Ponte Galeria Airfield
Encyclopedia
Ponte Galeria Airfield is an abandoned World War II
military airfield in Italy
, located approximately 11 km northeast of Fiumicino, 15 km west-southwest of Rome
.
It was an all-weather temporary field built by the United States Army Air Force XII Engineer Command using a graded earth compacted surface, with a prefabricated hessian (burlap) surfacing known as PHS. PHS was made of an asphalt-impregnated jute which was rolled out over the compacted surface over a square mesh track (SMT) grid of wire joined in 3-inch squares. Pierced Steel Planking was also used for parking areas, as well as for dispersal sites, when it was available. 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.
Once completed it was turned over for use by the Twelfth Air Force 47th Bombardment Group.
The 47th first arrived at the airfield on 10 June 1944, flying A-20 Havoc aircraft. The group stayed briefly, moving to Ombrone Airfield
on 27 June
When the 47th pulled out, the airfield was dismantled and abandoned. Today, the airfield is now reclaimed by agriculture, with little or no evidence of its existence.
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...
military airfield in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, located approximately 11 km northeast of Fiumicino, 15 km west-southwest of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
It was an all-weather temporary field built by the United States Army Air Force XII Engineer Command using a graded earth compacted surface, with a prefabricated hessian (burlap) surfacing known as PHS. PHS was made of an asphalt-impregnated jute which was rolled out over the compacted surface over a square mesh track (SMT) grid of wire joined in 3-inch squares. Pierced Steel Planking was also used for parking areas, as well as for dispersal sites, when it was available. 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.
Once completed it was turned over for use by the Twelfth Air Force 47th Bombardment Group.
The 47th first arrived at the airfield on 10 June 1944, flying A-20 Havoc aircraft. The group stayed briefly, moving to Ombrone Airfield
Ombrone Airfield
Ombrone Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 5 km east-northeast of Grosseto, and about 150 km northwest of Rome. It was a temporary airfield built by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The airfield was used by tactical aircraft of the...
on 27 June
When the 47th pulled out, the airfield was dismantled and abandoned. Today, the airfield is now reclaimed by agriculture, with little or no evidence of its existence.