Solenzara Airfield

Airfield
media-55248.jpeg UPL 55248 B-25J-1-NC #43-27791
321st BG - 448th BS - 12th AF
Flying over Solenzara Airfield, Corsica

Object Number - UPL 55248 - B-25J-1-NC #43-27791 321st BG - 448th BS - 12th AF Flying over Solenzara Airfield, Corsica

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Detailed History

Air Base 126 Solenzara (French: Base aérienne 126 Solenzara) (IATA: SOZ, ICAO: LFKS) is a French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) (ALAE) base located in the village of Ventiseri approximately 40 km north-northeast of Porto-Vecchio on Corsica. It is just north of the mouth of the Travo River on the Tyrrhenian Sea.



Today the Air Base is a NATO tactical training center.[citation needed] It hosts:



Escadron d'Hélicoptères 1/44 Solenzara with the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma



During World War II the air base was constructed by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force XII Engineer Command as an all-weather temporary field built using Pierced Steel Planking for runways and parking areas, as well as for dispersal sites. In addition, tents were used for billeting and also for support facilities; an access road was built to the existing road infrastructure; a dump for supplies, ammunition, and gasoline drums, along with a drinkable water and minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting. As the airfield was not located on mainland France, no Advanced Landing Ground identifier was designated, and it was called Solenzara Airfield.



The airfield was designed for fighter, medium bomber units, as well as for command and control. Known units assigned were:



HQ, 57th Bombardment Wing, 20 April-5 October 1944

310th Bombardment Group, 10 December 1943 – 7 April 1945, B-25 Mitchell

321st Bomb Group, 23 April 1944

324th Fighter Group, 19 July 1944 – 25 August 1944, P-40 Warhawk

Both the 310th and 324th flew combat missions in support of the Invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon) during July and August 1944. At the end of the war, the American combat units moved out for their return to the United States. The airfield was then turned over to the French government in July 1945.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-744295
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 445th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16000660
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 448th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 448th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-744477
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Shit House Mouse
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 445th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Paper Doll
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Superstitious Aloysius
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Ava Maria
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
  • Nicknames: Lemmon Lu
  • Unit: 321st Bomb Group 446th Bomb Squadron

Solenzara Airfield: Gallery (4 items)