Nanur Airport
Encyclopedia
Nanur Airport is an airport in the Wadi Maymun Darraj region of Libya
, located approximately 200 km south-southeast of Tripoli
in the Libyan desert. Although listed as a civil airport, it appears to function as a reserve Libyan Air Force
airfield. It consists of a very large runway, capable of strategic bomber use, with a taxiway and a parking ramp. There are no permanent structures visible, nor are there any production oilfields in the area.
the airfield, then known as Darragh Airfield was used as a military airfield by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force
57th Fighter Group during the North African Campaign
against Axis forces. The 57th flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield between 19 January-3 March 1943 before moving forward with the British Eighth Army.
The current airfield appears to be overlaid on its World War II predecessor facility.
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....
, located approximately 200 km south-southeast of Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
in the Libyan desert. Although listed as a civil airport, it appears to function as a reserve Libyan Air Force
Libyan Air Force
The Libyan Air Force is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the 2011 Libyan civil war, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in...
airfield. It consists of a very large runway, capable of strategic bomber use, with a taxiway and a parking ramp. There are no permanent structures visible, nor are there any production oilfields in the area.
World War II
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 airfield, then known as Darragh Airfield was used as a military airfield 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....
57th Fighter Group 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 Axis forces. The 57th flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield between 19 January-3 March 1943 before moving forward with the British Eighth Army.
The current airfield appears to be overlaid on its World War II predecessor facility.