Alto

Airfield
65th Fighter Squadron Operations building UPL 25549 UPL 25549 65th Fighter Squadron Operations building
Alto Airfield, Corsica
Photograph taken by James C "Wabbit" Hare
Off

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.

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Doggie
  • Unit: 57th Fighter Group 65th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Taboo My Gal
  • Unit: 320th Bomb Group 441st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 320th Bomb Group 443rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes

Alto: Gallery (21 items)