Souk-el-Arba
AirfieldTop Row L to R: William J. Hanna (Group Ops Officer), Robert V. DeShazo (Group Exec Officer), Malcom Green (future Group C.O.), Frederick Terrell (Group Commander(
Bottom Row L to R: Reginald Clizbe (85th BS C.O.), Richard Horner (86th BS C.O.), Marion Akers (97th BS C.O.)
Connections
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Detailed History
The second airfield was constructed later by US military engineers, located about 4 km to the South-West of the town [3] and used primarily by American bombers.
Souk-el-Arba II was a temporary airfield constructed by Army Engineers using compacted earth for its runway, parking and dispersal areas, not designed for heavy aircraft or for long-term use.
Also known as Engle Field, it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African campaign. Known units assigned to the airfield were:
HQ, 47th Bombardment Wing, 8 June-7 August 1943
47th Bombardment Group, 13 April-1 July 1943, A-20 Havoc
321st Bombardment Group, 1 June-8 August 1943, B-25 Mitchell
82d Fighter Group, 13 June-3 August 1943, P-38 Lightning
After the Americans moved east to Sicily in August, the airfield was closed and dismantled. Today, the former main runway is visible in aerial photography and, other than two hangars south of the runway, no buildings or physical features remain.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-790788
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-790507
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38032271
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34955677
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-23155
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot - Squadron Commander
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Nicknames: Pauline
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Nicknames: Miss Carriage
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Nicknames: Tutu
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 84th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
- Nicknames: Ball of Fire
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 84th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
https://www.google.com/maps/place/36°29'00.0%22N+8°48'00.0%22E/@36.5002779,8.7717212,8432m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d36.483333!4d8.8?hl=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souk-el-Arba_Airfield