Chekira Airfield
Encyclopedia
Chekira Airfield is an abandoned World War II
military airfield in Tunisia
, which was located near Wadi al `Akarit (Qabis); about 300 km south of Tunis
.
It was a temporary airfield built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, used by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force
during the Tunisian Campaign. It was used by the 57th Fighter Group, which flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield between 10-14 1943 during the British Eighth Army's advance into Tunisia
from Libya
, to which the 57th was attached.
When the Americans moved out at the end of April 1943, the airfield was dismantled and abandoned. Today the airfield's precise location is undetermined, as agricultural fields have obliterated its existence.
World 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...
military airfield in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, which was located near Wadi al `Akarit (Qabis); about 300 km south of Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
.
It was a temporary airfield built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, used by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
during the Tunisian Campaign. It was used by the 57th Fighter Group, which flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield between 10-14 1943 during the British Eighth Army's advance into Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
from Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, to which the 57th was attached.
When the Americans moved out at the end of April 1943, the airfield was dismantled and abandoned. Today the airfield's precise location is undetermined, as agricultural fields have obliterated its existence.