Biskra Airport
Encyclopedia
Biskra Ouakda Airport is an airport in Algeria
, located approximately 12 km north-northeast of Oumache; about 200 km south-southwest of Constantine
.
, the airport was known as "Biskra Airfield". It was a major United States Twelfth Air Force base of operations during the North African Campaign
against the German Afrika Korps
. Known combat units assigned to the airfield were: HQ, 5th Bombardment Wing (January-March 1943); 1st Fighter Group (14 December 1942-February 1943) P-38 Lightning
; 97th Bombardment Group (25 December 1942-8 February 1943) B-17 Flying Fortress; 301st Bombardment Group (16 December 1942-17 January 1943) B-17 Flying Fortress.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, located approximately 12 km north-northeast of Oumache; about 200 km south-southwest of Constantine
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
.
History
During World War IIWorld 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...
, the airport was known as "Biskra Airfield". It was a major United States Twelfth Air Force base of operations during the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
against the German Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
. Known combat units assigned to the airfield were: HQ, 5th Bombardment Wing (January-March 1943); 1st Fighter Group (14 December 1942-February 1943) P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
; 97th Bombardment Group (25 December 1942-8 February 1943) B-17 Flying Fortress; 301st Bombardment Group (16 December 1942-17 January 1943) B-17 Flying Fortress.