bigpigeon.us webarea WW II - Germany > MTO > MTO Air War, updated by RAC 7 Oct '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 Dead - The MTO Air War
(taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea)
(taken from the bigpigeon.us WW II Dead webarea)
- 02-05 - The MTO Air War: (eight dead, updated 6 Oct ’19)
† Bogue, Clifford John - SN 37-476-332, USAAF
727 Bomb. Sqdn, 451st Bomb. Gp. 15th AF, based at Castellucia Air Field, Foggia, Italy; B-24J #42-51409 tail gunner; KIA 7 Oct ’44, east of Vienna, Austria on mission over Vienna, plane lost from flak, 5 died, 5 survived.
† Fenn, Clifford Loren - SN 37-484-890, USAAF
513 Bomb. Sqdn., 376th Bomb. Gp., 15th AF; B-24H #42-51151 ball turret gunner, KIA 2 Jul ’44, over Vecses Aerodrome, Budapest, Hungary; plane lost from flak, four died.
† Knapp, Clyde Alfred - SN O-328819, USAAF
154th Obs. Sqdn. 68th Obs. Gp. based at Oujda, Morocco; Douglas Havoc A-20 pilot; KIA 7 Jan ’43 North Africa; plane w/ crew of four disappeared on a mission; BNR.
† Larsen, Lester M. - SN 17-003-312, USAAF
37th Bomb. Sqdn., 17th Bomb. Gp., XII Bomber Command, based at Telergma, Algeria; Martin Marauder B-26 crew member; KIA 16 Mar ’43 North Africa; plane did not return from mission; BNR.
† Parks, George Harvey - SN O-751951, USAAF
717 Bomb. Sqdn., 449 Bomb. Gp., 15th AF; B-24H #42-52136; KIA 2 Apr ’44 over Steyr, Austria; collision with another B-24, no survivors.
† Rink, Paul Lloyd - SN O-723687, USAAF
742 Bomb. Sqdn., 455 Bomb. Gp., 15th AF; B-24J #42-78500 navigator; KIA 17 Aug ’44 over Ploesti, Romania.
† Robinson, William Brigham Haight - SN O-673901, USAAF
779th Bomb. Sqdn., 464th Bomb. Gp.15th AF; B-24J #44-41053 bombardier; KIA 10 Sep ’44 near Glinzendorf ten miles E of Vienna, Austria; plane hit by flak & exploded over target, eight (maybe six) died, two lived.
† Thies, Melvin Chris - SN 17-063-991, USAAF
345 Bomb. Sqdn., 98th Bomb. Gp. 15th AF; B-24H #42-95463 tail gunner; KIA 15 Jul ’44, over Ploesti, Romania; plane hit by flak; at least six dead.