Castelluccio

Airfield
media-24151.jpeg UPL 24151 Castelluccio Airfield, Italy
Home of the 451st BG - 15th AF

Object Number - UPL 24151 - Castelluccio Airfield, Italy Home of the 451st BG - 15th AF

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Detailed History

Castelluccio Airfield was a semi-permanent airfield located approximately 15km south of Foggia, Apulia, Italy

The airfield was built in early 1944 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers with one PSP runway. It was part of the Foggia Airfield Complex, a series of World War II military airfields located within a 25 mile (40 km) radius of Foggia. It had extensive taxiways and hardstand parking areas and a steel control tower.

Castelluccio opened on 15 March 1944 and became home to the 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the US 15th Air Force, flying B-24 Liberators. The 451th BG (Heavy) engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece. The unit received three Distinguished Unit Citations, flew interdiction missions, participated in the invasion of Southern France and transported supplies to troops in Italy. They also supported the final advances in Northern Italy in April 1945.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 725th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15060231
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 725th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35455407
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 725th Bomb Squadron 451st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 15060459
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 725th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34435563
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 725th Bomb Squadron 451st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-2056322
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 725th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force attend to a crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7759) nicknamed "Little Butch". First handwritten caption on reverse: '"Somewhere in Italy" Little Butch had seen better days.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '2700 Gallons of GAS, 10-500 Lb bombs Pilot, Lt Massare March 29-44.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Little Butch
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 727th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Judge
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 486th Bomb Group 832nd Bomb Squadron 724th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95379) nicknamed "Extra Joker" of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Image taken by Leo S Stoutsenberger, Photographic Officer, 451st Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Extra Joker
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 725th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pretty Mickey
  • Unit: 451st Bomb Group 725th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Castelluccio: Gallery (11 items)