Foggia Airfield Complex

Foggia Airfield Complex
Map of World War II Airfields within 25 miles (40km) of Foggia (Click on map to enlarge)
Type	Military Airfields
Site history
Built	1920s-1944

Foggia Airfield Complex

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Location of Foggia Airfield Complex, Italy

The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a 25 mile (40km) radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy.

History

Before World War II, the Italian Royal Air Force Regia Aeronautica constructed a series of airfields in the Foggia area. They consisted hard-surfaced runways and taxiways; concrete 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 siezed by the German Luftwaffe and the "Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana" (National Republican Air Force, or ANR) which remained loyal to the Facist government of Mussolini (Italian Social Republic). While under Axis control, the airfields were heavily bombed by both the United States Army Air Force and British Royal Air Force in 1943 before being sized by the British Eighth Army in October 1943 during the Italian Campaign.

After the area was captured, the former Regia Aeronautica facilities were repaired by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (COE) to make them usable for heavy bomber operations by the new Fifteenth Air Force. The weather in southern Italy was much better than that in England where Eighth Air Force was conducting daylight strategic bombing of Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. Using the Foggia Airfield Complex for strategic bombing missions would allow USAAF heavy bombers to attack targets in France, Germany, Austria and the Balkans which were inaccessible from England. In addition to the air forces, Foggia was a major Allied command center for ground forces in South Italy and naval forces operating in the Adriatic Sea, with numerous headquarters being assigned.

In addition to the captured airfields, numerous temporary soft-surfaced airfields were constructed for fighter operations by both Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force fighter units. These airfields, by and large, consisted of grass or Pierced Steel Planking runways and parking areas, with support structures were 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 a 50-gallon drum was converted into a heater/stove.

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. 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 axillary landing airstrips not listed

• Amendola Airfield

Now: Foggia-Amendola Airport (Italian: Aeroporto di Amendola) (Aeronautica Militare), (ICAO: LIBA)

Located 16km northeast of Bari. 41°32′29.98″N 015°42′44.92″E

2d Bombardment Group, (B-17 Flying Fortress), 19 Nov 1945-28 Feb 1946

57th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), 27 Oct 1943-1 Mar 944

97th Bombardment Group, (B-17 Flying Fortress), 16 Jan 1944-1 Oct 1945

321st Bombardment Group, (B-25 Mitchell), 20 Nov 1943-14 Jan 1944

• Bari Airfield

Now: Bari International Airport (Italian: Aeroporto di Bari) (IATA: BRI, ICAO: LIBD)

Located 7km west of Bari. 41°08′19.41″N 016°45′41.24″E

HQ Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Dec 1943-15 Sep 1945

XII Bomber Command, Dec 1943-4 Jan 1944

55th Bombardment Wing, 9 Jul-9 Sep 1945

305th Bombardment Wing, Mar-Dec 1944

306th Fighter Wing, 15-27 Jan 1944

307th Bombardment Wing, 15 Jan-15 Jun 1944

5th Reconnaissance Group, (F-5 (P-38) Lightning), 11 Oct 1944-Oct 1945

• Castelluccio Airfield

Abandoned, 19km south-southwest of Foggia, 41°17′32.42″N 015°29′25.14″E (Approximate)

451st Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), 6 Apr 1944-Jun 1945

• Celone Airfield

Abandoned, 8km north of Foggia, 41°31′24.94″N 015°33′57.72″E (Approximate)

463d Bombardment Group, (B-17 Flying Fortress), 9 Mar 1944-25 Sep 1945

• Cerignola Airfield

Abandoned, 8km east-southeast of Cerignola, 41°14′28.48″N 015°58′55.69″E (Approximate)

304th Bombardment Wing, 29 Dec 1943-Sep 1945

97th Bombardment Group, (B-17 Flying Fortress), 20 Dec 1943-16 Jan 1944

57th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), Mar 1944

301st Bombardment Group, (B-17 Flying Fortress), 7 Dec 1943-1 Feb 1944

456th Bombardment Group (B-24 Liberator), Jan 1944

• Foggia Airfield

Now: Foggia-Gino Lisa Airport (Italian: Aeroporto di Foggia) (IATA: FOG, ICAO: LIBF)

Located 3km southwest of Foggia. 41°25′55.22″N 015°32′07.82″E

306th Fighter Wing, 27 Jan-23 Feb 1944

5th Bombardment Wing, Dec 1943-2 Nov 1945

57th Bombardment Wing, 29 Oct 1943-4 Jan 1944

12th Bombardment Group, (B-25 Mitchell), 2 Nov 1943-Jan 1944

57th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), 30 Sep-27 Oct 1943

79th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), 9 Oct-19 Nov 1943

325th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), 11 Dec 1943-29 Mar 1944

340th Bombardment Group, (B-25 Mitchell), 19 Nov 1943-2 Jan 1944

• Giulia Airfield

Abandoned, 6km northeast of Cerignola, 41°18′27.36″N 015°56′41.61″E (Approximate)

459th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), Feb 1944-Jul 1945

• Lesina Airfield

Abandoned, 22km east-southeast of Campomarino, 41°53′43.20″N 015°17′03.29″E (Approximate)

306th Fighter Wing, 3 Sep 1944-5 Mar 1945

1st Fighter Group, (P-38 Lightning), Mar-16 Oct 1945

14th Fighter Group, (P-38 Lightning), Sep 1945

52d Fighter Group, (P-51 Mustang), 8 Jul-Aug 1945

82d Fighter Group, (P-38 Lightning), 30 Aug-9 Sep 1945

325th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), later (P-51 Mustang), 29 Mar 1944-5 Mar 1945

• Lucera Airfield

Abandoned, 13km west-northwest of Foggia, 41°29′52.72″N 015°25′29.87″E

306th Fighter Wing, 23 Feb-8 Mar 1944

301st Bombardment Group, (B-17 Flying Fortress), 1 Feb 1944-1945

332d Fighter Group, (P-51 Mustang), 18 Jul-Sep 1945

• Madna Airfield

Abandoned, 3km souheast of Termoli, 41°58′32.27″N 015°01′12.32″E (Approximate)

52d Fighter Group, (P-51 Mustang), 14 May 1944-21 Apr 1945

79th Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), 19 Nov 1943-Jan 1944

• Pantanella Airfield

Abandoned, 15km south of Cerignola, 41°08′14.30″N 015°55′12.94″E

464th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), Mar-21 Apr 1944; 1 Jun 1944-May 1945

465th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), Apr-Jun 1945

• Ramitelli Airfield

Abandoned, 8km south-souheast of Termoli, 41°56′38.14″N 015°02′53.99″E (Approximate)

332d Fighter Group, (P-47 Thunderbolt), later (P-51 Mustang), 28 May 1944-4 May 1945

• Salsosa Airfield

Abandoned, 17km north of Foggia, 41°36′10.36″N 015°33′53.59″E (Approximate)

1st Fighter Group, (P-38 Lightning), 8 Jan 1944-8 Jan 1945; 21 Feb-16 Oct 1945

• San Giovanni Airfield

Abandoned, 9km west-southwest of Cerignola, 41°14′21.90″N 015°48′06.57″E

454th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), 1 Jan 1944-Jul 1945

455th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), 15 Jan 1944-9 Sep 1945

• San Severo Airfield

Abandoned, 40km north-northwest of Foggia, 41°41′17.78″N 015°22′49.92″E (Location undetermined)

Temporary airfield used primarily by Twelfth and Fiftenth Air Force reconnaissance units. Built by COE in late Sep 1943; last combat operations flown in March 1945. Airfield closed in Sep 1945. Today is agricultural area with little or no evidence of its existence in aerial photography of area.

90th Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Dec 1943-4 Apr 1945

3d Reconnaissance Group, (Various recon aircraft), 8 Dec 1943-4 Jan 1944

5th Reconnaissance Group, (Various recon aircraft), 8 Dec 1943-11 Oct 1944

31st Fighter Group, (P-51 Mustang), 2 Apr 1944-3 Mar 1945

• Spinazzola Airfield

Abandoned, was located approximately 13km east-southeast of Spinazzola, 40°56′40.00″N 016°13′42.64″E

Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in Sep 1943. Single PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened Jan 1944. Airfield in operation until end of war, closing in Aug 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, Mar-Jul 1944

305th Bombardment Wing, Feb-Mar 1944

460th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), Feb 1944-Jun 1945

• Stornara Airfield

Abandoned, was located approximately 14km west of Cerignola, 41°17′24.39″N 015°44′26.22″E

Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in Sep 1943. Single PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened Jan 1944. Airfield in operation until end of war, closing in Aug 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, (B-24 Liberator), Jan 1944-Jul 1945

• Torretto Airfield

Abandoned, was located approximately 14km southwest of Cerignola, 41°11′03.23″N 015°46′15.26″E

Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in Sep 1943. Two PSP runways with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened Feb 1944. Airfield in operation until end of war, closing in Aug 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 Feb 1944-Jul 1945

484th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberator), Apr 1944-25 May 1945

• Triolo Airfield

Abandoned, was located approximately 8km southeast of San Severo, 41°37′37.85″N 015°26′38.32″E (Approximate)

Captured Regia Aeronautica airfield used by Twelfth Air Force fighter units. Repaired by COE in Sep 1943 and put into use immediately. In operational use until Aug 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, (P-38 Lightning), 12 Sep 1943-9 Sep 1945

31st Fighter Group, (P-51 Mustang), 15 Jul-Aug 1945

• Venosa Airfield

Abandoned, was located approximately 6km east-northeast of Venosa, 40°59′49.30″N 015°52′37.45″E

Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force. Built by COE beginning in Sep 1943. One PSP runway with extensive taxiway and hardstand parking areas. Steel control tower. Opened 14 Mar 1944. Last combat operations flown in late April 1945. Closed on 4 Jul 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), Apr 1944-15 May 1945

• Vincenzo Airfield

Abandoned, was located approximately 9km west-southwest of Barletta, 41°16′54.08″N 016°10′51.08″E (Approximate)

Temporary airfield used by Twelfth Air Force fighter and light/medium bombardment units. Built by COE in late Sep 1943; last combat operations flown in Feb 1945; used by 542d Air Service Group until Oct 1945 when closed. Today is agricultural area with little or no evidence of its existence.

1st Fighter Group, (P-38 Lightning), 8 Jan-21 Feb 1945

47th Bombardment Group, (A-20 Havoc), 15 Oct 1943-10 Jan 1944

82d Fighter Group, (P-38 Lightning), 11 Jan-30 Aug 1944

321st Bombardment Group, (B-25 Mitchell), 14 Jan-Feb 1944

325th Fighter Group, (P-51 Mustang), Jul-9 Oct 1945

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975