[2] The flight during which Thomas Mottershead earned his Victoria Cross, and as a result of which he died,[3] took off from Clairmarais aerodrome in a Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2d on 7 January 1917.

[2] Fighter ace Harry Cobby, later Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby, CBE, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, GM, claimed almost half of his kills while based at Clairmarais aerodrome.

[4] During World War II, the airfield was rebuilt for use by the Luftwaffe as a satellite of their main St. Omer fighter air station, which was situated between Longuenesse and Wizernes; there was no hardened runway at Clairmarais and the damp ground conditions made it unusable in wet weather.

On the south side of the airfield was a dispersal area equipped with more than thirty aircraft revetments.

Allied photographic reconnaissance in March 1944 showed that the runway had been permanently obstructed by trenches and mine craters.