Scordia Airfield
{{Infobox military structure
|name=Scordia Airfield
70px
|partof = Twelfth Air Force
|location=
|coordinates={{Coord|37|18|20.24|N|014|50|59.54|E|type:airport}}
|image=
|caption=
|type=Military airfield
|code=
|built=1943
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used= 1943
|demolished=
|condition=
|ownership=
|controlledby=United States Army Air Forces
|garrison=
|commanders=
|occupants=
|battles=
|events=
}}
{{Location map|Italy|label= Scordia Airfield
|marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg
|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=37|lat_min=18|lat_sec=20
|lon_dir=E|lon_deg=014|lon_min=50|lon_sec=59
|position=left|width=200|float=right
|caption=Location of Scordia Airfield, Italy}}
Scordia Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which is located approximately 1 km north of Scordia in Sicily.
It was an all-weather temporary field built by the XII Engineer Command using a graded earth compacted surface, with a prefabricated hessian (burlap) surfacing known as PHS. PHS was made of an asphalt-impregnated jute which was rolled out over the compacted surface over a square mesh track (SMT) grid of wire joined in 3-inch squares. Pierced steel planking was also used for parking areas, as well as for dispersal sites, when it was available. 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.
Once completed it was turned over for use by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force 57th Fighter Group during August 1943, flying combat operations with P-40 Warhawks.
When the 57th moved out to Milazzo to prepare for the invasion of the Italian mainland, the airfield was closed and dismantled. Today,{{When|date=November 2016}} there are traces of the airfield remaining on the landscape visible from aerial photography, but no buildings or physical features remain.
References
{{AFHRA}}
- Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.
- {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 20, 2016 |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
External links
{{USAAF 12th Air Force World War II}}
Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Italy