Telergma Airport
Encyclopedia
Telergma Airport is a joint-use civilian/military airport in Algeria
, just south of the city of Telerghma, about 300 km east of Algiers
, the small airport was sized by American Forces in the initial aftermath of the Operation Torch
landings on 2 December 1942. By 13 December, French troops and United States Army Engineers had improved the runway sufficiently for 17th Bombardment Group B-26 Marauder
medium bombers to begin using the facility, now known as "Telergma Airfield". Major Twelfth Air Force units assigned to the airfield during the North African Campaign
were:
After the Battle of North Africa ended, Telegrama Airfield was converted into a Bombardment Training Center, used to instruct French Air Force
ground and bomber crews in safe and effective tactical operation and maintenance of American fighter and bomber aircraft. The training center closed at the end of October 1944, and the airfield was returned to civil authorities.
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...
, just south of the city of Telerghma, about 300 km east of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
History
Built by the French Colonial government prior to 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 small airport was sized by American Forces in the initial aftermath of the Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
landings on 2 December 1942. By 13 December, French troops and United States Army Engineers had improved the runway sufficiently for 17th Bombardment Group B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
medium bombers to begin using the facility, now known as "Telergma Airfield". Major Twelfth Air Force units assigned to the airfield 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...
were:
- 17th Bombardment Group, 13 December 1942-10 May 1943, B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
- 310th Bombardment Group, 21 December 1942-1 January 1943, B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
- 319th Bombardment Group, 12 December 1942-3 March 1943, B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
- 14th Fighter Group, 5 May-13 June 1943, P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe 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...
- 33d Fighter Group, 24 December 1942-7 January 1943; 20 February-2 March 1943, P-40 Warhawk
- 52d Fighter Group, 17 January-9 March 1943, Spitfire
- 82d Fighter Group, January-28 March 1943, P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe 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...
After the Battle of North Africa ended, Telegrama Airfield was converted into a Bombardment Training Center, used to instruct French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
ground and bomber crews in safe and effective tactical operation and maintenance of American fighter and bomber aircraft. The training center closed at the end of October 1944, and the airfield was returned to civil authorities.