Thelepte Airfield is an airfield in Tunisia, located about 20 km southwest of Kasserine. It currently is active and in use.
Thelepte Airfield
Living conditions at Thelepte Airfield during the North African Campaign, 1943. Aircraft in background is USAAF Twelfth Air Force 31st Fighter Group, Spitfire Mk VB, 308th Fighter Squadron
On 18 February, the 31st and 81st Fighter Groups had to withdraw from the airfield after the Afrika Korps came within a few miles of the airfield. However American counter-attacks drove the Germans east and the airfield was re-manned on 1 March, later hosting A-20 Havocs until mid-April, when the combat was focused around Tunis and the units moved east to be closer to enemy targets, ending American use of the airfield.
Today, a single east–west runway (10/23) is active and well maintained. No structures are visible on aerial photography, however the area is fenced with restricted entry. A portion of a wartime NE/SW runway still exists. It is unclear what the present use (military/civilian) is.
Referencesedit
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. ISBN0-89201-092-4.
External linksedit
March 14, 2024
thelepte, airfield, airfield, tunisia, located, about, southwest, kasserine, currently, active, living, conditions, during, north, african, campaign, 1943, aircraft, background, usaaf, twelfth, force, 31st, fighter, group, spitfire, 308th, fighter, squadroncoo. Thelepte Airfield is an airfield in Tunisia located about 20 km southwest of Kasserine It currently is active and in use Thelepte AirfieldLiving conditions at Thelepte Airfield during the North African Campaign 1943 Aircraft in background is USAAF Twelfth Air Force 31st Fighter Group Spitfire Mk VB 308th Fighter SquadronCoordinates35 00 14 90 N 008 35 37 21 E 35 0041389 N 8 5936694 E 35 0041389 8 5936694Site historyBuilt1943Thelepte Airfieldclass notpageimage Location of Thelepte Airfield Tunisia It was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force in 1943 during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps The first American units arrived in late December and the P 40s of the 33d Fighter Group arrived on 7 January from Telergma Airfield Algeria Thelepte was used by the following units during the Battle of Tunisia HQ 64th Fighter Wing 1 18 March 1943 47th Bombardment Group 30 March 13 April 1943 A 20 Havoc 31st Fighter Group 7 18 February 1943 Spitfire 33d Fighter Group 7 January 8 February 1943 P 40 Warhawk 81st Fighter Group 22 January 18 February 1943 P 39 AiracobraOn 18 February the 31st and 81st Fighter Groups had to withdraw from the airfield after the Afrika Korps came within a few miles of the airfield However American counter attacks drove the Germans east and the airfield was re manned on 1 March later hosting A 20 Havocs until mid April when the combat was focused around Tunis and the units moved east to be closer to enemy targets ending American use of the airfield Today a single east west runway 10 23 is active and well maintained No structures are visible on aerial photography however the area is fenced with restricted entry A portion of a wartime NE SW runway still exists It is unclear what the present use military civilian is References edit nbsp 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 External links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thelepte Airfield amp oldid 1213497372, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
