Menzel Temime Airfield
Encyclopedia
Menzel Temime Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia
, which was located near the city of Menzel Temine, 25 km north-northeast of Korba and 31 km east of Tāklisah. The airfield was built as a temporary wartime field by Army Engineers, using Pierced Steel Planking
(PSP) for runways and parking and dispersal areas, and support structures being quickly constructed out of wood or tents.
During World War II
it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign
. B-25 Mitchells flown from the airfield later took part in the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, flying combat missions until enemy targets became out of range. Known units which used the airfield were:
The airfield was closed by the Americans in December 1943, and dismantled by Army engineers. Today, its precise location is undetermined. The land around Menzel Temine is heavily used in agriculture, leaving is little or no evidence remaining of the airfield's existence after 60 years.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, which was located near the city of Menzel Temine, 25 km north-northeast of Korba and 31 km east of Tāklisah. The airfield was built as a temporary wartime field by Army Engineers, using Pierced Steel Planking
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...
(PSP) for runways and parking and dispersal areas, and support structures being quickly constructed out of wood or tents.
During World War II
World 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...
it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
. B-25 Mitchells flown from the airfield later took part in the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, flying combat missions until enemy targets became out of range. Known units which used the airfield were:
- 310th Bombardment Group, 5 August-10 November 1943, 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...
- 33d Fighter Group, 20 May-9 June 1943, P-40 Warhawk
The airfield was closed by the Americans in December 1943, and dismantled by Army engineers. Today, its precise location is undetermined. The land around Menzel Temine is heavily used in agriculture, leaving is little or no evidence remaining of the airfield's existence after 60 years.