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 85th Bomb Squadron 12th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-554479
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot - Squadron Commander
Aircraft
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