Alto
Airfield
Alto Airfield, Corsica
Photograph taken by James C "Wabbit" Hare
Object Number - UPL 25549 - 65th Fighter Squadron Operations building Alto Airfield, Corsica Photograph taken by James C "Wabbit" Hare
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Detailed History
42°27'00"N 009°31'35"E
Runway: 18/36 Pierced Steel Planking 1830x50m
Alto airfield (also known as Advanced Landing Ground 'Alto' and Alto Air Base) was a temporary airfield that formed part of the "USS Corsica" airbase complex on the east coast of Corsica.
It was built in early 1944, and derived its name from the river that runs nearby, close to the village of Fovelli.
57th fighter group landed at Alto on 23 March 1944 with their P-47 Thunderbolts.
This almost mythical United States Army Air Force unit consisted of three squadrons:
- the 64th, nicknamed "Black Scorpion"
- the 65th "Fignhting cocks "
- the 66th dubbed" Exterminators "
The Group was based in Corsica Alto (Penta di Casinca) from 23 March until 9 September 1944 and was joined by the French squadrons "Dauphiné", "Navarre" and especially "La Fayette" between 8 May to 14 June. The units participated in “Operation Strangle”, the Allied operations, particularly by USAAFs 12th and 15th Air Forces against the German army in Italy.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 65th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-705525
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 64th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot - Squadron Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12020404
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 64th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 65th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot - Assistant Group Operations Officer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Thumper II
- Unit: 320th Bomb Group 441st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Anne
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 64th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Lil Abner II
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 66th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Ponnie
- Unit: 57th Fighter Group 64th Fighter Squadron
