Mazara Airfield.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part ofTwelfth Air Force | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 37°41′34″N012°36′35″E / 37.69278°N 12.60972°E /37.69278; 12.60972 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943 |
| Battles/wars | Operation Avalanche (invasion of Salerno, Italy) |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 316th Troop Carrier Group |
Mazara Airfield is an abandonedWorld War II military airfield inItaly which was located about 3 km north-northeast ofMazara del Vallo onSicily.
It was built before 1943 and used by Axis forces before being seized by elements of theUnited States Fifth Army during theSicilian Campaign. Once in Allied hands, it was used by theUnited States Army Air ForceTwelfth Air Force316th Troop Carrier Group between 1 September and 18 October 1943.[1] The unit had three squadrons of C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft, used for carrying cargo, personnel and for paratrooper combat drops. The first components were the 45th and 46th Troop Carrier Squadrons, arriving fromEnfidaville Airfield, Tunisia on 1 September; Group headquarters and the 35th Troop Carrier Squadron arrived on 3 September[2]
The airfield was not used duringOperation Husky (invasion of Sicily). It appears to have been a staging airfield forOperation Avalanche (invasion of Salerno, Italy). Since there were no airborne parachute landings during the Salerno invasion, it likely ferried supplies and personnel. Once Allied ground forces were on mainland Italy, the American use of the airfield appears to have ended; the 316th moved on to another airfield atBorizzo Airfield, Sicily.
When the Americans pulled out the airfield was abandoned. Today the outline of what may have been the main runway can be seen in aerial imagery.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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