Ain M'lila Airfield
Encyclopedia
Ain M'lila Airfield is an abandoned World War II
military airfield in Algeria
, located approximately 17 km north-northwest of Aïn Kercha in Oum el Bouaghi province, about 50 km south-southeast of Constantine
. It was built by the Army Corps of Engineers on a flat, dry lakebed at an altitude of 2580 feet, designed for heavy bomber use by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign
with concrete runways, hardstands and taxiways. Billeting and support facilities consisted of tents. Due to its high altitude, the days were hot and the nights cold in the dry desert. Known units which operated from Ain M'lila were:
The Americans pulled out in the summer of 1943, heading to their new bases around Foggia, Italy and Ain M'lila was abandoned. The engineers dismantled what they could and the airfield was reclaimed by the desert. Today only faint traces can be seen on aerial photography.
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 Algeria
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 17 km north-northwest of Aïn Kercha in Oum el Bouaghi province, about 50 km south-southeast 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...
. It was built by the Army Corps of Engineers on a flat, dry lakebed at an altitude of 2580 feet, designed for heavy bomber use by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force 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...
with concrete runways, hardstands and taxiways. Billeting and support facilities consisted of tents. Due to its high altitude, the days were hot and the nights cold in the dry desert. Known units which operated from Ain M'lila were:
- 2d Bombardment Group, 17 June-31 July 1943, B-17 Flying Fortress
- 301st Bombardment Group, 17 January - 6 March 1943, B-17 Flying Fortress
- 321st Bombardment Group, 12 March-1 June 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...
The Americans pulled out in the summer of 1943, heading to their new bases around Foggia, Italy and Ain M'lila was abandoned. The engineers dismantled what they could and the airfield was reclaimed by the desert. Today only faint traces can be seen on aerial photography.