The Aviators’ Trail in Épinay

The route, approximately 21 km long, is marked in blue. It features six information boards at the sites where aircraft crashed between 1940 and 1944. The walk comprises a western circular route and an eastern circular route, both starting from the cemetery in Epinay. In the description below, the two circular loops are described separately, but it is possible to complete them one after the other.

Circular Western, via La Fosse à l'Argent (9.4 km)

(S/E) From the car park, head west and walk about a hundred metres to the starting sign. Then take the small road on the right, followed by the first left. The tarmac soon gives way to a dirt track. Descend into the valley and climb back up on the right.

(1) At the top of the path, turn right and head back down to the Potez sign.

(2) Continue along the track, cross the D833 road (take care) and look out for the sign marking the bombing of 4 July 1994.

(3) Return via the same route.

(1) Back at the fork, turn right towards Le Breuil and walk alongside the apple trees on your left. At the top, turn left for 250m. Take the first path on the right and follow it to the road. Cross the road and take the small road opposite leading to the hamlet of La Sbirée (meadows with horses on the left) to arrive, after 450m, at a beautiful Norman house (Tracy’s painting studio and horse sanctuary).

(4) Take the small dirt track on the left which goes round this property for 300m. At the end, turn left onto the road and go straight on for 450m to the menhir.

(5) Turn left onto the dirt track. It crosses the fields, crosses a small road and arrives at the hamlet of La Nézière. Then take the small road on the left.

(6) Cross a farmyard and follow a dirt track down into the valley (wildlife).

(7) At the crossroads, turn right and shortly afterwards cross the D44 road. Continue along the path, climb into a wood and, at the fork, turn right. Continue south through the woods before descending back into the valley. Then follow the valley floor south-east, ignoring the side paths, until you reach the sign “Mustang RW Clark 2 June 1943”.

(8) Continue along a drainage ditch to the road (Pont du Boulay). Cross the road and take the path opposite. Walk for about 1 km, south-east then north-east, to a small road (at a place called Mont Pinchon).

(9) Then turn left onto the small road, which becomes a dirt track (shared route with the circular Loop). Follow the road to the right for about 200m, then turn left onto a dirt track. At the road, turn right and head east to the church at Epinay (S/E).

Circular Route via Les Roses (9.8 km)

(S/E) From the car park, head west and walk about a hundred metres to the start sign. Then take the small road on the right and ignore the first road on the left. Cross the D833 road (watch out for cars) and follow it to the left for about a hundred metres. Then turn right onto Impasse du Puits. The road is tarmac-surfaced as far as the old well.

(10) Continue along a dirt track that branches off to the left (north-east) and crosses the countryside.

(11) Take the road on the right, then the dirt track immediately on the left (east). Walk 300m, then, facing the woods, turn right and stay on the edge (path not shown on the IGN map). At the end of the path, turn left.

(12) At the fork, at a place called Le Buisson au Renard, turn left (east-northeast). Cross the road and take the tarmac track which becomes a path and leads to the Kurt Clemens/Messerschmitt sign.

(13) Continue to the road. There, turn sharply right and pass through the hamlet of Long Essart. Cross another road and take the path opposite, which crosses the plain for about 700m. Cross the D44 road (watch out for cars) and take the tarmac track opposite, which turns into a dirt track.

(15) After 350m, take the first dirt track on the left. At a fork, turn right and follow a drainage ditch. At the end, take the track on the right and cross through apple orchards. At the end of the woods on the right, you will find the Paul Heuermann sign.

(16) Continue westwards along the dirt track until you reach the D833 road. Cross the road (take care) and take the small tarmac road opposite, which turns sharply to the right. Further on, the road becomes a dirt track leading to another road. Turn left onto this road until you reach the junction immediately ahead, marked by a sign for the American B17 Fortress.

(17) Continue left (west-south-west) along the small road for 250m.

(9) At the junction, turn right and take the small road which turns into a dirt track (shared route with the circular loop). Follow the road on the right for about 200m, then turn left onto a dirt track. At the road, turn right and head east to Epinay Church (S/E).

Water point at the cemetery.

Variations:
- You can choose to complete either of the two circular loops, or link them together by walking the route between points (9) and (S/E) twice.
- At point (1), those wishing to avoid the return trip to the sign marking the July 1944 bombing can continue straight on towards Le Breuil.

During the Second World War, the small commune of Epinay, in the Eure department, was the unusual setting for five aircraft crashes.
In May 2016, the village unveiled a commemorative plaque and this trail in memory of the eight airmen who died on its territory.
At Epinay cemetery, the grave of Robert William Clarke, a young Canadian airman. A plaque describes his short life (central aisle on the right).
At the site (4), Tracy’s studio (painter) and a horse sanctuary.