Madna

41°55'11"N 015°04'46"E

runway: 06/24 - 1500x..m/4954x..ft - PSP (estim. length)

Madna air field was a temporary airfield south of Termoli, just north of Apulia, Italy.
The airfield was built in October-November 1943 as one of 5 (Biferno, Canne, Madna, Ramitelli and Nuova) built in the Campomarino area by the United States Army Corps of Engineers with PSP, as part of the Foggia Airfield Complex, a series of World War II military airfields located within a 25 mile (40 km) radius of Foggia. The airfields were used by the United States Army Air Force Fifteenth Air Force as part of the strategic bombardment campaign against Nazi Germany in 1944 and 1945, as well as by Twelfth Air Force and the Royal Air Force during the Italian Campaign (1943-1945).
The name Madna, originally Madana, is a corruption of the area name, called Madonna Grande. The airfield consisted of one runway and a parking area to its southeast and was used by the 79th Fighter Group from 19 November 1943 until January 1944, flying P-47 Thunderbolts. From 14 May 1944 until 21 April 1945 the air field was used by 52nd Fighter Group flying P-51 Mustangs, the longest time the 52nd stayed anywhere during the war. From here they flew return missions to Berlin and Russia, and scored the first aerial victory over a jet fighter over Italy. The airfield closed in May 1945 and was dismantled.


Madna airfield was the middle of three airfields that were easily distinguishable in the Italian landscape in 1945 (Istituto Geografico Militare)


In 1954 the airfield was still visible from the air (Istituto Geografico Militare)

The airfield remained visible from aerial photography until at least September 1954. By then it was already intersected by the provincial road 125 (Strada Provincale SP125). The town council of Campomarino had signposts installed marking the positions of the three airfields built around Campomarino in WWII. Othere than the signpost and some VERY mild scarring visible in aerial photography, nothing remains of Madna airfield.

'Mille grazie' to Vincenzo Trotta, who added some very useful information to this airfield!