Martuba Airbase Explained

Martuba Airbase
Nativename:Martuba Airport
Iata:DNF
Type:Military/Public
Owner:Libyan National Army
Operator:Libyan Air Force
Location:Martuba, Libya
Elevation-F:1235
Coordinates:32.5417°N 22.7444°W
Pushpin Map:Libya
Pushpin Label:DNF
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Libya
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:14/32
R1-Length-M:3620
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Source: GCM WAC[1] Google Maps[2]

Martuba Airbase is a Libyan Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية الليبية, Berber: Adwas Alibyan Ujnna) base in the Derna District of Libya, located approximately south-southeast of Derna, and east-northeast of Benghazi.

History

During World War II the airfield, then known as Martuba Airfield, was used as a military airfield by the United States Army Air Force 57th Fighter Group, during the North African Campaign against Axis forces. The 57th flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield 16 November-3 December 1942.[3] Following the British victory at El Alamein during the Second World War, the airfield at Maturba[4] [5] saw heavy fighting in 1942,[6] [7] as Rommel's Afrika Korps was pushed back from the Egyptian border.

Military use

The airbase's primary use is by the Libyan Air Force, which has two sections at the base. The first section contains the main buildings and the hangars that house Mil Mi-2 and Mil Mi-8 helicopters. The second section is the flight-line containing taxiways, a ramp, and a single runway. The runway has an additional paved overrun on each end.

An Aeritalia G.222 is stored on the ramp, but this section of the base appears to be a reserve facility.

Civilian use

The site is also used for the transportation of oil field workers from production facilities in the area.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Martubah Airport . World Airport Codes . 13 September 2018.
  2. Web site: Martubah Airport . Google Maps . 13 September 2018.
    • Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. .
    • Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.
  3. Roy Conyers Nesbit, The Armed Rovers: Beauforts and Beaufighters Over the Mediterranean p45-46.
  4. Frederick Grice, War's Nomads: A Mobile Radar Unit in Pursuit of Rommel during the Western (Casemate, 2015). p11.
  5. Christopher Shores, Giovanni Massimello, A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945: Volume 2: North African Desert, February 1942 - March 1943(Grub Street Publishing, 19 Jul. 2014).
  6. Ken Delve Delve, The Desert Air Force in World War II: Air Power in the Western Desert, 1940-1942 (Pen and Sword, 31 Mar. 2017).