Aérodrome de Tarbes-Laloubère (Laloubère)

The beginnings of the Bigorre flying club in 1933, told by one of the founders
If my memories are correct, and taking into account those which were sent to you by Mr. MINVIELLE, I ask you to find below, the information on the creation of the AERO-CLUB DE BIGORRE.
Created in 1933, by
M. DURAND-15, avenue Joffre TARBES
M. MINVIELLE - Rue Cougot -
M. SAUBATJOU - 2, rue J-J. Tower -
M. CAZAUX - Rue Lefranc
M. POMIES - Rue Maréchal-Foch
M. NICOLAI - Place des Bains Péré -
see filing of statutes at the TARBES Prefecture.
Gathered together for the first time at the "CAFE RICHE", it was decided to acquire a glider and to take steps with the Municipality of JUILLAN to use the "Polygon", this land was rented to the military authorities for various maneuvers. The "VUILLEMINOT" type glider was delivered to us in November 1933 by the supplier himself, who came from Nice by road, and paid for by Mr. NICOLAI.
The aircraft was received on the JUILLAN Polygon, despite exceptional snowy weather, by Mr. MINVIELLE Pilot. Not having a shelter for this glider, and, pending purchase, it was housed in the garage of Mr. THEVENOT, avenue Joffre in TARBES. In the meantime, we had to build a trailer and find the means of towing the glider. The trailer and the winch were built with the help of a mechanic, Mr. LAMARQUE, currently deceased, and some students already registered for gliding. The Voisin 22 CV car was purchased thanks to the donation of CINQ THOUSAND FRANCS (5,000) from Mr. POMIES. On the other hand, Mr. LAMARQUE and I built in my workshop, impasse Massey, according to the plans bought from the newspaper "LES AILES", a glider which was exposed for eight days, Place de Verdun in order to collect members and some finances. Unfortunately, at the first test on the JUILLAN field, by Mr. TREVISE, the device was completely destroyed without bodily harm to Mr. TREVISE.
The "throwing" with the winch not being very numerous, because since the morning it was necessary to arrive on the ground, to install the winch on the rear wheel of the "Voisin", to mount the glider, to unroll the cable, in a muddy ground, where the clay stuck to the feet, it was hardly possible to make many "throws" because we had to think of the dismantling, and the return to TARBES. This situation could not continue, and we decided to buy a hangar, and to set it up on the ground without official authorization from the military authorities, tenants of the ground.
In the meantime, and fortunately for the ACB the Chamber of Commerce of TARBES, through its President, Mr. DASTUGUE put at our disposal the land, hangar and offices of LALOUBERE. The JUILLAN hangar was sold and the funds were used to buy a first plane "GAUDRON LUCIOLE". In 1935, some members of the ACB. created another group called "LES AILES TARBAISES", but in 1936, I believe, when the popular aviation was created, the merger of the 2 clubs was decided in order to benefit from the advantages of this government decision, attribution of devices, etc ... The various general assemblies of the AC modified the composition of the Bureau several times until 1939.
In 1944, with the President Mr. DASTUGUE, SARClA, etc., I set up the formation of a general assembly so that the AERO-CLUB DE LA BIGORRE comes alive.
M. SAUBATJOU (1973)