Hergla Airfield
Hergla Airfield![]() ![]() ![]() | |
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Coordinates | 36°08′05.06″N 010°26′14.85″E / 36.1347389°N 10.4374583°E |
Type | Military airfield |
Site information | |
Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
Site history | |
Built | 1943 |
In use | 1943 |
Hergla Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, which was located approximately 12 km north-northwest of Harqalah in al Janubiyah Wilayat province, about 90 km south-southwest of Tunis.
During World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Force during the North African Campaign as a bomber base, first for medium, then later for heavy bombers.
- 12th Bombardment Group, 2 June-2 August 1943, B-25 Mitchell
- 98th Bombardment Group, 22 September-22 November 1943, B-24 Liberator (15AF/12AF)
- 340th Bombardment Group, 2 June-2 August 1943, B-25 Mitchell (9AF)
Primary targets from Hergla were in Sicily and mainland Italy. As targets moved out of range, the groups moved to Italy and by November 1943 the airfield was closed. When the Americans moved out, the base was largely abandoned. For many years only faint evidence of the main runway and some taxiways were visible in aerial photos of the area, but the land had returned largely to its natural state. The Enfidha – Hammamet International Airport was built in its place and opened in 2009.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.