Gerbini Airfield.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part ofTwelfth Air Force | |
| Plain of Catania | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Code | 505 |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 37°27′52.36″N014°52′22.00″E / 37.4645444°N 14.8727778°E /37.4645444; 14.8727778 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1940 |
| In use | 1943-1944 |
Gerbini Airfield is a series of abandonedWorld War II military airfields inPaternò,Sicily, located 23 kilometres (14 mi) west ofCatania, near the intersection of the A19 and SP24 highways. The airfields consisted of a series of flat agricultural fields, used for runways and parking areas.First used by ItalianRegia Aeronautica:
It also housed GermanLuftwaffe forces during theBattle of Sicily, they were attacked on several occasions byUnited States Army Air ForceTwelfth Air Force bomber aircraft.
Later, they were seized by Allied ground forces and used by the USAAF during the battle. Army engineers compacted the earth and improved the field for use by light and medium bombers. Also a tent encampment was established for ground support and for station infrastructure. Twelfth Air Force units stationed at Gerbini were:
When the C-47s moved out at the end of 1944, the airfield was dismantled and returned to its owners. A runway is still present, though the cement is broken up in many places by weeds. The outline of the runway is visible on Google satellite view.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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