Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield

Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield
Part of Twelfth Air Force
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°11′47.50″N 006°07′10.70″E / 36.196528°N 6.119639°E / 36.196528; 6.119639
Built	1942
In use	1942–1943
Controlled by	United States Army Air Forces

Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield

Location of Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield, 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.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
• USAFHRA search for Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Airfield

External links