Cassibile Airfield.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part ofTwelfth Air Force | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military Airfield |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 36°58′54.45″N015°14′23.12″E / 36.9817917°N 15.2397556°E /36.9817917; 15.2397556 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943 |
Cassibile Airfield is an abandonedWorld War II military airfield inItaly, which is located in the vicinity ofSyracuse on the island ofSicily. Its precise location was unknown until, in June 2012, Mr. Lorenzo Bovi had identified the precise location in "Torre Cuba", which was 3km west from Cassibile.
It was an all-weather temporary field built by theUnited States Army Air Force 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, the Cassibile Airfield was turned over for use by theTwelfth Air Force415th Night Fighter Squadron between September 5-November 5 1943, during which timeBristol Beaufighters flew night interceptor missions against Axis aircraft during theSicilian andItalian Campaigns.
When the American occupation of the area had withdrawn, the airfield was dismantled by engineers. Today, only the medieval watchtower used as a control tower remains; all the surrounding fields which were used as runways and aprons are used for agricultural purposes.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
