Ebba Ksour Airfield
Encyclopedia
Ebba Ksour Airfield is an abandoned World War II
military airfield in Tunisia
, located near El Ksour
, in Kef province
, approximately 150 km South-West of Tunis
.
The airfield was built as a temporary wartime field by Army Engineers, using Pierced Steel Planking
(PSP) for runways and parking and dispersal areas, and support structures being quickly constructed out of wood or tents. It was used briefly by the United States Army Air Forces
Twelfth Air Force 33d Fighter Group between 12 April and 9 June 1943 during the North African Campaign
flying P-40 Warhawks. After the 33d moved east to Menzel Temime
, the airfield was dismantled by engineers.
The precise location of the airfield is undetermined. The land around El Ksour is a mixture of desert and agriculture and the land has largely either returned to its natural state or been developed into agriculture after the war. Today, there is little or no evidence remaining of the airfield's existence after 60 years.
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...
, located near El Ksour
El Ksour
El Ksour is a town and commune in the Kef Governorate, Tunisia. As of 2004 it had a population of 5,357....
, in Kef province
Kef Governorate
Kef Governorate is one of the twenty-four governorates of Tunisia. It is situated in north-western Tunisia, bordering Algeria. It covers an area of 4,965 km² and has a population of 259,000...
, approximately 150 km South-West 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....
.
The airfield was built as a temporary wartime field by Army Engineers, using Pierced Steel Planking
Marsden Matting
Marsden Matting is standardized, perforated steel matting material originally developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the rapid construction of temporary runways and landing strips...
(PSP) for runways and parking and dispersal areas, and support structures being quickly constructed out of wood or tents. It was used briefly by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
Twelfth Air Force 33d Fighter Group between 12 April and 9 June 1943 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...
flying P-40 Warhawks. After the 33d moved east to Menzel Temime
Menzel Temime Airfield
Menzel Temime Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near the city of Menzel Temine, 25 km north-northeast of Korba and 31 km east of Tāklisah...
, the airfield was dismantled by engineers.
The precise location of the airfield is undetermined. The land around El Ksour is a mixture of desert and agriculture and the land has largely either returned to its natural state or been developed into agriculture after the war. Today, there is little or no evidence remaining of the airfield's existence after 60 years.