Solenzara Air Base

Solenzara Air Base (Base aérienne 126 Solenzara) is a front-line French Air Force (Armée de l'Air (ALA) base located in the village of Ventiseri approximately 40 km north-norhteast of Porto-Vecchio on Corsica.

Overview
Solenzara Air Base is a NATO facility tactical training center.

World War II
During World War II the air base was constructed by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force XII Engineer Command as an all-weather temporary field built using Pierced Steel Planking for runways and parking areas, as well as for dispersal sites. In addition, tents were used for billeting and also for support facilities; an access road was built to the existing road infrastructure; a dump for supplies, ammunition, and gasoline drums, along with a drinkable water and minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting. As the airfield was not located on mainland France, no Advanced Landing Ground identifier was designated, and was called Solenzara Airfield.

The airfield was designed for fighter, medium bomber units, as well as for command and control. Known units assigned were:


 * HQ, 57th Bombardment Wing, 20 April-5 October 1944
 * 310th Bombardment Group, 10 December 1943-7 April 1945, B-25 Mitchell
 * 324th Fighter Group, 19 July 1944-25 August 1944, P-40 Warhawk

Both the 310th and 324th flew combat missions in support of the Invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon) during July and August 1944. At the end of the war, the American combat units moved out for their return to the United States. The airfield was then turned over to the French government in July 1945.