| Thelepte Airfield | |
|---|---|
 Living conditions at Thelepte Airfield during the North African Campaign, 1943. Aircraft in background is USAAF Twelfth Air Force 31st Fighter Group, Spitfire Mk VB, 308th Fighter Squadron | |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 35°00′14.90″N008°35′37.21″E / 35.0041389°N 8.5936694°E /35.0041389; 8.5936694 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
Thelepte Airfield is an airfield inTunisia, located about 20 km southwest ofKasserine. It currently is active and in use.
It was used by theUnited States Army Air ForceTwelfth Air Force in 1943 during theNorth African Campaign against the GermanAfrika Korps. The first American units arrived in late December and the P-40s of the 33d Fighter Group arrived on 7 January fromTelergma Airfield,Algeria.
Thelepte was used by the following units during the Battle of Tunisia:
On 18 February, the 31st and 81st Fighter Groups had to withdraw from the airfield after the Afrika Korps came within a few miles of the airfield. However American counter-attacks drove the Germans east and the airfield was re-manned on 1 March, later hosting A-20 Havocs until mid-April, when the combat was focused around Tunis and the units moved east to be closer to enemy targets, ending American use of the airfield.
Today, a single east–west runway (10/23) is active and well maintained. No structures are visible on aerial photography, however the area is fenced with restricted entry. A portion of a wartime NE/SW runway still exists. It is unclear what the present use (military/civilian) is.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
