Foggia Airfield Complex
Before World War II, the Italian Royal Air Force Regia Aeronautica constructed a series of airfields in the Foggia area.Weather in southern Italy was much better than in England where the 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 Allied heavy bombers to attack targets in France, Germany, Austria and the Balkans which were inaccessible from England.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.Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister for Armaments, declared: I could see omens of the war's end almost every day in the blue southern sky when, flying provocatively low, the bombers of the American Fifteenth Air Force crossed the Alps from their Italian bases to attack German Industrial targets.Last USAAF unit left in March 1946 and airfield turned over to Allied Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI).Last USAAF unit left in September 1945 and airfield turned over to Allied Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI).Abandoned, was located approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Foggia, 41°19′11.69″N 015°32′40.71″E / 41.3199139°N 15.5446417°E / 41.3199139; 15.5446417 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.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.[6] Abandoned German fighter base, was located approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) west-northwest of Foggia, 41°33′4″N 015°33′32″E / 41.55111°N 15.55889°E / 41.55111; 15.55889 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.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.[7] Abandoned, was located 6-miles west of Cerignola, 41°14′32.42″N 015°48′18.90″E / 41.2423389°N 15.8052500°E / 41.2423389; 15.8052500 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.Vacated February 1946 and turned over to Allied Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI).[14] Abandoned, was located 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Cerignola, 41°18′15″N 015°50′30″E / 41.30417°N 15.84167°E / 41.30417; 15.84167 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.One PSP runway NNW ~ SSE, 100 x 6,000 base of gravel and oiled subsurface; with extensive taxiway and 67 hardstand parking areas.[18] Abandoned, was located approximately 13 km (8.1 mi) west-northwest of Foggia, 41°29′52.72″N 015°25′10″E / 41.4979778°N 15.41944°E / 41.4979778; 15.41944 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.Was home of P-51 Mustang equipped 332d Fighter Group "Tuskegee Airmen" while awaiting return to United States after war ended.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.Temporary airfield used by Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force fighter groups beginning in November 1943 until end of war.[23] Abandoned, was located approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) west-southwest of Cerignola, 41°14′21.90″N 015°48′06.57″E / 41.2394167°N 15.8018250°E / 41.2394167; 15.8018250 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.Capacity for approximately 150 heavy bombers with large support facilities to east of airfield with blister hangars as well as wooden structures.[24] Abandoned, was located approximately 40 km (25 mi) north-northwest of Foggia, 41°42′45″N 015°25′48″E / 41.71250°N 15.43000°E / 41.71250; 15.43000 Temporary airfield used primarily by 31st FG and Reconnaissance units of 15th Air Force.[26] Abandoned, was located 11.1 Kilometers south-southwest of San Severo, 41°36′06.28″N 015°18′24″E / 41.6017444°N 15.30667°E / 41.6017444; 15.30667 Temporary heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.Abandoned, was located approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) west of Cerignola, 41°17′24.39″N 015°44′26.22″E / 41.2901083°N 15.7406167°E / 41.2901083; 15.7406167 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.[27] Abandoned, was located approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) southwest of Cerignola, 41°10′55″N 015°45′50″E / 41.18194°N 15.76389°E / 41.18194; 15.76389 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.In operational use until August 1945 when USAAF turned over the facility to Allied Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force (Aviazione Cobelligerante Italiana, or ACI).[29] Abandoned, was located approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) east-northeast of Venosa, 40°59′49.30″N 015°52′25″E / 40.9970278°N 15.87361°E / 40.9970278; 15.87361 Semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.Today is agricultural area with no structures or any facilities in existence, however extensive evidence of land scarring still is visible in aerial photography.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.This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Media related to Foggia Airfield Complex at Wikimedia Commons
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