bigpigeon.us webarea WW II - Germany > MTO > MTO Air War, updated by RAC 19 Aug '19.
Most USAAF units sent to North Africa in late 1942 were initially stationed in Algeria and then moved into western Tunisia as bases became available in early 1943.
After the Axis surrender of Tunisia in May 1943, bases in Libya began to be used.
After the Axis surrender of Tunisia in May 1943, bases in Libya began to be used.
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From 1 November 1943 until the end of World War II, most US air power in the Mediterranean Theater was under the US 15th Air Force, with headquarter first in Tunis and later in Bari, Italy. In late 1943, a complex of airfields at Foggia, Italy, east of Naples near the Adriatic Coast, became available.
From these airfields thousands of men flew to their deaths. The 15th Air Force lost over 2,000 heavy bombers, six of whom appear on the following list. The Ploiesti oil fields in Romania were a major 15th Air Force target until they were overrun by Soviet forces in August 1944. |
The Foggia Airfields
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Sources for the WW II - MTO Air War webpage
- The Foggia Airfields map is courtesy of Charles Atkins at pinterest.com
Pottawattamie County, Iowa WW II Deaths - The MTO Air War (updated 19 Aug '19)
World Wars > WW II > Pott. Co. Deaths has parental and spousal information.
World Wars > WW II > Pott. Co. Deaths has parental and spousal information.
- Bogue, Clifford J., USAAF; 727th Bomb. Sqdn., 451st Bomb. Gp., 15th AF, B-24; d. 7 Oct ’44 near Vienna, Austria.
- Fenn, Clifford L., USAAF; 513th Bomb. Sqdn., 376th Bomb. Gp., 15th Air Force; B-24H ball turret gunner, d. 2 Jul ’44 over Vesces Aerodrome, Budapest, Hungary, plane lost from flak, four died.
- Knapp, Clyde A., USAAF; 154th Observation Sqdn., 68th Observation Gp. based at Oujda, Morocco, A-20 Havoc pilot; d. 7 Jan ’43, plane disappeared on a mission.
- Larsen, Lester M., USAAF; 37th Bomb. Sqdn., 17th Bomb. Gp., XII Bomber Command, B-26 based at Telergma, Algeria; d. 16 Mar ’43 over North Africa.
- Parks, George H., USAAF; 717th Bomb. Sqdn., 449th Bomb. Gp., 15th AF, B-24; d. 2 Apr ’44 over Steyr, Austria from mid-air collision with another B-24.
- Rink, Paul R., USAAF; 742nd Bomb. Sqdn., 455th Bomb. Gp., 15th AF, B-24; d. 17 Aug ’44 over Ploesti, Romania.
- Robinson, William B., USAAF; 779th Bomb. Sqdn., 464th Bomb. Gp., 15th AF, B-24; d. 10 Sep ’44 near Vienna, Austria, plane hit by flak and exploded.
- Thies, Melvin C., Minden & Avoca, IA, USAAF; 345th Bomb. Sqdn., 98th Bomb. Gp., 15th AF, B-24; d. 15 Jul ’44 over Ploiesti, Romania, tail gunner on plane hit by flak.