Santa Maria Airfield.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part ofTwelfth Air Force | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 40°50′17.25″N014°20′57.77″E / 40.8381250°N 14.3493806°E /40.8381250; 14.3493806 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943-1944 |
Santa Maria Airfield is an abandonedWorld War II military airfield inItaly, located in the Vecchia Parrocchia di Santa Maria Del Carmine city ofSan Giorgio a Cremano, about 23 km southeast from the mainNaples Airport.
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 byTwelfth Air Force during theItalian Campaign. Known units assigned were:
There are no remaining traces of the airfield as the urban growth of the Cappella Santa Maria Del Carmine area of Naples has expanded over the area, and obliterated any trace of the airfield. It is unknown precisely where the airfield was actually located due to the changed landscape over the past 60 years.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
