Where did this come from?
Impressive but I doubt it crossed the channel to the UK. More like somewhere back in N. Africa from the looks of the sand.
Most likely Libya.
Did you miss the header up top?
Impressive but I doubt it crossed the channel to the UK. More like somewhere back in N. Africa from the looks of the sand.
You could be right. England is a long, long way from Tunisia.
Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Part of Twelfth Air Force 97th BG 414bs Sweet Chariot.jpg Gen. Jimmy Doolittle awards the Purple Heart to the aircrew of Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-9021 Sweet Chariot at Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield, Algeria, July 1943.
Type Military Airfield Coordinates 36°08′39″N 006°07′53″E Built 1942 In use 19421943 Controlled by United States Army Air Forces Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield is located in Algeria
Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel (Chateaudun Du Rhumel) Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Algeria, located about 6 km north-northwest of Chelghoum el Aid, in Mila province, about 47 km southwest of Constantine.
During World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps. The airfield was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and its primary use was that of a heavy bomber airfield, with concrete runways, hardstands and taxiways. Billeting and support facilities consisted of tents. The 2d Bomb Group and the 97th Bomb Group were the primary tenants at the airfield, both flying B-17 Flying Fortresses missions over targets in Italy; Tunisia; Sicily and Sardinia. The 1st Fighter Group flew escort for the Fortresses, as well as attacking enemy ground targets of opportunity.
Known units assigned to the airfield were: HQ 5th Bombardment Wing, March August 1943 HQ 7th Fighter Wing (later 47th Bombardment Wing), 11 January 1 March 1943 2d Bombardment Group, 27 April- 7 June 1943, B-17 Flying Fortress 97th Bombardment Group, 8 February 1 August 1943, B-17 Flying Fortress 1st Fighter Group, February 29 June 1943, P-38 Lightning
When the Americans moved out in late 1943, the airfield was dismantled and abandoned. Today, there is almost no evidence of its existence, as the land has returned to agricultural use. Faint outlines of dispersal pads, runways and taxiways can be seen in aerial photography, and there may be a number of agricultural buildings on a former concreted aircraft parking/maintenance area to the south of the field.