracks serving key infrastructure: a technical blockhouse, equipment and fuel shelters, a water tank, and a launch ramp. Three ski garages housed the assembled missiles. The fighting in June 1944 severely damaged most of the works, with the exception of the ramp.
Ranked a historical monument in 2024, the base retains 16 elements spread over agricultural plots, including archaeological remains. Its architecture reflects the techniques of camouflage and resistance to bombing used by Nazi Germany. The remains, although partially destroyed, bear witness to the strategic importance of Normandy in the air war.
The location, noted as mediocre (5/10), corresponds to address 91 La Vente du Parc au Mesnil-au-Val (Manche). The site, now protected, includes land plates and buried remains, providing a unique overview of the military infrastructure of the Second World War in France.
