Tafraoui

Infobox Algerian Municipality
map1 = DZ-31.svg
map2 = DZ-3112.svg
name1 = Tafraoui
name2 = طفراوي
code = 3112
postal = 31160
province = Oran
note1 =
district = Oued Tlélat
note2 =
seats = 7
chef =
mandate1 =
president =
mandate2 =
alt1 = 173
alt2 = 570
area1 = 182
area2 = 70
population = 11600
year = 2006
density1 = 64
density2 = 165
photo =
caption =
coa =
coasize =|

Tafraoui is a municipality in Oran Province, Algeria close to the city of Oran. There is an airport with the same name. Capturing this airport was a part of Operation Torch in the WWII.

History

Tafraoui became a staging and transit point for many units:
*11 Nov -20 Nov 1942 - 1st Fighter Group HQ and the 27th, 71st and 94th Fighter Squadrons, flying P-38 Lightnings, arriived then departed Tafraoui.
*14 Nov 42 - HQ 14th Fighter Group, HQ 62d Troop Carrier Group, and the 4th and 7th Troop Carrier Squadrons arrive at Tafroui with C-47s
*16 Nov 42 - 8th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62d Troop Carrier Group, arrive at Tafaraoui from the UK with C-47s; the 111th and 154th Observation Squadrons, 68th Observation Group, moves from St Leu to Tafaraoui with A-20s
*17 Nov 42 - 437th and 438th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), move from St Leu to Tafaraoui with B-26s.
*18 Nov 42 - HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) and the 439th, and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) move from St Leu to Tafaraoui with B-26s; "A" flight of the air echelon of the 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron, 3d Photographic Group, arrives at Tafaraoui with B-17s and F-4s.

The new desert Spitfires of the 31st were also here. Other aircraft at the field included P-38s of the 14th, B-26s, B-25s, A-20s, Gen. Doolittle's B-17-G, some {Amiat} French bombers around, and some old wrecks fixed up as dummies.