Ghisonaccia Alzitone Airport
Encyclopedia
Ghisonaccia Alzitone Airport is an airport in France
, located 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Ghisonaccia
in the Haute-Corse
department, approximately 335 km (208.2 mi) southeast of Corte
on Corsica
.
The airport is used for general aviation
, with no commercial airline service.
, Ghisonaccia Airfield was a military airfield used by the United States Army Air Forces
. It was an all-weather temporary field built in late 1943 by the XII Engineer Command using Marsden Matting
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. It was turned over to the Twelfth Air Force for operational combat use. Known units assigned to the airfield were:
After the war ended, the airfield was turned over to local authorities. Today the military airfield has been developed into a small, regional airport used by small aircraft.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, located 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Ghisonaccia
Ghisonaccia
Ghisonaccia is a commune of the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.-Population:-References:*...
in the Haute-Corse
Haute-Corse
Haute-Corse is a French department. It constitutes the northern part of the island of Corsica.- History :The department was formed on 15 September 1975, when the department of Corse was divided into Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud...
department, approximately 335 km (208.2 mi) southeast of Corte
Corte
Corte is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It is the fourth-largest commune in Corsica .-Administration:Corte is a subprefecture of the Haute-Corse department.-History:...
on Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
.
The airport is used for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, with no commercial airline service.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ghisonaccia Airfield was a military airfield used by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. It was an all-weather temporary field built in late 1943 by the XII Engineer Command using Marsden Matting
Marsden Matting
Marsden Matting is standardized, perforated steel matting material originally developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the rapid construction of temporary runways and landing strips...
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. It was turned over to the Twelfth Air Force for operational combat use. Known units assigned to the airfield were:
- HQ 57th Bombardment Wing, 20 April-5 October 1944
- 310th Bombardment Group310th Space WingThe 310th Space Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force. It is a tenant unit at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo....
, 10 December 1943-7 April 1945, B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named... - 414th Night Fighter Squadron414th Combat Training SquadronThe 414th Combat Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada....
, (Twelfth Air Force), 9 January-4 February 1944; 20 March–July 1944, Bristol BeaufighterBristol BeaufighterThe Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design... - 417th Night Fighter Squadron417th Weapons SquadronThe 417th Weapons Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the USAF Weapons School based at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. It was inactivated on September 14, 2006....
, (Twelfth Air Force), 7 January–February 1944, (Ground echelon only)
After the war ended, the airfield was turned over to local authorities. Today the military airfield has been developed into a small, regional airport used by small aircraft.