Jump to content

Louis Gentil Field

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Louis Gentil Field
Part of Twelfth Air Force
Coordinates32°17′37.37″N 008°30′06.04″W / 32.2937139°N 8.5016778°W / 32.2937139; -8.5016778
TypeAirfield
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Army Air Forces
Site history
BuiltPrior to World War II
In useMilitary airfield from December 1942-January 1943
Battles/warsNorth African Campaign
Louis Gentil Field is located in Morocco
Louis Gentil Field
Louis Gentil Field
Location of Louis Gentil Field, French Morocco

Louis Gentil Field is an abandoned airfield in Morocco, located approximately 6 km north-northeast of Youssoufia, about 170 km southwest of Casablanca.

History

[edit]

Prior to World War II, Louis Gentil Airport was a regional airport built by the French Colonial government, named after Louis Gentil, a French geologist. The airport was seized by invading Allied forces shortly after the Operation Torch landings in November 1942 and used by the United States Army Air Force as a Twelfth Air Force fighter airfield during the North African Campaign.

The 91st and 92d Fighter squadrons of the 81st Fighter Group briefly used the airfield from mid-December 1942 through early 1943 flying P-39 Airacobras. The squadrons moved up to Mediouna Airfield, and the airfield was returned to civil control.

Today the remains of the main runway can be seen in an agricultural field, but no structures remain.

References

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from 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.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.