Any one able to identify this Italian airfield? (USAAF aircraft)

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by HighTow, Oct 10, 2020.

  1. HighTow

    HighTow Junior Member

    Long shot this - two captures from a shaky film that shows C47's on what I believe is an airfield in Italy. Other frames in the film show a lot of Waco gliders.

    Despite the poor quality of the film I think I've managed to identify a squadron code of CK? on the side of one of the C-47s. I think it might be a detachment of the 435th Troop Carrier Group, possible 75 Squadron. The other observation is that the tugs and glider have had the white upper part of the invasion stripes removed which, if I recalled, puts this after August 1944?

    I know the 75th were used to tow gliders from Tarquina, Italy for Operation Dragoon but this seems to be after that so they must have been stationed somewhere else in Italy.

    Any ideas?

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    Dave55 likes this.
  2. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi,

    Have you seen this video on Facebook, "Prelude Operation Dragoon". Not the best quality unfortunately. The opening clip may actually show the C-47 with code CK which the descriptions claims is on the way to Italy? No evidence of invasion stripes on the upper part of rear fuselage. Comment from poster claims it is a 75th TCS (435 TCG) aircraft.

    Regards ...
     
    Dave55 likes this.
  3. HighTow

    HighTow Junior Member

    Cee, interesting vid. The last part is definitely at Tarquinia as I recognise the crashed B-24 liberator.
    In the video I have (and a still photo) there is a railway line running behind where the Horsa's are parked. The airfield is also shared with Waco gliders. I think that rules out Tarquina but I'm starting to wonder if it's Guidonia Montecelio (which I know had both Horsa's and Waco's parked on it) or Ciampino.
     
  4. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    High Tow,

    Wikipedia has the 64th Troop Carrier Group occupying the Ciampino airfield in June 1944 and afterwards. The Luftwaffe Airfields book (pdf) for Italy, etc, has information on Ciampino and Guidonia. Both airfields were served by nearby rail lines and heavily protected by flak guns. Otherwise I'm bust for now.

    Regards ...
     
  5. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi,

    The orbat of the Provisional Troop Carrier Air Division (PTCAD) for Operation Dragoon is on Pegasus Archive. I didn't realize that many Troop Carrier Wings and Groups were involved.

    Provisional Troop Carrier Air Division

    Regards ....
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2020

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