Pontedera Airfield.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part ofTwelfth Air Force | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 43°39′28.80″N010°37′05.69″E / 43.6580000°N 10.6182472°E /43.6580000; 10.6182472 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943-1944 |
Pontedera Airfield is an abandoned military airfield inItaly, located within the town ofPontedera, inTuscany in the administrative province of Pisa.
It was an all-weather temporary field built by the XII Engineer Command using a graded earth compacted surface, with a prefabricated hessian (burlap) surfacing known as PHS. PHS was made of an asphalt-impregnated jute which was rolled out over the compacted surface over a square mesh track (SMT) grid of wire joined in 3-inch squares.Pierced Steel Planking was also used for parking areas, as well as for dispersal sites, when it was available. In addition, tents were used for billeting and also for support facilities; an access road was built to the existing road infrastructure; a dump for supplies, ammunition, and gasoline drums, along with a drinkable water and minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting.
Once completed it was turned over for use by theTwelfth Air Force27th Fighter Group in late 1944 and early 1945 during theItalian Campaign, flyingP-47 Thunderbolts. It was also the home of the416th Night Fighter Squadron, which flewBristol Beaufighters from the field between 27 March and 13 August 1945.
Today, the location of the airfield has been absorbed into the town. There is the remains of one runway visible in an industrial area.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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