Poretta

Airfield

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Detailed History

In 1944, during World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Twelfth Air Force. On 31 July 1944, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the legendary French pilot, took off from this airport and disappeared, on a reconnaissance flight over France in a Lockheed P-38 Lightning.

USAAF combat units assigned:[clarification needed]

414th Night Fighter Squadron, (Twelfth Air Force), 5 February–July 1944; 5 September – 13 October 1944, Bristol Beaufighter

527th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter Group, (Twelfth Air Force), 12 July-23 September 1944, P-47 Thunderbolt

416th Night Fighter Squadron, (Twelfth Air Force), 14–23 August 1944, P-61 Black Widow

417th Night Fighter Squadron, (Twelfth Air Force), February–April 1944; 25 April – 7 September 1944, Bristol Beaufighter[3]

5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, (3d Reconnaissance Group), 11 July – 24 September 1944, P-38/F-5 Lightning

23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, (3d Reconnaissance Group), 11 July – 24 September 1944, P-38/F-5 Lightning

111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, (XII Tactical Air Command), 21 July – 27 August 1944, P-51/F-6 Mustang

42nd Bombardment Wing was headquartered at the airfield, 21 September – 24 November 1944.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35035548
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13029367
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Mechanic/Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13037295
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group Headquarters (47th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-20836
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot - Group Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
Date
Contributorcurreri
Changes
Sources

Daddy of Them All: Story of the 17th Bomb Group in WWII Paperback – 1 Jan. 1990
Paperback : 78 pages
ISBN-10 : 096059003X
ISBN-13 : 978-0960590032
Publisher : Boomerang Publishers (1 Jan. 1990)
Language: : English