The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
military airfields located within a radius of
Foggia, in the
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia ( it, Provincia di Foggia ; Foggiano: ) is a province in the Apulia (Puglia) region of southern Italy.
This province is also known as Daunia, after the Daunians, an Iapygian pre-Roman tribe living in Tavoliere plain, an ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. The
airfields
An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publi ...
were used by the United States Army Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force as part of the strategic bombardment campaign against
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
in 1944 and 1945, as well as the
Twelfth Air Force
The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
The command is the air component to ...
, the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
and the
South African Air Force
"Through hardships to the stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment ...
during the
Italian Campaign (1943–1945).
History
Before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the Italian Royal Air Force
Regia Aeronautica constructed a series of airfields in the Foggia area. They consisted of hard-surfaced runways and taxiways, concrete parking areas and permanent buildings for the support units and barracks.
After the
Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces in September, 1943 these airfields were seized by the German
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
. While under Axis control, the airfields were heavily bombed by the
United States Army Air Force
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
and
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
in 1943 before being seized by the
British Eighth Army
The Eighth Army was an Allied field army formation of the British Army during the Second World War, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. Units came from Australia, British India, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Free French Forces ...
in October 1943 during the
Italian Campaign.
After the area was captured, the facilities were repaired by the
(COE) to make them usable for heavy bomber operations by the new
Fifteenth Air Force and the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
. Weather in southern Italy was much better than in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
where the
Eighth Air Force was conducting daylight strategic bombing of
Occupied Europe
German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 an ...
and
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
. Using the Foggia Airfield Complex for strategic bombing missions would allow Allied heavy bombers to attack targets in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and the
Balkans
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
which were inaccessible from England. In addition to the air forces, Foggia was a major Allied command center for ground forces in southern Italy and naval forces operating in the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
, with numerous headquarters being assigned.
In addition to the captured airfields, several temporary and semi-permanent airfields were constructed for operations by both
Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force and RAF units. These airfields, by and large, consisted of grass or
Pierced Steel Planking
Marston Mat, more properly called pierced (or perforated) steel planking (PSP), is standardized, perforated steel matting material developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the ...
(PSP) runways and parking and dispersal areas, with support structures quickly constructed out of wood or tents, along with (if needed) a temporary steel control tower. Six-man tents were used for billeting, lined up in rows with the orderly room and the mess hall at one end. There was one, dimly lit, light bulb at the center of each tent. The tent floor was grass or more commonly, dirt. Eventually plywood was scavenged for flooring, wooden cots were used for beds, and ubiquitous 55-gallon drums were converted into stoves and other items. As many of these airfields were captured from the Italians and Germans, wrecked enemy aircraft were a common sight, with metal from their fuselages and wings, glass and other useful parts finding their way into the support areas.
By mid-1944, about two dozen airfields were in operation in the Foggia area supporting strategic bombing missions; escort missions; tactical fighter operations, reconnaissance and air defense missions.
Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister for Armaments, declared:
With the end of the war in May 1945, most of the airfields were abandoned and the land returned to the owners, or the Italian government.
Today, most of the airfields are long since returned to agriculture, and little or no evidence remains of their use as wartime airfields. A few, however, still exist as commercial airports and one is still used by the Italian Air Force (
Aeronautica Militare).
Airfields and units
The airfield complex consisted of the following major airfields. In addition, there were numerous auxiliary landing airstrips not listed.
Amendola Airfield
![Amendola Airfield, Italy -1944](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Amendola_Airfield%2C_Italy_-1944.jpg)
Now
Amendola Air Base
Located approximately northeast of
Foggia.
Captured Regia Aeronautica airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force, primarily for heavy bombardment units. Repaired by COE in September 1943 and put into use immediately. Last USAAF unit left in March 1946 and airfield turned over to Allied
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI). Today Italian Air Force (
Aeronautica Militare) air base. Extensive remains of wartime use visible in aerial photography.
*
2d Bombardment Group 002, 0O2, O02, OO2, or 002 may refer to:
Airports
*0O2, Baker Airport
*O02, Nervino Airport
Astronomy
*1996 OO2, the minor planet 7499 L'Aquila
*1990 OO2, the asteroid 9175 Graun
Fiction
*002, fictional British 00 Agent
*'' 002 Operazione Lu ...
, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 19 November 1945 – 28 February 1946
*
57th Fighter Group, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), 27 October 1943 – 1 March 1944
*
97th Bombardment Group, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 16 January 1944 – 1 October 1945
*
321st Bombardment Group
The 321st Air Expeditionary Wing was a United States Air Force unit assigned United States Air Forces Central, the USAF component command of United States Central Command. The unit was reestablished on 1 November 2008 and was a nexus of all Coal ...
, (
B-25 Mitchell), 20 November 1943 – 14 January 1944
* 330 Wing RAF (
142 and
150 Squadrons) (Wellington X), Feb 1944 - Jul 1944
Bari Airfield
![Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Royal_Air_Force-_Italy%2C_the_Balkans_and_South-east_Europe%2C_1942-1945._CNA3333.jpg)
Now
Bari International Airport
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Ita ...
( it, Aeroporto di Bari)
Located approximately west of
Bari.
Captured Regia Aeronautica airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force as command and control facility, using airfield for reconnaissance and liaison units. Last USAAF unit left in September 1945 and airfield turned over to Allied
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI). Military airfield until the late 1960s when opened for civilian airline use. Today evidence of wartime use still visible in older military airfield area.
* HQ
Fifteenth Air Force, 1 December 1943 – 15 September 1945
*
XII Bomber Command
XII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces formation. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based in Corsica, France. It was constituted on 26 February 1942, activated on 13 March 1942, and inactivated on 10 J ...
, December 1943 – 4 January 1944
*
55th Bombardment Wing, 9 July – 9 September 1945
*
305th Bombardment Wing
The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command. It generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Extender aircraft. T ...
, March–December 1944
*
306th Fighter Wing, 15–27 January 1944
* 307th Bombardment Wing, 15 January – 15 June 1944
* 5th Reconnaissance Group, (F-5 (P-38) Lightning), 28 December 1944 – October 1945
Ascoli Field
Construction stopped and cancelled. Runway was to be 150' x 6000" with 62 hardstands
Biferno Airfield
Abandoned airfield The airfields runway was located almost on and parallel to the shore. It was in use by the Balkan (Yugoslav), Desert (RAF), South African and 15th (US) Air Forces, as well as by the Italian Cobellligerent Air Force.
completely swallowed-up by the rising Adriatic Sea
Canne Airfield
Located approximately 2.2 miles South-east of Campomarino, mostly now agricultural land. Airfield named after grass plants still growing round field edges. The houses of Cianaluca have been built on the original hardstand parking bays. The old runway was made of PSP, many pieces of which are now used as garden seats and roofs of small sheds in the vicinity. The old headquarters can be seen, as well as possibly Officers mess building, now a two-storey building. Runway, taxiway composed of concrete reinforced with large limestone pebbles still showing near the start of old runway. Used by
No. 241 Squadron RAF (Spitfires) December 1943 – May 1944 and afterwards by parts of Italian Co-belligerent Air Force, and Yugoslav Air Force until end of war. Campomarino council has now put up signs for all five of airfields in the immediate area, and has erected memorials to "All airmen who flew from Biferno, Canne, Madna, Ramitelli, and Nuova airfields during World War II."
Castelluccio Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately south of
Foggia,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE in early 1944 with one PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened 15 March 1944. Last combat operations flown in late April 1945. Closed August 1945. Today is agricultural area with no structures or any facilities in existence, faint scarring of land shows remains of main runway, taxiways and hardstands visible in aerial photography.
*
451st Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), 6 April 1944 – June 1945
Celone Airfield (Foggia #1)
Abandoned German fighter base, was located approximately west-northwest of
Foggia,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE in early 1944 with one 6,000-foot-long PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened 15 February 1944. Last combat operations flown in late April 1945. Closed October 1945. Today is agricultural area with no structures or any facilities in existence, very faint scarring of land shows remains of main runway, taxiways and hardstands visible in aerial photography.
*
463d Bombardment Group, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 9 March 1944 – 25 September 1945
*
178 Squadron RAF (Liberator), Mar 1944 - Jul 1944
*
614 Squadron RAF (Halifax), Mar 1944 - May 1944
*
31 Squadron SAAF
31 Squadron was initially a World War II Coastal bomber/reconnaissance squadron South African Air Force. It was later converted to a heavy bomber squadron that operated from bases in the Mediterranean from January 1944 until the end of the war. On ...
(Liberator), Jun 1944 - Sep 1945
*
34 Squadron SAAF (Liberator), Jul 1944 - Sep 1945
Cerignola airfields
Abandoned, was located 6-miles west of
Cerignola
Cerignola (; nap, label= Cerignolano, Ceregnòule ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia, southeast from the town of Foggia. It has the third-largest land area of any ''comune'' in Italy, at , after Rome and Ra ...
,
note: airfield name is not listed in the Corp of Engineering Plans dated 1 June 1944 - marked on Vesuvio, Italy Aeronautical chart dated 1 March 1945
Captured Regia Aeronautica airfields used by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force for both heavy bombers and tactical fighters. Also major command and control headquarters. Opened late 1943 with combat operations commencing as soon as operationally capable. Last combat operations flown in mid 1944, used by 526th Air Service Group until July 1945 as support base. Closed afterwards. Very clear outline visible today in aerial photography.
* Headquarters
304th Bombardment Wing in Cerignola town, 29 December 1943-September 1945
*
97th Bombardment Group, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 20 December 1943 – 16 January 1944
*
57th Fighter Group, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), March 1944
*
301st Bombardment Group
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 7 December 1943 – 1 February 1944
*
456th Bombardment Group
Activated in June 1943 as a heavy bombardment group. Trained with B-24 Liberators for duty overseas. Moved to Italy, December 1943 – January 1944. Began combat with Fifteenth Air Force in February 1944, operating chiefly against strategic tar ...
(
B-24 Liberator), January 1944
* 330 Wing RAF (
142 Squadron RAF and
150 Squadrons) (Wellington X), Dec 1943 - Feb * 330 Wing RAF (
142 and
150 Squadrons) (Wellington X), Dec 1943 - Feb 1944
Correction
There was no Cerignola airfield ''per se''. Cerignola town hosted the headquarters of 304 Bomb Wing, a command unit, not an operational one. Cerignola here conflates four separate airfields located to the west of the town: San Giovanni, Giulia, Stornara and Torretta, listed separately below. The Bomb Groups under 304 Bomb Wing's command, operated out of San Giovanni, Giulia and Stornara. 301 Bomb Group operated temporarily out of Giulia, and 330 Wing RAF, temporarily out of Torretta. The grid reference given is for San Giovanni, which is indeed visible in aerial photography.
Foggia Airfield
Now
Foggia-Gino Lisa Airport ( it, Aeroporto di Foggia)
Located approximately southwest of
Foggia.
Captured Regia Aeronautica airfield used by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force as both operational airfield and as major command and control headquarters. Elevation 243', runway direction NNW ~ SSE, 400 x 6,000" sod & earth, 41 hardstands on compacted gravel. Open dispersal on east taxiway. Vacated February 1946 and turned over to Allied
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI). Today commercial airport.
*
306th Fighter Wing, 27 January – 23 February 1944
*
5th Bombardment Wing
The 5th Bomb Wing (5 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is also the host unit at Minot. The 5 BW is one of only ...
, December 1943 – 2 November 1945
*
57th Bombardment Wing, 29 October 1943 – 4 January 1944
*
2d Bombardment Group 002, 0O2, O02, OO2, or 002 may refer to:
Airports
*0O2, Baker Airport
*O02, Nervino Airport
Astronomy
*1996 OO2, the minor planet 7499 L'Aquila
*1990 OO2, the asteroid 9175 Graun
Fiction
*002, fictional British 00 Agent
*'' 002 Operazione Lu ...
,
B-17 Flying Fortress, 19 November 1945 – 28 February 1946
*
12th Bombardment Group 012 may refer to:
* Tyrrell 012, a Formula One racing car
* The dialing code for Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassi ...
, (
B-25 Mitchell), 2 November 1943 – January 1944
*
57th Fighter Group, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), 30 September – 27 October 1943
*
79th Fighter Group, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), 9 October – 19 November 1943
*
325th Fighter Group
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), 11 December 1943 – 29 March 1944
*
340th Bombardment Group
34 may refer to:
* 34 (number), the natural number following 33 and preceding 35
* one of the years 34 BC, AD 34, 1934, 2034
* ''34'' (album), a 2015 album by Dre Murray
* "#34" (song), a 1994 song by Dave Matthews Band
* "34", a 2006 song by Sa ...
, (
B-25 Mitchell), 19 November 1943 – 2 January 1944
* 236 Wing RAF (
40 and
104 104 may refer to:
*104 (number), a natural number
*AD 104, a year in the 2nd century AD
* 104 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC
* 104 (MBTA bus), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus route
* Hundred and Four (or Council of 104), a Carthagin ...
Squadrons) (Wellington X, Liberator), Dec 1943 - Oct 1945
Giulia Airfield
Abandoned, was located northeast of
Cerignola
Cerignola (; nap, label= Cerignolano, Ceregnòule ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia, southeast from the town of Foggia. It has the third-largest land area of any ''comune'' in Italy, at , after Rome and Ra ...
,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in late 1943. One PSP runway NNW ~ SSE, 100 x 6,000 base of gravel and oiled subsurface; with extensive taxiway and 67 hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened January 1944. Supported B-24 Liberator operations, and airfield closed in late July 1945. Today is agricultural area with no structures or any facilities in existence. Almost no evidence of its visibility on aerial photography, however light land scarring of location of main runway is still faintly visible in aerial photography.
*
459th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), February 1944 – July 1945
Lesina Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately east-southeast of
Campomarino. Airfield was 150" x 5,500" of PSP with 43 hardstands .
Temporary airfield used by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force fighter units. Built by COE in early in 1944 with single main PSP runway, with large parking area for aircraft. Possibly steel control tower, and large containment area for personnel. Supported numerous fighter groups during 1944 and 1945, with last combat operations flown in September 1945 and closed and dismantled soon afterwards. Today is in agricultural area with little or no evidence of its existence. Former main runway now used as agricultural road.
*
306th Fighter Wing, 3 September 1944 – 5 March 1945
*
1st Fighter Group 001, O01, or OO1 may refer to:
*1 (number), a number, a numeral
*001, fictional British agent, see 00 Agent
*001, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian fire brigade (until 1986)
*AM-RB 001, the code-name for the Aston Martin Valkyr ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), March – 16 October 1945
*
14th Fighter Group 014 may refer to:
* Argus As 014
* 014 Construction Unit
* Divi Divi Air Flight 014
* Pirna 014
The Pirna 014 was an axial turbojet designed in East Germany (or the GDR) in the mid- to late 1950s by former Junkers engineers, who were repatriat ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), September 1945
*
52d Fighter Group
5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on ...
, (
P-51 Mustang), 8 July–August 1945
*
82d Fighter Group
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), 30 August – 9 September 1945
*
325th Fighter Group
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), later (
P-51 Mustang), 29 March 1944 – 5 March 1945
Lucera Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately west-northwest of
Foggia,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in late 1943. One PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened early February 1944. Supported B-17 Flying Fortress operations as well as command and control headquarters. Last combat operations flown in late April 1945. Was home of P-51 Mustang equipped 332d Fighter Group "
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332d Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the United States Army ...
" while awaiting return to United States after war ended. Closed October 1945. Today it is an agricultural area with no structures or any facilities in existence, however light evidence of land scarring still is visible in aerial photography.
*
306th Fighter Wing, 23 February – 8 March 1944
*
301st Bombardment Group
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 1 February 1944–1945
*
332d Fighter Group
33 may refer to:
*33 (number)
*33 BC
* AD 33
* 1933
* 2033
Music
* ''33'' (Luis Miguel album) (2003)
* ''33'' (Southpacific album) (1998)
* ''33'' (Wanessa album) (2016)
*"33 'GOD'", a 2016 song by Bon Iver
* "Thirty-Three" (song), a 1995 song by ...
, (
P-51 Mustang), 18 July – September 1945
Madna Airfield
Located approximately southeast of
Campomarino, on the Adriatic coast. Airfield was 150 x 6,000" of PSP with 85 hardstands .
Temporary airfield used by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force fighter groups beginning in November 1943 until end of war. Built by COE with PSP runway (possibly two) with parking area and possible blister hangars. Closed in May 1945 and dismantled. Today is in use as small private airfield, supporting operations of light general aviation aircraft. Remains of wartime runways visible although not in use.
*
52d Fighter Group
5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on ...
, (
P-51 Mustang), 19 May 1944 – 21 April 1945
*
79th Fighter Group, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), 19 November 1943 – January 1944
Pantanella-Loconia-Canosa Landing Ground
Abandoned, was located approximately 5 miles south of
Cerignola
Cerignola (; nap, label= Cerignolano, Ceregnòule ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia, southeast from the town of Foggia. It has the third-largest land area of any ''comune'' in Italy, at , after Rome and Ra ...
-10 miles west of Canosa. Field was 100" x 6,000" of PSP and Gravel with 62 hardstands, secondary runway was all weather 100 x 6,000" with an additional 62 hardstands .
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE in early 1944. Single (possibly double) PSP main runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened March 1944. Very large and expansive facility used by two heavy bomb groups, composed of six operational squadrons. Capacity for approximately 150 heavy bombers with large support facilities with blister hangars as well as wooden structures. Airfield remained in operation until end of war, closing in July 1945. Abandoned and land returned to agricultural use. Faint scarring of land still visible from former airfield use visible on aerial photography, however little or no physical evidence on ground of existence.
*
464th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), March – 21 April 1944; 1 June 1944 – May 1945
*
465th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), April 1944–June 1945
Ramitelli Landing Ground
![P-51Cs 332nd FG with goats Ramitelli 1945](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/P-51Cs_332nd_FG_with_goats_Ramitelli_1945.jpg)
Abandoned, Ramitelli Airfield was located approximately 4 miles south-southeast of
Campomarino, on the Adriatic coast. Airfield was 150 x 5,500 PSP over gravel with 43 hardstands .
Temporary airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force 332d Fighter Group. PSP runway with parking area. Built by COE in early 1944. Used by 322d FG until end of war, used by 523d Air Service Group and 949th Air Engineering Squadron after May 1945, closing in October 1945 and airfield dismantled. Today some evidence of main runway visible on aerial photography, land completely returned to agricultural use.
*
332d Fighter Group
33 may refer to:
*33 (number)
*33 BC
* AD 33
* 1933
* 2033
Music
* ''33'' (Luis Miguel album) (2003)
* ''33'' (Southpacific album) (1998)
* ''33'' (Wanessa album) (2016)
*"33 'GOD'", a 2016 song by Bon Iver
* "Thirty-Three" (song), a 1995 song by ...
, (
P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
), later (
P-51 Mustang), 28 May 1944 – 4 May 1945
Regina Field
Abandoned. Field was 150" x 6,000" of grass with 54 hardstands .
Salsola Airfield (Foggia Satellite #3)
Abandoned, was located approximately 3.5 miles north of
Foggia. Field was 450' x 6,000" grass with 100 hardstands
Temporary airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force 1st Fighter Group. PSP runway with parking area. Built by COE in late 1943. Used by 1st FG until March 1945, closing in April 1945 and airfield dismantled. Today no evidence of existence visible on aerial photography, land completely returned to agricultural use.
*
1st Fighter Group 001, O01, or OO1 may refer to:
*1 (number), a number, a numeral
*001, fictional British agent, see 00 Agent
*001, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian fire brigade (until 1986)
*AM-RB 001, the code-name for the Aston Martin Valkyr ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), 8 January 1944-8 January 1945; 21 February–March 1945
San Giovanni Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately west-southwest of
Cerignola
Cerignola (; nap, label= Cerignolano, Ceregnòule ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia, southeast from the town of Foggia. It has the third-largest land area of any ''comune'' in Italy, at , after Rome and Ra ...
,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE in late 1943. Single (possibly double) PSP main runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened January 1944. Very large and expansive facility used by two heavy bomb groups, composed of eight operational squadrons. Capacity for approximately 150 heavy bombers with large support facilities to east of airfield with blister hangars as well as wooden structures. Airfield remained in operation until end of war, closing in October 1945. Abandoned and land returned to agricultural use. Faint scarring of land still visible from former airfield use visible on aerial photography, however little or no physical evidence on ground of existence.
*
454th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), 26 January 1944 – July 1945
*
455th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), 15 January 1944 – 9 September 1945
San Severo Airfield
![31fg-sansevero-italy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/31fg-sansevero-italy.jpg)
Abandoned, was located approximately north-northwest of
Foggia,
Temporary airfield used primarily by 31st FG and Reconnaissance units of 15th Air Force. Built by COE in late September 1943; last combat operations flown in March 1945. Airfield closed in September 1945. Today is agricultural area with very clear existence in aerial photography of area.
*
90th Reconnaissance Wing, 1 December 1943- – 4 April 1945
*
3d Reconnaissance Group 003, O03, 0O3, OO3 may refer to:
* 003, fictional British 00 Agent
* 003, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian ambulance service (until 1986)
* 1990 OO3, the asteroid 6131 Towen
* OO3 gauge model railway
* ''O03 (O2)'' and other rel ...
, (Various recon aircraft), 8 December 1943 – 4 January 1944
* 5th Reconnaissance Group, (Various recon aircraft), 8 December 1943 – 11 October 1944
*
31st Fighter Group
31 (thirty-one) is the natural number following 30 and preceding 32. It is a prime number.
In mathematics
31 is the 11th prime number. It is a superprime and a self prime (after 3, 5, and 7), as no integer added up to its base 10 digits ...
, (
P-51 Mustang), 2 April 1944 – 3 March 1945
Sinello Airfield
Abandoned
Spinazzola Airfield
![Spinazzola AAF Italy tents](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Spinazzola_AAF_Italy_tents.jpg)
Abandoned, was located approximately east-southeast of
Spinazzola
Spinazzola is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, southern Italy.
People
*Pope Innocent XII was born here in the castle of the Pignatelli family, now destroyed.
* Michele Ruggieri (1543–1607), Jesuit mis ...
,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in September 1943. Single PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened January 1944. Airfield in operation until end of war, closing in August 1945. Abandoned and land returned to agricultural use. Faint scarring of land still visible from former airfield use visible on aerial photography.
*
55th Bombardment Wing, March–July 1944
*
305th Bombardment Wing
The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command. It generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Extender aircraft. T ...
, February–March 1944
*
460th Bombardment Group 46 may refer to:
* 46 (number)
* ''46'' (album), a 1983 album by Kino
* "Forty Six", a song by Karma to Burn from the album '' Appalachian Incantation'', 2010
* One of the years 46 BC, AD 46
AD 46 ( XLVI) was a common year starting on Saturda ...
, (
B-24 Liberator), 20 February 1944 – June 1945
Sterparone Airfield
Abandoned, was located 11.1 Kilometers south-southwest of
San Severo
San Severo (; formerly known as Castellum Sancti Severini, then San Severino and Sansevero; locally ) is a city and comune of c. 51,919 inhabitants in the province of Foggia, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. Rising on the foot of the spur of Gargano ...
,
Temporary heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.
*
483d Bombardment Group 483rd or 483d may refer to:
*483d Bombardment Squadron or 303d Air Refueling Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
*483d Tactical Airlift Wing, tactical airlift and composite wing assigned to Pacific Air Forces during the Vietnam War
See ...
, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), April 1944 – 1945
Stornara Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately west of
Cerignola
Cerignola (; nap, label= Cerignolano, Ceregnòule ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia, southeast from the town of Foggia. It has the third-largest land area of any ''comune'' in Italy, at , after Rome and Ra ...
,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in September 1943. Single PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened January 1944. Airfield in operation until end of war, closing in August 1945. Abandoned and land returned to agricultural use. Faint scarring of land still visible from former airfield use visible on aerial photography.
*
456th Bombardment Group
Activated in June 1943 as a heavy bombardment group. Trained with B-24 Liberators for duty overseas. Moved to Italy, December 1943 – January 1944. Began combat with Fifteenth Air Force in February 1944, operating chiefly against strategic tar ...
, (
B-24 Liberator), January 1944 – July 1945
*
614 Squadron RAF (Halifax), May 1944 - July 1944
Torretto Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately southwest of
Cerignola
Cerignola (; nap, label= Cerignolano, Ceregnòule ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia, southeast from the town of Foggia. It has the third-largest land area of any ''comune'' in Italy, at , after Rome and Ra ...
,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in September 1943. Two PSP runways with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened February 1944. Airfield in operation until end of war, closing in August 1945. Abandoned and land returned to agricultural use,
Naples-Canosa Autostrada (A16) bisects former airfield. Moderate scarring of land still visible from former airfield use visible on aerial photography.
*
461st Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), 20 February 1944 – July 1945
*
484th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), April 1944 – 25 May 1945
Tortorella Airfield
Abandoned, was located 9.4 Kilometers east-northeast of
Foggia,
*
99th Bombardment Group
The 99th Infantry Division was formed in 1942 and deployed overseas in 1944. The "Checkerboard" or "Battle Babies" division landed at the French port of Le Havre and proceeded northeast to Belgium. During the heavy fighting in the Battle of the ...
USAAF, (
B-17 Flying Fortress), 11 December 1943 – October 1945
* 231 Wing RAF (
37 and
70 Squadrons) (Wellington Mk.X, Consolidated Liberator), December 1943 – October 1945
Triolo Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately southeast of
San Severo
San Severo (; formerly known as Castellum Sancti Severini, then San Severino and Sansevero; locally ) is a city and comune of c. 51,919 inhabitants in the province of Foggia, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. Rising on the foot of the spur of Gargano ...
,
Captured Regia Aeronautica airfield used by Twelfth Air Force fighter units. Repaired by COE in September 1943 and put into use immediately. In operational use until August 1945 when USAAF turned over the facility to Allied
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI). Dismantled after the war and today is agricultural/light industrial area with antenna farm erected on former airfield site. Possible some former airfield structures and concreted areas still in use by instrial area. Slight scarring of land under former main runway visible in aerial photography.
*
14th Fighter Group 014 may refer to:
* Argus As 014
* 014 Construction Unit
* Divi Divi Air Flight 014
* Pirna 014
The Pirna 014 was an axial turbojet designed in East Germany (or the GDR) in the mid- to late 1950s by former Junkers engineers, who were repatriat ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), 12 September 1943 – 9 September 1945
*
31st Fighter Group
31 (thirty-one) is the natural number following 30 and preceding 32. It is a prime number.
In mathematics
31 is the 11th prime number. It is a superprime and a self prime (after 3, 5, and 7), as no integer added up to its base 10 digits ...
, (
P-51 Mustang), 15 July – August 1945
Venosa Airfield
Abandoned, was located approximately east-northeast of
Venosa
Venosa ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, in the Vulture area. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Ginestra, Lavello, Maschito, Montemilone, Palazzo San Gervas ...
,
Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in September 1943. One PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Wooden control tower. Opened 14 March 1944. Last combat operations flown in late April 1945. Closed on 4 July 1945. Today is agricultural area with no structures or any facilities in existence, however extensive evidence of land scarring still is visible in aerial photography.
*
485th Bombardment Group, (
B-24 Liberator), April 1944 – 15 May 1945
Vincenzo Airfield
Abandoned, was located between
Foggia and Troia,
Temporary airfield used by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force fighter and light/medium bombardment units. Built by COE in late September 1943; last combat operations flown in February 1945; used by 542d Air Service Group until October 1945 when closed. Today is agricultural area with little or no evidence of its existence.
*
1st Fighter Group 001, O01, or OO1 may refer to:
*1 (number), a number, a numeral
*001, fictional British agent, see 00 Agent
*001, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian fire brigade (until 1986)
*AM-RB 001, the code-name for the Aston Martin Valkyr ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), 8 January – 21 February 1945
*
47th Bombardment Group 47th may refer to:
Chicago Transit Authority stations
* 47th station (CTA Green Line), on the Green Line
* 47th station (CTA Red Line)
47th is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, serving the Red Line. The station is loca ...
, (
A-20 Havoc), 15 October 1943 – 10 January 1944
*
82d Fighter Group
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...
, (
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive tw ...
), 11 January – 30 August 1944
*
321st Bombardment Group
The 321st Air Expeditionary Wing was a United States Air Force unit assigned United States Air Forces Central, the USAF component command of United States Central Command. The unit was reestablished on 1 November 2008 and was a nexus of all Coal ...
, (
B-25 Mitchell), 14 January – February 1944
*
325th Fighter Group
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
, (
P-51 Mustang), July – 9 October 1945
Vis Airfield
Abandoned,
Correction
Vis was in Yugoslavia, not southeast Italy.
References
; Further reading
*
* Maurer, Maurer. ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. .
*
*Seager Thomas, Mike (2020). "The WW2 Foggia airfield complex in the Bradford Archive of aerial photographs." Artefact Services Research Reports 10. Lewes: Artefact Services. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343555839 https://archive.org/details/ASTR10_DigitalAppx_5
External links
{{USAAF 12th Air Force World War II
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Italy
Aviation in Italy
Italy in World War II
Province of Foggia