Rosignano

Airfield

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Detailed History

Rosignano Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located near the comune of Rosignano Marittimo in the Province of Livorno in Tuscany.

The area was captured by the Fifth Army in the early summer of 1944, and the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force in 1945 during the Italian campaign. Known units assigned were:

416th Night Fighter Squadron, P-61 Black Widow, 1 September-1 October 1944

Operations included defensive patrols of Naples, Leghorn (Livorno), Pisa and Florence. Also provided air defense of Fifth Army operations and intruder sweeps of the Po Valley in Northern Italy.

62d Troop Carrier Group, 30 September 1944-8 January 1945

4th, 7th, 8th, 51st, 517th TC Squadrons, C-47 Skytrain

47th Bombardment Group, October–11 December 1944

84th, 85th, 86th, 97th, Bomb Squadrons, A-26 Invader

64th Troop Carrier Group, 10 January-23 May 1945

16th, 17th, 18th, 35th TC Squadrons, C-47 Skytrain

2641st Special Group, 24 March-20 May 1945

859th Bomb Squadron, B-24 Liberator

Engaged in special operations assigned to Fifteenth Air Force.

The 457th Air Service Squadron provided base support functions for the station, and the 904th Base Security Battalion provided security for the airfield and ground station.

The USAAF ended its operations at Rosignano about 30 September 1945 when the 117th Army Airways Communications Squadron closed its facility on the station. Today there is little or no evidence of the airfield, as the land has been returned to agricultural use.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner / Armament Inspector / Armament Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-34490
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot - Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13037350
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Communications Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-766184
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 13027977
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Miss Burma
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron